Safety and Security

Many people who live in Broadmead Care Homes have some level of dementia. The most common symptoms of dementia are short-term memory loss, difficulties with orientation to time and place, and finding their way around. Residents with dementia may have difficulty judging their actions related to safety and security. While we aim to find a balance between the person’s right to make choices and live with a reasonable degree of risk, we also recognize our responsibility to provide a safe environment for residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

Broadmead Care has policies, procedures, and systems related to building security, resident smoking, and fire and emergency procedures. We regularly review and revise these policies, and make changes as appropriate. We do our best to ensure that residents and families are fully informed of any risk issues or changes in a timely manner. We very much appreciate the support and assistance of family and friends in helping us keep residents and our Care Homes safe and secure.

In an effort to provide a safe and supportive environment for those living with dementia, we use a number of environmental safeguards and care practices. In order to support freedom of movement for residents, certain rooms, such as medication rooms, utility rooms, storage areas and staff washrooms are kept locked. Knives and other potentially dangerous kitchen items are locked in drawers. A number of living areas are secure, for protection. The doors to these areas have a magnetic lock system which require a code or a special fob to open the doors.

Broadmead Care encourages staff to be flexible, not rush, or require people with dementia to live by a schedule. Decisions are made based on level of risk and comfort for the person. For example: if a resident does not want to eat their meal at dinner time, their meal can be refrigerated and warmed up for them later when they want to eat; if a resident refuses to have their incontinence brief changed, the staff member will leave them alone and try again later, or have another person try; residents with dementia may walk around their living area and may go into other resident’s rooms, perhaps even lying down on the bed. Staff will assist when residents require redirection or assistance.

Fire drills are held regularly. Visitors in the building during a fire drill are expected to participate by taking direction from Broadmead Care staff. Periodic evacuation exercises are also conducted. Care Stations and Reception are main centres for communication and response.

See also Emergencies.

It is important to understand that falls happen, and can cause injuries. Many factors can contribute to falls, including medication. The team strives to prevent falls and reduce injuries. If needed, the team will consider programs to modify the environment or improve residents’ physical strength, and provide appropriate mobility aids and hip protectors. Our goal is to allow residents freedom of movement and reduction of the risk of falls and injury without using physical restraints. The Care Team meets on an ongoing basis to review residents who have had a fall. You can help decrease the risk of falls by ensuring appropriate footwear is worn, and decluttering the resident’s room. Please talk to your Care Team if you have questions.

The use of heat has tremendous benefit for reducing pain and inflammation. However, older adults are at higher risk for burns and complications from heat. Microwaveable beanbags are the safest and easiest way to allow residents to use heat. Because of the risks involved, Therapy Services must assess a resident prior to the use of a beanbag, to ensure that the resident can safely use it, and to implement procedures for their use. A beanbag approved by Therapy Services will have the name of the resident and the heating protocol marked directly on the bag.

The following devices are not permitted for use by residents under any circumstances: gel packs, hot water bottles, and electric heating pads. Residents with severe cognitive impairments or advanced dementia should not use heat unsupervised.

Broadmead Care has an Infection Control program that is guided by the policies and procedures of Island Health’s Infection Prevention and Control manual. We take all precautions required to reduce the risk of outbreaks.

• Residents are screened on admission for TB and other infections.
• The influenza vaccine is provided for all residents and staff each year.
• Since January 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine has been offered and administered when appropriate and available, and upon admission. Residents are encouraged to have the COVID-19 vaccine and/or boosters before admission, and while they live in Broadmead Care Homes.
• Infection rates among residents are tracked.
• Staff are trained in infection control procedures.
• In the event of an outbreak of a communicable disease such as influenza or gastrointestinal illness, control measures are implemented.

Hand washing is the most important procedure for preventing infections. Broadmead Care Homes have many hand washing sinks and waterless hand washing stations. Families are encouraged to wash their hands on entering and leaving the building and lodge; after smoking, eating, or handling food; and after using the washroom.

Broadmead Care has a policy of ‘least restraint’. For safety, physical restraints are used only as a measure of last resort and only after alternatives have proven ineffective. When use of a physical restraint is being considered, assessment and consultation with the resident, his or her Health Representative, staff, and physician is required.

