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Nursing home smoking policy criticized

LTC Liability Monitor, February 10, 2005

Washington nursing homes are stuck between a rock and a hard place as they attempt to satisfy state inspectors' and insurance companies' demands for smoking safety and respect residents' rights, the Seattle Times reported. Extendicare, a national long-term care company that runs 14 nursing homes in the state, implemented a strict smoking policy at its facilities after state nursing home inspectors found its existing policy unacceptable. Under the new rules, resident smokers must store cigarettes or other smoking products in a secure place outside of their rooms, can only smoke outdoors under staff supervision in designated areas at scheduled times, and must sign a waiver promising to follow the policy.

After outcry from some nursing home residents, the state's long-term care ombudsman filed a complaint with the state's Department of Social and Health Services. Two facilities have been cited for inflicting significant emotional distress on resident smokers, the Times reported. State officials and Extendicare executives are meeting to work out a fair policy.

 

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