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Many nursing care homes do not allow its residents to smoke in public areas within its premises such as reception areas, sitting rooms, corridors, dining rooms and all other enclosed communal areas. However, depending on the management’s smoking policies, many care homes allow their residents to smoke when they are in the privacy of their own bedrooms. When is Smoking Allowed? Home residents are generally allowed to smoke if certain conditions are fulfilled. Some of the conditions are: • If the resident has been allotted a bedroom within the nursing care home that has been designated by the authorities as a room, where smoking is allowed. • If there is a room within the premises that has been signposted as a smoking room. • If the assigned bedroom’s ventilation is not linked in any way into the smoke-free zone of the nursing care home. • If for allowing smoke drift, the room door can be closed mechanically. • If the list of rooms where smoking is permitted is made available in the event of a request from an enforcement officer. Focus is on Safety If a resident of a nursing care home wishes to smoke, it is the management’s responsibility to make appropriate arrangements so that safety is never compromised. The authorities should ensure safety of all the residents living within its premises. They must seriously take into consideration if the resident desiring to smoke, is capable of managing his smoking activities and retaining all smoking related stuff including lighters and matches. Some Management Measures Management usually follows certain principles and takes some measures to ensure safe smoking for residents. A risk assessment is done if a resident expresses his desire to smoke. Risk management is usually undertaken by someone, who is qualified and experienced to understand the impact of health, fire and safety. He usually appreciates why a resident needs to smoke and clearly understands his mental capacity and physical ability to take charge of smoking activities without posing any risk to himself or others. The resident is allowed to smoke exclusively in areas and rooms that are especially, designated for the purpose of smoking. The clinical condition of the resident is evaluated before allowing him to smoke. Things to Do to Ensure Safe Smoking • Smoking rooms should be properly equipped. Fabrics, furniture and finishes should be fire-resistant. • Smoke alarms and smoke detection should be provided. • Provide fire blankets and fire extinguishers. • Metal ashtrays should be provided. • Smoking rooms should be well-ventilated to prevent contamination of nearby rooms and areas. • Access routes and paths around the smoking rooms should be hazard-free and level. • A resident should not be allowed to smoke in his bedroom unless he gets a green signal from the risk assessment team and is considered to be a low risk case. • Residents should not be allowed to smoke in their bedrooms if the rooms have not been appropriately equipped to resist fire. You must remember that most nursing care homes holt usually, do not unreasonably curb any resident from smoking.
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