Palliative Care

Rebecca Harlow Photography

What is palliative care?

Palliative care aims to improve quality of life for people who have advanced illnesses, as well as their families. Palliative care also takes into account the emotional, physical and spiritual needs and goals of the person who's being treated and his or her family. Palliative care doesn't replace primary medical treatment. Instead, palliative care is provided in conjunction with all other medical treatment.

Who can benefit from palliative care?

Anyone who has a serious or life-threatening illness can benefit from palliative care, either to treat signs and symptoms of the disease or to ease the side effects of treatment. In addition, palliative care can help if you or a loved one needs help understanding more about an illness or coordinating medical care.

How does palliative care work?

Palliative care can be provided throughout treatment for a serious illness — whether you or your loved one is being treated on an outpatient basis or in a hospital, nursing home or through hospice. This type of treatment can be provided by various specialists, including doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors, chaplains, registered dietitians, pharmacists and rehabilitation specialists.

A palliative care specialist works with the primary care doctor and a team of other professionals to create a treatment plan that eases symptoms, relieves pain, addresses spiritual and psychological concerns, and helps maintain dignity and comfort. By reducing signs and symptoms during treatment, you or your loved one may be more likely to complete treatment and maintain an improved quality of life.

A palliative care specialist can also help you or your loved one communicate with doctors and family members and create a smooth transition between the hospital and home care or nursing facilities. The palliative care team will educate you or your loved one as well as other family members about what to expect and schedule routine meetings to discuss goals and ongoing care. If necessary, a palliative care specialist can help coordinate financial and legal assistance.

How does palliative care differ from hospice care?

Palliative care is available at any time during a serious or life-threatening illness, while hospice care is available only during the final months of life — when curative or life-prolonging treatments have been stopped. You don't have to be in hospice to receive palliative care.

What are some real-life examples of palliative care?

Here's one example of how palliative care works: You have a history of heart failure and are having trouble getting around the house due to worsening shortness of breath. You live at home with a partner who has health problems, too. You find that getting all of the care you and your partner need is becoming more difficult and you're not sure how to plan for the future. This has been stressful for you and your family physically, psychologically, spiritually and financially. A palliative care specialist will work with your primary care doctor and a team of specialists to determine which medications, supportive services and advanced care planning can provide the best symptom relief. The palliative care team may organize visits by a chaplain, a psychologist and other home health agencies.

How do I obtain palliative care?

If you're interested in obtaining palliative care for yourself or a loved one, ask your doctor or your loved one's doctor for a referral to a palliative care specialist.

To learn more click here

Hospice

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Did you know that Hospice care is paid for by Medicare Part A.

 

There are many agencies that provide Hospice Care, the decision is equally as difficult as it is important for end-of-life support and resources.

Caring healthcare professionals offer specialized knowledge of end-of-life care for you and

your family.

Hospice care is a philosophy of care focusing on physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of those in the end stages of life and their families. 

Hospice has grown in the United States from a volunteer based service to a standard in end-of-life

care.

Hospice is the only Medicare benefit that includes pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, twenty-four hour/seven day a week access to care and support for loved ones following a death.

The first United States hospital-based palliative care programs began in the late 1980s at a handful of institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic and Medical College of Wisconsin. By 1995, hospices were a $2.8 billion industry in the United States, with $1.9 billion from Medicare alone funding patients in 1,857 hospice programs with Medicare certification.^[35] In that year, 72% of hospice providers were non-profit.^[35] By 1998, there were 3,200 hospices either in operation or under development throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, according to the NHPCO.^[35] According to 2007's Last Rights: Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical System, hospice sites are expanding at a national rate of about 3.5% per year.^[36] As of 2008, approximately 900,000 people in the United States were using hospice every year,^[37] with more than one-third of dying Americans using the service.^[38

Understanding Behavior Management & Medications

Behavior Management Plan

Only when all else fails Medicate!

You may be wondering how an Assisted Living manages a residents’ behavior, identifies behavioral triggers, implements interventions, and tracks behaviors and at what point is medication used to treat or manage a behavior.

At Beehive Homes Assisted Living, the answer is:  Only when ALL else fails – Medicate.

Managing behaviors is a large factor in the day-to-day customized care that your loved one receives at an Assisted Living facility.  Understanding how behaviors are monitored, identified and tracked is a large factor in communicating between healthcare agencies, patients and family members.

We often get phone calls from family asking: “How is my mom/dad/etc doing?  What changes have you noticed? Is mom/dad sleeping okay? Is mom/dad eating normal.?

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q:       At what point do you contact family? 

 A:       When severe behaviors such as physical aggression occurs, when the resident or another becomes unsafe because of the behavior.  An Registered Nurse will do another assessment and then contact family and/or physician.

Q:       At what point do you medicate?

A:       When all interventions fail. 

Q:       How often do you monitor behaviors?

A:       Daily with a 5 to 1 resident to caregiver ratio, we are able to monitor behaviors immediately and offer interventions immediately.

 It is important when a resident is admitted into an Assisted Living to have a comprehensive assessment done so that the healthcare providers can track what is considered normal or abnormal behaviors. 

Behaviors are anything different from the norm and might include: exit Seeking, aggressiveness, depression, isolation, decrease appetite, inappropriate conversations, inappropriate physical boundaries, verbal aggression, anxiety, undressing, hallucinations, inconsistent sleep patterns, and refusal of care, with draw. 

 Triggers are any stimulus that change or effect behaviors.  Some examples of triggers might include over stimulation, environment, other residents behaviors, visitors, change in weather, Holidays, change of activity, loud noise, difficulty communicating or word finding, change in condition, time of day (sundowners*), change in medication regimen, death in family, and family dynamics.  UTI: urinary tract infections commonly cause many changes in behavior.

