Cold Weather Prep

The entire state of California has been experiencing cold weather this past week.  While I am sure you are all aware of the dangers of cold weather and the elderly, it is still a good idea to re-evaluate your current practices.  On the CCLD website you can find some information or guides to cold weather preparedness.  Some of the information will refer to your garden, pets, and even your home.  Please download these guides at the following links and share them with your staff?

• OES Cold Weather Safety Tips  
• Winter Weather health Tips CDPH 2007  
• Extreme Cold CDC Pamphlet 

Medications - Shadowing

We are still getting calls from facilities that have been cited from licensing for lack of Medication Training.  If you have completed the live medication class or the medications training on line then the problem usually is that the shadowing part has not been completed.

Shadowing has to happen in the facility and should be individualized training.  You can not complete this part of the training in a class.  Be sure to have documentation that this training is completed for yourself and all of your staff. 

The other items that you may have overlooked are that every employee needs to pass the medication test and have the documentation in the files.  The test also has to be completed in the facility.  You should have in each employees file, documentation that they have completed the classroom training (four hours for 15 beds or less and eight hours for more than 15 beds), completed the shadowing (2 hours for 15 beds or less and eight hours for more than 15 beds), and then a copy of the completed test.

The employees do not have to repeat the shadowing or take another test each year but they do need to have four hours of annual training on medications.  This applies to all employees who currently do or might pass medications.

Residents Refusing Meds

Q - I have a resident who refuses to take their medications, now what?

A - There are many reasons why a resident might refuse medications.  By the time an elderly individual enters into residential care they have already released control of many portions of their lives.  Controlling their medications is something they still have.  Take the pill or not.  Only they can decide.  Unfortunately, it may be a risky choice.  Here are a few things to consider if you or your staff encounters this problem.

1. Start by finding out whether they really need to take the medication.  If the medication is not needed to sustain life then you may want to check with the doctor and ask about stopping the medication.

2. If stopping the medication is not an option, consult the doctor about changing the time of day, or changing to before or after meals.  You will need to check the order and see if the medication is to be taken with or without food.  You should also get an order from the doctor for changing the time of day.

3. If swallowing is a problem, see if you can get permission to crush the meds or cut them in half.  You may want to consider asking about different delivery option s.  Ask the doctor & the pharmacist if there are other forms of the medication such as a patch, lotion or liquid.

4. It may also be the color of the pill.  Bright colored pills like red or orange can appear threatening.  There may be another generic or brand that is a different color.

5. Trust can play a part.  You may want to try having a different staff member present the resident with the medication.  It may not be about persuading the resident to take the medication.  It may be about the resident’s feelings toward a caregiver.

6. Other considerations:

·         The medication may affect the flavor of food.

·         The resident may be embarrassed to swallow pills in front of other people.

·         The medication may make the resident feel ill, make keep them awake, or constipate.

·         The resident may not like the texture or aftertaste.

·         Changing the resident’s routine may have positive or negative results.

Remember you need to notify the doctor every time the resident refuses to take a medication. 

If you have a question that you would like to have answered on Tuesdays with Tom send him an email.  Use the subject line Questions for Tom in your email. 

Email Tom at communitycareoptions@usa.net

No business this week. Let's Talk Football

The Super Bowl is a distraction this time each year to many people.  It is no different for me.  Let's just say football is a distraction.  I share season tickets for the 49'ers and tried to attend as many home games as I could.  Would have loved to see them in the Super Bowl.  My daughter is also a football fan, so it was no surprise to me when she forwarded the following article to me.  You see, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers is a bit of a local hero around our hometown.  He went to high school here at Pleasant Valley High, as did my kids, and keeps close contact with the community.  That's right, Aaron Rodgers is a Chico local hero.  Check out the article HERE.

 

Next week we'll be back to business.  What would you like to talk about? 
Email me at:  communitycareoptions@usa.net

California ARF & RCFE Orientation Update

RCFE and ARF Orientations are back underway and it looks like business as usual.  If you are not on a current waiting list for orientation you can now get on your local area list.

You can get more information for orientations by calling the respective Orientation Information Lines.  We called two local units and the information is below.  Please see the link at the bottom for a list of more offices.
 

Sacramento Local Unit:

ARF call 916-263-4803

RCFE call 916-263-4804

Please call for very specific information on how to attend and pay.
 

February 8th Orientation for RCFE is booked in full.  The next Orientation for RCFE is scheduled for March 8th.  Orientations are on the 2nd Tuesday of each month unless it is a State holiday.  Orientations for ARF may still have availability.
 

Rohnert Park Local Unit:

(Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties) 

ARF call 510-286-0379

RCFE call 707-588-1407

Please call for information on how to attend and pay.

Please CLICK HERE for a list of CCL Regional Offices. 

If you have a question that you would like to have answered on Tuesdays with Tom send him an email.  Use the subject line Questions for Tom in your email. 

Email Tom at communitycareoptions@usa.net