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Out of all the topics I write about for my blog, I believe this one has become my favorite. That’s because it’s so much fun to read about all the amazing programs nursing homes come up with to enrich the lives of their residents.
Today I’m featuring four nursing homes that have won OPTIMA awards. Sponsored by the publication I Advance Senior Care, these national awards honor organizations that provide exceptional programming and person-centered care. As before, I’m including a link to each of the winning facilities, so you can contact them directly for more information.
Under One Roof
Many long-term care facilities struggle with the problem of chronic staffing shortages. St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Residence in Portland, Maine came up with a unique solution.
St. Joseph’s invites college students to live rent-free at their facility in return for working a minimum of 16 hours per week. They can either work as a CNA or go through an on-site CNA training program.
Each student commits to staying at least two semesters. Besides free rent in a separate wing of the facility, they also receive wages and discounted meals.
Besides reducing the staffing shortage, other benefits include:
- Residents enjoy interacting with on-site students.
- The program encourages young people to consider careers in long-term care.
- Students report the program provides an excellent life experience.
Tying the Hardest Knot
Glen Cove Center For Nursing & Rehabilitation in Glen Cove, New York took on the challenge of creating a culture of hospitality in their nursing home. While the program they developed is multi-faceted, two areas caught my eye.
First, they offered their employees a “Walk In My Shoes Day”. Interested staff signed up a month in advance for a random assignment to work in a different department for one shift.
Employees found that the experience helped them to better understand and empathize with other departments. In addition, it promoted a sense of teamwork.
Second, the facility adopted the Fish! program. Believe it or not, this is modeled after a fish market in Seattle, Washington.
The basic goal of Fish! is to motivate employees to provide extraordinary customer service while having fun at work. For more information about how to develop the Fish! program at your facility, you’ll want to check out this best-selling book:
The Gift of the Present
Eliza Jennings Senior Care Network in Lakewood, Ohio started the SAIDO Learning System to benefit their residents living with dementia. Developed in Japan in 2004, the program has since expanded to long-term care facilities in the United States and around the world.
SAIDO stimulates the prefrontal cortex of the brain, reducing the symptoms of dementia. It comprises math, reading, and writing activities done with residents 5 times a week for 30 minutes.
For more information about SAIDO, please check out this article from the Kumon Group in Japan.
An Honored Memory
This program was an eye-opener for me. During my nursing career, I only recall working with two residents with a dual diagnosis of dementia and PTSD. At the time, I never realized the importance of adjusting our approaches when PTSD is involved.
Texas Land Board State Veterans Home in Austin, Texas studied PTSD and its relationship to behaviors observed in long-term care facilities. As a result, they created specialized resident assessments and staff training.
For example, they found certain phrases work best when a resident becomes anxious. These include, “You’re safe” or “It’s all clear”.
The staff also recognized that veterans often have different needs and interests regarding activities. This led to the development of specialized activities and events that provide honor and meaning for vets.
Be sure to read about other award-winning nursing homes featured in previous posts:
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