Re-Thinking Volunteers for Long-Term Care – Paul Falkowski

Long term care is increasingly complex, with high autonomy for nurses. Can we rethink the current models so as to improve overall care? The following article suggests ways to help provide more personalized care.

Read below:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/re-thinking-volunteers-long-term-care-paul-falkowski-ph-d-?trk=hp-feed-article-title-publish

Staff Learning Circle – Gary Kelso

Gary Kelso of Mission Health Services talks about how his skilled nursing facilities have learning circles each day to help staff know the residents. As a result, Mission’s staff turnover rates are below the national average.

Commander Mark Kelly on Teamwork – ACHA/NCAL

Commander Mark Kelly, retired captain in the U.S. Navy and husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, talks about the important role that team work plays in his wife’s rehabilitation.

Using Devices for Pressure Ulcer Prevention & Treatment

NPUAP is having a pressure ulcer prevention webinar on March 30, 2016 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Presenters: Joyce Black, PhD, RN, CWCN, FAAN & Evan Call, MS, CSM (NRM)

Dr. Joyce Black, Associate Professor at the UNMC College of Nursing, and faculty contributor to Gero Nurse Prep, was recently recognized for both clinical and advocacy expertise.

Objectives:

  1. Compare and contrast the patient risk factors for pressure ulcer development that match support surface characteristics used for prevention
  2. Explain the benefits to use of a low air loss or microclimate management surface, an alternating pressure surface and a continuous low pressure surface for the treatment of pressure ulcers
  3. Describe how to determine if the support surface is working
  4. Describe how to develop an algorithm for the facility to use support surfaces

To register yourself for this live webinar please go to – http://www.npuap.org/events/live-webinar-using-devices-for-pressure-ulcer-prevention-treatment/

Implementing the INTERACT Program – AHCA/NCAL

Dr. Rosalind Wright of Unique Residential Care Center in Washington, D.C. talks about her facility’s journey in implementing INTERACT, evidence-based package of clinical, educational, and communication tools designed for nursing facilities to use to reduce potentially avoidable hospital admissions.

Cranky Old Man

“When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.
 
One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
Source: Google Images
Source: Google Images
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet.
 
Cranky Old Man
 What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . … . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .’I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . … lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. …Babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future … . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. …. . ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!”