Every effort is made to keep residents who are not able to find their way in the community from becoming lost outside the Home. Some residents live in secure areas with coded-access locked doors. However, despite our best efforts to keep residents safe and accounted for, there are occasions when a resident may leave the building unaccompanied, and become disoriented. If this occurs, the team will follow Broadmead Care’s Missing Resident Procedure which involves searching the building and grounds, and notifying the family and Police to assist in the search. Following such events, the team will meet with the resident and family to assess the risk of further occurrences and discuss strategies to reduce and/or prevent further occurrences.

As referenced in the Resident Admission Agreement:

• Broadmead Care is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and violence-free environment for employees, residents, family members, visitors, and volunteers.
• Every effort will be made to identify the sources of violent actions (and/or threat of violence) and procedures will be implemented to eliminate or reduce the risk of violent acts on Broadmead Care property.
• Broadmead Care will ensure that all workers are aware of potential risks of violence and are trained in appropriate actions to protect themselves in the situation of violence (or threat of violence).
• Broadmead Care will ensure that incidents of violence committed by a person or persons are reported and investigated.
• Broadmead Care staff shall follow the procedures implemented for their protection, and report all incidents of violence.
• Broadmead Care acknowledges and accepts that some Broadmead Care residents may present altered behaviours as a result of their medical condition which may place others at risk. Broadmead Care will provide Broadmead Care staff regularly updated Care Risk Lists that document risk behaviours of residents. The report will include suggestions and strategies to manage or reduce the manifestation of altered behaviours. Newly emerging or elevations in altered behaviours will be documented in the resident’s Care Plan and shared with staff at report. Residents identified as having care risk will be identified with a purple sticker on the bedroom door.

Except as noted in the preceding paragraph, Broadmead Care has zero-tolerance for any occurrence of violent conduct or behaviour that may be initiated by anyone while on the property or within Broadmead Care Homes. Offenders will be held accountable for their actions. Violent conduct or behaviour includes acts of: physical assault, verbal abuse, personal harassment, bullying, or other aggression which gives cause for a person to believe they are at risk of physical or emotional injury.
It is Broadmead Care’s desire to develop and maintain consistently professional, collaborative, and supportive relationships with family members and other visitors to residents. Any significant single or repeated act of aggression towards staff, volunteers or others will result in a measured and formal response. Consequential measures may include the modification or removal of visiting privileges and/or the calling of police.

Accurately identifying those who live in Broadmead Care Homes is a key component to ensuring their safety. The reasons for this include the importance of accurate identification for medication administration, lab tests and treatments; and, identification should the person leave the home and not return.

For safety, we are required to ensure accurate identification in two ways. The main way is a photograph of the resident, used in our electronic and paper records. Photographs are updated as necessary. We work with the people who live in our Homes on an individual basis to determine the best way to select a second means of identification.

Many residents need physical assistance with movement. Upon move in, and as required, Nursing and Therapy Services staff will assess the person’s lift and transfer requirements. Resident Care staff are expected to know and utilize the correct lift and transfer technique for each resident. Broadmead Care provides various types of lift and transfer equipment.

Family members, companions, volunteers, and other visitors are not authorized to use mechanical lift equipment, and are encourage to ask a care team member to assist.

Smoking poses a significant risk to the residents and the Care Home. Residents may smoke in designated outside areas only. Smoking within the building is strictly prohibited. For everyone’s safety, resident smoking is monitored and controlled. If a resident smokes in non-designated areas or in an unsafe manner, their smoking materials will be retained and managed by staff. If a resident has repeated incidents of unsafe smoking, the resident will not be permitted to continue smoking on the grounds of the Care Home. Assistance with smoking cessation will be offered. In response to regulations and policies from the Provincial Tobacco Control Regulations and Island Health, staff, volunteers, and visitors are not allowed to smoke on any Broadmead Care property.

Please use caution when serving food or fluids to residents. Many of our residents are diabetic, or have specialized diets that require food and fluids to be modified due to problems with chewing and swallowing. Some residents have food allergies or intolerances. To prevent choking or serious illness, adherence to the dietary plan for the individual resident in the Care Home and on outings is very important. You may ask staff to assist you in reviewing the resident dietary sheets in each dining room to find out what are the appropriate diet, food texture, and fluid consistency for the resident.