After the drama experienced in the residences during the pandemic and the promises, from the political sphere, of improvements in care for the elderly, these geriatrics are now back in the news due to cuts (they claim this from different fronts of the sector ) of the supply of diapers. Complaints that, according to the Departments of Social Rights and Health, include the whole reality, so that the versions differ according to the side. What no one denies – it’s written – is that the rules have changed (it affects both nursing home users and the general population), with a limitation per person per day of absorbents dispensed with a health card.
The current protocol – based on economic criteria – places limits on the expenditure of diapers per user: four a day and one at night. “This means that he puts on a diaper at bedtime and… until morning. The residents are pooped and pissed for hours, as they are also, with this limitation, during the day”, denounces the president of the family association Coordinadora 5 1, María José Carcelén. If the amount is exceeded, the doctor assigned to the residence must justify the increase in orders. And here would be the source of the problem, since in some centers the doctors don’t notice if it is necessary to request more diapers, but in others they are not so “generous”, says the director of a geriatric center, due to the fact that these health workers they adhere to what is set by the norm.
The Catalan Professional Association of Directors/res of Dependency Care Centers and Services (Ascad) sent a letter to the Minister of Social Rights, Carles Campuzano, a few days ago. A harsh missive signed by the president, Andrés Rueda, in which it is stated that the cutting of diapers is the worst form of abuse that can be inflicted on the elderly as it attacks “their dignity”.
Residence directors are also very graphic when they describe the new reality. “In situations of terminal processes with a lack of physiological response of people, the appearance of decubitus ulcers is a very serious problem in our daily practice and the problem is very dependent on the triggering or complications due to double incontinence”. From the Coordinator 5 1 it is ensured that an increase in urine infections and sores of the residents has already been detected due to the limitation of diapers.
What is the response of Social Rights and Health to the complaints? From the first department, it is recognized that the alerts now jump “if more than four diapers are prescribed per day and more than one at night”, but they are “merely informational warnings”, it is pointed out. All this responds “to the current recommendations and the financing conditions of these products”, assure Social Rights sources, who specify that the maximum number of diapers “can be exceeded” if the doctor who makes the request considers it “necessary” . And they conclude: “Therefore, there is no limitation in terms of the number of absorbents” that may be needed in residences. From the Ministry of Health, the answer is calculated. “The electronic prescription system informs about the financing conditions and current recommendations, but does not limit the volume of diapers prescribed, so there has been no variation or limitation in the use of these absorbents.”
The Union of Small and Medium-Sized Residences (Upimir) of Catalonia, which has also been added to the complaint, is clear: the reasons for these cuts “are none other than economic and savings”.
