Caring for residents who have experienced trauma can bring its own set of challenges. Trauma is an experience that causes intense physical and psychological stress reactions such as pain, nausea depression and suicidal thoughts. Trauma can refer to a single event, multiple events, or a set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically and emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Exposure to experiences such as abuse, neglect, discrimination, violence or other negative events can increase the potential for lifelong health problems and risky health behaviors. As health care providers grow more aware of the impact of trauma, they are realizing the value of trauma-informed approaches to care.
Recent industry reforms have placed an emphasis on providing trauma-informed care in skilled nursing facilities. As part of §483.25(m) of the Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities, facilities must “ensure that residents who are trauma survivors receive culturally competent, trauma-informed care in accordance with professional standards of practice and accounting for residents’ experiences and preferences in order to eliminate or mitigate triggers that may cause re-traumatization of the resident.” There are also 10 F-tags related to trauma-informed care. Part of the requirements’ Phase 3, the rule will be implemented beginning November 28.
Several resources available
To help long-term healthcare providers and their teams stay in compliance with these reforms, The Compliance Store has a new resource, “Trauma-Informed Care: A Care Solution.” This easy-to-understand publication offers a quick guide on providing care to residents with a history of trauma. It explains the background and need for a trauma-informed care approach as well as the guiding principles of that approach. For example, one of the principles, Peer Support, emphasizes the “importance of interaction between the resident and others who have had similar traumatic experiences.” This type of support can facilitate personal growth and insight. Guidance on screening and assessing residents for past trauma as well as avoiding re-traumatization is also included in the publication. It outlines the use of screening tools and processes and gives help on what to do when a resident does not want to disclose their traumatic background. Regulatory guidance and templates for a trauma-informed care plan and policy are also included. “Trauma-Informed Care: A Care Solution” is a handy resource to help deliver care that supports residents with a history of trauma and minimizes the risk of re-traumatization.
For more information about providing Trauma-Informed Care, go to The Compliance Store at www.TheComplianceStore.com.