WNYAPCC Blog
“Caring Well for Residents with Mental Illness” – Part Two
By Barbara Speedling, Quality of Life Specialist, Director of Quality of Life Service for Healthcare Compliance Group, LLC Editor’s Note: This is the second of a three-part blog. The Administrator’s approach to Jessie might have been appropriate for someone without a long-standing mental illness. An illness that robs the person of control of their extreme [...]
“Caring Well for Residents with Mental Illness” – Part One
Jessie is a woman in her early 60’s with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. She has lived in various nursing homes since being discharged from one of the state psychiatric hospitals where she’d been a patient since her mid-20’s. She is currently receiving Zyprexia and Zoloft for her depression and delusions.
Is Death Contagious?
By Leslie Pedtke, BA, LNHA, Administrator at Aviston Countryside Manor There is a man that lives in our home that I can talk to about anything. He is my “go to guy.” Bill (his real name – he loves the attention). About a year ago, he and I were chatting and I was seeking the usual laughter our [...]
The Importance of Rhythms for Dementia Patients in Eliminating “Sundowners” and Other “Behaviors”
By Dr. Allen Power, Eden Mentor, St. John’s Home, Rochester, N.Y., Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester I recently had the pleasure of visiting with an elder who experiences frequent distress in the late afternoon. I was immediately struck by the connection of her anxiety and desire to leave with a lot of change-of-shift activity. This [...]
Choice vs. Consent
By Kathy McCollett, Organizational Culture Change Specialist, PHI Let me start by saying that there is a huge difference between consenting to do something and choosing to do something. When health care professionals use the phrase “informed consent,” it generally means that after receiving information and advice, the nursing home resident is agreeing to do [...]
Day 20: Who’s the Boss? Providing Person-Centered Care and Caring
My mother was cared for by a wonderful woman, Darlene, during the time she needed long-term care and caring. One day, I asked Darlene if my mother could go somewhere with me—I don’t remember where, but it really doesn’t matter. What matters is the quizzical and rather piercing look I received from Darlene. Thinking that maybe she didn’t hear me clearly, I repeated my query. This time she responded not only with words, but with her arms flailing wildly for emphasis. “Why you are asking me?” she replied. “Your mother is the boss, not me.”
Through the Looking Glass, Part Two
By Leslie Pedtke, BA, LNHA, Administrator at Aviston Countryside Manor Editor’s Note: This is the second blog of a two-part series. Nursing homes suck. Monte Coffman said this at the 2011 Illinois Pioneer Coalition Summit. I’ll have to admit. I kind of agree. The first time I heard Dr. Bill Thomas speak and he said similar things about [...]
Through the Looking Glass
By Leslie Pedtke, BA, LNHA, Administrator at Aviston Countryside Manor Editor’s Note: This is the first blog of a two-part series. I’m moving into the nursing home in a few days. Oh, there is nothing wrong with me. I’m moving in because I want to. (Really? You say?) yes really. You see, I created this program [...]
We Are Not the Alzheimer’s Generation!
By Dr. Allen Power, Eden Mentor, St. John’s Home, Rochester, N.Y., Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester As many of you know, the national Alzheimer’s Association leadership has labeled the Baby Boomers “Generation Alzheimer’s”. As one who is planted firmly in the center of that cohort, it’s time I responded to that characterization. The reason we [...]
The Impact of Music on Memory and Language
By Barbara Speedling, Quality of Life Specialist, Director of Quality of Life Service for Healthcare Compliance Group, LLC Who can deny that music makes you feel good? For most of us, the right melody with the right rhythm sends us into a frenzy of toe-tapping, hand-clapping, hip-shaking glee! While every kind of music won’t elicit the [...]
Meaningful Activity: Involving Residents in the Planning of the Daily Routine
By Barbara Speedling, Quality of Life Specialist, Director of Quality of Life Service for Healthcare Compliance Group, LLC It’s been some time since I originally addressed the subject of meaningful activity. Over the past few years this aspect of resident care has taken on a new significance both with regard to regulatory oversight and customer expectations. [...]
Pioneer Conference Takeaway: A Life Full of Meaning
By Rhonda Rotterman, Executive Director of WNYAPCC You could practically feel the energy and enthusiasm at this year’s Pioneer Conference in St. Louis as person-centered enthusiasts set out to network and learn new strategies. There seemed to be a great deal of focus this year on dementia and creating choice and autonomy for those that suffer [...]
Peer Mentoring: A Tried and True Intervention for a Relationship Centered Culture
By Susan Misiorski, BSN, National Director of Training and Organizational Development at PHI Long-term care providers have the unique challenge of balancing the “culture of home” with the “culture of the workplace.” Long-term care employees, whether in home or residential care settings, are working inside people’s homes. This fact causes us to need to design interventions that [...]
