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Psychiatric And Mental Health Services Operational Policy
6.10 PSYCHIATRIC NURSING HOMES
A psychiatric nursing home is a home for accommodation and provision of nursing and rehabilitation for people with mental illness. A nursing home is an
intermediate care facility where there will be one of the following needs:
a Extended nursing care but step down in terms of intensity of care where patients who need longer time for stabilization and recovery in
an environment that promotes stability. b Nursing and behavioural management for those with challenging
behaviours. c Awaiting planned rehabilitation outcomes that is best done in an
intermediate care facility whose environment is homely and promotes community reintegration.
i. As per MHA 2001, admission to a government psychiatric nursing
home would be as a voluntary patient or upon request of a relative or The Medical Director of a psychiatric hospital.
ii. Although admission is voluntary, only a psychiatrist may decide
on the admission to the nursing home. iii.
All new admissions to the nursing home will be reviewed by a medical oficer within the week. The review would include a review
of physical and mental state and the nursing and individual care plan. Patients’ medication must also be reviewed.
iv. Subsequently, patients will be examined by a medical oficer at
least once in two weeks. v.
The nursing care plan and the individual rehabilitation plan will be reviewed every two weeks.
vi. Family and friends should be encouraged to visit patients who are
admitted to the nursing home. vii.
The psychiatric nursing home team should be a multidiscipline team consisting of psychiatrists, medical oficers, nurses, assistant
medical oficers, psychologists and occupational therapists.
viii. The responsibilities of the nursing home team:
a. Ensure adequate monitoring of physical and mental states. b. Maintain proper medical records.
c. Ensure patients medication records are maintained. d. Ensure patients take medications regularly.
e. Provide patients with agreed rehabilitation activities. f.
Ensure patients have correct access to their freedom and money.
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