OUR SERVICES
Led by our Director of Nursing Services, our staff ensures that your personal physician’s orders are carefully followed for nursing care, therapy, nutrition, and medication. Our interdisciplinary team develops a care plan to fit each resident’s needs, whether they require acute care following an illness or a hospital stay, a special diet, rehabilitation, or just extra attention and assistance.
Our registered nurses, licensed nurses, and certified nursing assistants are thoroughly trained in and experienced in meeting the needs of older adults.
In our Dining Room, our residents enjoy home-style meals without the work or worry of shopping and cooking. Our expert staff prepares three meals a day, plus snacks – each not only wholesome and nutritionally balanced, but tasty and satisfying.
Holidays and cookouts are celebrated with special meals, prepared with each person’s dietary needs in mind. If your doctor recommends a therapeutic diet, our registered dietician will make sure your nutritional requirements are met.
Our Activity Director plans a diverse, well-organized and lively schedule of activities each day. We encourage our residents to participate in whatever interests them, whether it be an old favorite pastime or something new and different. We’re busy every day disproving the notion that all seniors “just sit.” Of course, if a resident would rather relax and take it easy, that’s fine, too.
Many residents and their families find it helpful to discuss their needs with our Social Services Director, who can help with medically-related social and emotional concerns, as well as financial matters.
When residents recover from an illness or an accident, the social worker will help in discharge planning and the transition back to community living. This planning assures the most effective continuing care, either at home or in alternative settings. Our goal is always, as much as possible, to return each person to the mainstream of life again.
MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES
Select Medical Rehab is a national organization of highly skilled rehabilitation specialists including occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and physical therapists, devoted to achieving and maintaining the highest physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of all residents.
The rehabilitation team at Azalealand Nursing Home coordinates their therapy programs with that of other members of the health care team. Individual treatment objectives are identified and coordinated with the patient, family members, and appropriate community resources to assure maximum independence, safety, productivity, and satisfaction.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
RETRAINING FOR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
PERCEPTION COGNITION
ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT
COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION
HOME EVALUATIONS
PHYSICAL THERAPY
MOBILITY TRAINING
STRENGTHENING
BALANCE AND COORDINATION
GAIT TRAINING
WOUND CARE AND PAIN MANAGEMENT
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
APHASIA AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
VOICE THERAPY AND SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY
AURAL REHAB FOR HEARING DISORDERS
DYSPHAGIA (SWALLOWING DISORDERS)
FUNCTIONAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
YES WE CAN
YES WE CAN
REDUCE OUR USE OF OFF-LABEL ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS
In July, 2012 and in response to the CMS initiative, the staff at Azalealand Nursing Home began to assess the number of residents receiving off-label antipsychotic medication and determined that almost 28% of our residents were prescribed off-label antipsychotic medication. The need for action was apparent.
Objective & Methods
By October 2013 Azalealand Nursing Home will maintain a quarterly average of no more than 18.5% of our residents to receive antipsychotic medications.
METHODS
Involve the Administrator, Medical Director, DON, Social Worker, Nurse Managers, MDS Coordinator, Certified Nursing Assistant, Pharmacist, Activity Staff and Quality Assurance Coordinator
Identified residents receiving antipsychotic medications
Educated physicians, staff and family members
Reviewed documentation that described the behaviors being monitored to ensure description of target behaviors was accurate and appropriate for antipsychotic medication use
Analyzed Behavior Logs for residents demonstrating behaviors and Behavior Monitoring Forms for residents receiving antipsychotic medication
Identified those residents whose communication was misinterpreted for inappropriate behaviors
Went for the LOW HANGING FRUIT and determined those receiving antipsychotic medication that had no behaviors recorded would be first considered for Gradual Dose Reduction
Enhanced the Activity Assessment tool which resulted in the development of more personal interventions to be included on the resident’s care plan
Monthly consultation with the Registered Pharmacist Consultant for Gradual Dose Reduction
By the Numbers
Top Challenges
Development of a Team
- Working Together
- Understanding One Another’s Role
Lack of Understanding
- Behavior versus Communication
- Risks of Antipsychotic Medication Use
- Family Members’ Comfort Level with the Status Quo
Documentation
- Physicians – Reason for Antipsychotic
- Nurses – Accurate Reflection of Resident Behavior/Communication
- CNA – Reporting Behaviors/Communication to Nursing
Impact on Bottom Line of Organization
- 97% of Residents and Family who Would Recommend to Others
- Satisfaction Among Residents and Family at/or Above 95% for Quality of Care and Overall Satisfaction
- Culture Change Among Staff Caring for Residents who Demonstrate Behaviors – An Increase in Staff Feeling of Empowerment
- Increased Communication Among Staff
How to Sustain Improvement
- Continue to Educate
- Weekly Behavior Committee Meetings
- Assess for Possible GDR with New Admissions During the Initial Assessment Period
- Monthly Pharmacy Review
- Celebrate Our Success
Business Outcomes
- Reduce Cost
- Increased Referrals
- Greater Employee Satisfaction
Guiding Principle
MOVING FORWARD
FOR THE GOOD OF OUR RESIDENTS
SINCE 1974
Schedule a Tour
Please let us know if you’d like to visit our facilities and learn more about our skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.