Diabetes Management in Long-Term Care

Approximately 1 in 5 skilled nursing facility residents age 55 years and over have been diagnosed with diabetes. In addition to their diabetes, more than 69% have two or more chronic conditions.1 Quality health care in skilled nursing facilities proves to be challenging due to nurses concomitantly being responsible for the care of more than five residents, common staff shortages, and frequent staff turnover. Minimal staff salaries and nominal staff education regarding specific disease states contribute to the decrease in quality of care. Unfortunately, most direct patient care in nursing facilities is provided by nursing aides.2 As a result, diabetes care in skilled nursing facilities is not optimal. The following case will introduce some deficiencies in a resident’s diabetes care.