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Nursing Care Quality Measures - Percent of Long-Stay Residents Whose Ability to Move About in and Around Their Room Got Worse

 

This percentage addresses the ratio of long-stay whose ability to move about—either by walking or using a wheelchair—in and near their room worsened since their last assessment. Lower percentages are better.

Why is this important?

A decline in physical activity may come with age due to muscle loss, joint stiffness, worsening illness, fear of injury, or depression. Residents who lose mobility may also lose the ability to perform other activities of daily living. In some cases, however, the decline measured may be temporary and due to a short-term illness the resident is experiencing at the time of the assessment.

• A lack of movement affects a resident in many ways.
• It becomes difficult to participate in physical and social activities.
• Sleep quality can suffer.
• The risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or blood clots can increase.
• Depression and anxiety can worsen.
• Staying in one position can increase the chance of pressure sores.

Therefore, it is important for residents to be as active as possible.

Nursing Care Center staff can help residents move around more. For instance, they can encourage residents to take part in physical and social activities, or take them for regular walks if they need help. Most residents value being able to move about on their own and take care of themselves. It is important that Nursing Care Center staff encourage residents to do as much as they can for themselves and stay as active as physically possible. However, some residents will decline in their ability to move about, even if the Nursing Care Center staff makes a good effort to keep them more active.

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