Many Aged Care Homes have a range of facilities. These include some form of catering as an alternative (and for visitors to purchase food) and hairdressing. Usually there some craft facilities and social/entertainment areas for guests as well as residents. There may well be others at different homes.

One rare but necessary facility which seems to be missing is a consulting room for medical practioners when they visit patients who are residents of homes. A consulting room would allow privacy, provide more appropriate surroundings and include some relevant equipment.

It has to be questioned when this facility is not available. Medical care is a very high priority for many residents of nursing homes and few can travel out to get it. Therefore it makes sense to, in some way, to ensure quality and timely care is available within the home once the medical practitioner arrives. To illustrate the point, standard equipment such as scales, stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, desk, chairs, lighting and an eye chart could be simply, easy and neatly provided in a small space.

As well, privacy for consultations (scheduled or emergency) is ensured. Copies of records could also be retained there so a locum called at short notice would have full access to relevant records – also, the records could then accompany residents who are taken by ambulance for urgent, specialised medical treatment and alleviate the need to intimately question residents who may not be able to provide appropriate answers.

Does the nursing home your relative lives in, or the nursing home you are considering for a loved one (or even yourself) have this needed facility?

2 March 2009: Doug M.