REFLECTING RESIDENTS' SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN CARE PLANS

Authors: Sue Schoenbeck, R.N., is director of resident care; Michael Rock is administrator and chief executive officer; Jill Cullen is plan of care coordinator; and Carol Gabor is a social worker at Ingleside Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mount Horeb, Wis.

Far less is known about the human spirit than is known about the body and the mind. But issues of the spirit are important when caring for the elderly in long term care environments, as well as preparing residents, families, and staff for the death of a resident.

Therefore, it is judicious for the caregiving team to gather information about spiritual as well as physiological, mental, and psychosocial needs. Ingleside Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mount Horeb, Wis., has created a spiritual assessment tool congruent with the minimum data set (MDS 2.0) to help determine each resident's spiritual needs, which then can be addressed in the care plan.

to create your Spiritual Care Assessment...

A Fundraiser Story, author unknown... 

A way to conduct a fundraiser for the Activities Department in the facility with the help of the employees and staff.

A good time of the year for this fundraiser is spring. Place an Ad in your local paper, in your newsletter, call all of the churches in your area and anyone else that you can think of to tell them about your up coming Craft Show.

Step One...

APPROACHES, ACTIVITIES AND INTERVENTIONS
IN RESPONSE TO BEHAVIORS OF PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMERS AND SENILE DEMENTIA

Carly Hellen, Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center

IN GENERAL:

• Research the presence of antecedent to the behavior; what was happening prior to the onset of the behavior
•  Look for environmental elements that cause do contribute to the behaviors; surroundings, noise, activity, people, etc..
• Try to determine the reason for the behavior, if possible
  Have all staff responded the same manner when addressing behaviors
• Share in successful approaches, activities, interventions with all staff, put information in prominent place on care plan
• Don't over reacted to residents behavior; don't use words or tone voice that scold, punishes, chastises, etc.

 to further identify possible approaches and interventions....

 Activity Department Program Design & Evaluation
from the book - "Activity Department Guide for Assisted Living Facilities" by Karen Connelly, TRS/TXC

Questions to consider about an Activity program.  Asking the right questions during a Job Interview or providing information about your current program, the list below will help you prepare. Learning what to evaluate about an activity program will help you in many different aspects of the Activity Profession.

Do you know your Activity Program? ...

In the past year and half, one of the scariest words for activity directors has been… HIPAA! Throughout my travels, I have seen many of my colleagues shudder at the thought of a new set of rules and regulations.

Relax…

The good news is that HIPAA is not as scary as it has been made out to be. I have written this article specifically for activity directors and activity personnel. Since most of us are the makers of calendars, newsletters, banners, bulletin boards, etc., we need to know about the HIPAA policies.

The following article will hopefully ease your mind about HIPAA regulations. That way, you will be able to have your calendars, banners, bulletin boards and posters, while being in full compliance with all of the regulations.

What is HIPAA?