Illness and Bereavement Policy

1. Overview

People living and working at Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill may experience ill health, serious illness or bereavement: this may involve the death of a resident. Each situation should be treated individually and appropriately for the person: there may be some differences depending on setting (residential or workshops.) All residents should be cared for with respect and dignity while ill, and likewise, given appropriate support in the event of a bereavement.

Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill is a Christian community that believes death should be handled with dignity, sensitivity and discretion.

Outcomes

• for the resident to be cared for with respect and dignity whilst they are ill

• for the resident to be assisted in their recovery from illness

• for both the physical and psychological well-being of the resident to be supported

Support and care in dying and death

Where a resident dies unexpectedly in Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill, we will first of all call out our local GP or locum to confirm death as well as ensure a member of the senior management team is aware and can guide the process.

• It is the GP’s discretion whether the police are involved.

• Plan individually how we sensitively inform friends and family.

• Care inspectorate must be informed within 24 hours via eForms.

Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill will support friends and relatives through the formal process relating to death and facilitate a humane person centred approach to the whole event. Grievance counselling will be offered to co-workers, staff and residents where appropriate.

Where appropriate a palliative care approach will be applied in the case of life threatening illness in Tigh a'Chomainn Camphill.

Where a resident loses someone close to them, they will be fully supported upholding their spiritual beliefs and understanding. Support will be provided to attend the funeral and to communicate with significant others. This will include support to grieve, eg. further visits to the graveside or spend time with family, and may also include financial support.

Appendix

The following would only come into effect in exceptional circumstances and in agreement with the care management team and senior management team.

We are also not nursing or auxiliary nursing trained and so would not undertake stats monitoring without additional external support (eg agency nurse).

As such we are not equipped to manage or support long term illness.

Caring for an ill or injured resident – Procedures

• Family to be kept up to date regarding condition

• Agreed bed bath or bath as appropriate.

• Freshen up of hands and face (Guidance is 4-6 hourly – agree with each individual resident).

• Support for oral care.

• If on bed rest – sheets to be changed regularly as agreed by the care plan. This may be daily.

• Support to change of pyjamas / nightdress at least daily

• 4 hourly observations of temperature, pulse and respirations (including during the night) to be recorded in residents notes. Any deviation from normal to be reported to the Doctor (see notes below)

• An update of residents condition to be documented in as required, minimum 4 hourly in acute stages

• If high temperature – medication to be given as prescribed and tepid sponging to be carried out as necessary

• If on bed rest – position to be changed 2 hourly (including during the night) to avoid risk of pressure sores

• Fluids to be given 2 hourly during the day and 4 hourly during the night. Water or very diluted juice is best but hot drinks can also be given (If resident unable to tolerate a minimum intake of 50mls per hour then Doctor to be contacted as risk of dehydration)

• Food to be offered at least 3 times per day e.g. soups and soft foods.

• Doctor to be contacted if resident’s condition deteriorates or becomes unresponsive or if you are worried about the resident’s condition in any way. Call GP if within surgery hours or NHS 24 101 if out with surgery hours.

• When the resident passes urine or moves bowels it is to be recorded. No urine output for 12 hours should be reported to Doctor as this indicates dehydration.

• Temperature should be 36.5 to 37 c. A temperature above 38 c should be reported to Doctor / paracetamol given as prescribed / tepid sponging

• Respirations should be 14-20 per minute. Fast, laboured, noisy, irregular, panting breathing or slowing of respirations to less than 10 per minute should be reported to the Doctor.

• Pulse should be between 60 – 80 beats per minute. If fast (over 100 bpm) or slow (under 50 bpm) this should be reported to the Doctor