 Intervention is the approach taken to minimize the effects of a change in behavior before it becomes something more serious.  Interventions include one on one conversation, feelings validation, removal from stimulus, removal of stimulus, alternate activity, redirection, phone calls to family, taking a walk, sometimes just offering something to drink or eat,

Sometimes, just taking them “back to something they know” will be an effective intervention, for example: If he used to watch or play football, put on a football game. 

 Tracking behaviors and interventions in charting is a vital element in creating a behavior management plan.  What we are looking for: recent changes in resident’s life that might influence behaviors, environmental causes that might contribute to behaviors, Medical factors that might contribute, Identify situations that trigger behavior, and list planned interventions. 

 What is Beehive Homes Assisted Living Policy and Procedures on Behavior Management?

 Behavior Management Policy and Procedure

 Beehive Homes of North Idaho will assure a timely assessment and planning which uses the least restrictive intervention to address behaviors.  This means that the facility and its employees will use means other than medications to deal with and address resident’s behaviors.

 The safety of all residents and its staff members is a priority.  Residents displaying disruptive, self-injurious, or potentially dangerous behaviors will be approached in the least adverse manner in order to minimize injury to other residents or staff.  Mechanical restraints such as seat belts, lap trays and bedrails are not acceptable and will not be used as a means of behavior control.  Also, chemical restraints and seclusion are unacceptable means of behavior control.

 Behavior Management Procedure

Beehive Homes of North Idaho will identify and evaluate behavioral symptoms that are distressing to the resident or infringing on the other resident’s rights.  The Behavior Management Plan, Behavior Tracking worksheets, Nurses notes the NSA and UAI are all tools that will be used to accomplish this.
 

Behavior Management Plan Evaluation

Beehive’s evaluation will include the following:

A.     Identification of the resident’s behavior is transitory or permanent.

B.     Review of the resident’s previous behaviors and activities.
C.     Review of the baseline date including intensity, duration and frequency of the resident’s behavior.
D.     Identification of recent changes in the resident’s life, such as a death in the family, change in the resident’s daily routine, or changes in the resident’s NSA.
E.      Identification of environmental causes that could contribute to the resident’s behavior such as excessive heat, noise, overcrowding, hunger and staffing.
 F.      Rule out possible medical causes such as pain, constipation, fever, infection, or medical side effects.
 G.     Identification of events that trigger behavioral symptoms, including interactions with other residents’ internal personnel, outside contract providers, family members, and friends.

 Beehive Homes of North Idaho will intervene on such behaviors with the least restrictive method necessary.

A.     All staff will be aware of and consistently implement each behavioral symptom intervention
B.     The intervention will be the least restrictive.
C.     Each intervention will be reviewed within seventy-two (72) hours of implementation, and from then on as appropriate, to evaluate the continued need for the intervention.

 The resident’s mediation regime will be evaluated every six (6) months to assure that medications used to treat behavioral symptoms are necessary and at the lowest possible dose.

Basics of Memory Loss | Seminar Pinehurst, ID

Last Thursday our Pinehurst location hosted an educational seminar presented by the

phenomenal P.J. Christo, RN, Alzheimer's Assoc, who

 spoke on the basics of Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer's.

We had a full house, 53 guests came to an outdoor BBQ put on by our very own Chef James, and then attended the seminar.

P.J. speaks with an enormous amount of knowledge and compassion keeping the audience

engaged the entire time!

Beehive is honored to bring education to the professional and public audience.

Many of our guests were non-professional in-home care takers who benefit greatly from

these educational pieces.  In return our aging loved one's benefit and experience a greater

quality of life as well.

There are many great resources available to our loved one's whether they are in-home

or in an Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing or other situation.

 Jerry L. from Harrison, Idaho asks P.J. for further clarification

of the effects of Dementia and the differentiation of Dementia and Memory Loss.

Our guests enjoyed an outdoor BBQ in the courtyard at the Pinehurst Beehive Homes Assisted Living.  (Middle Bottom) John Fisher and his wife Marilyn are both Ombudsmans.  An Ombudsman or Ombudsperson is a designated neutral facilitator who provides confidential and impartial assistance in resolving grievances and disputes. An Ombudsman investigates complaints, reports findings, and mediates fair settlements between individuals, group of individuals; and institutions or organizations.



Compassionate Care Referral Services | Hayden, Idaho

A FREE personal consultation to match senior and disabled care needs to availiable options in Kootenai County Idaho; whether short term, in home care, resident home care, respite care, assisted living, or skilled nursing. Let my 26 years of medical and business experience in North Idaho help simplify your search for quality care. Your preferences and choices are my top priority.

For more information click here

SHIBA | Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors Program

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) / Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Serving as an advocate for Idaho's Medicare beneficiaries since 1986
We can help you put together the pieces of the senior health insurance puzzle! We will help you answer questions such as:

• How do I compare Medicare prescription drug plans?
• What is Medicare Advantage?
• What is Medigap?
• How do I get help with Medicare costs?
• I've been considering long-term care insurance. What questions should I ask?
• I can't make sense of my Medicare statements and medical bills. What do I do next?

SHIBA is part of a network of state health insurance programs (SHIP) across the United States and its territories. In Idaho, SHIBA is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency which administers the Medicare program, and the Idaho Department of Insurance.
SHIBA is a part of the Department of Insurance, Consumer Affairs, which:

• Investigates claims and insurance fraud
• Provides advocacy services for consumers
• Provides assistance with insurance problems or questions on life, disability, long term care, property, casualty, and health insurance

To read more click here

Spring Tea | Care Net Association

Rebecca Harlow Photography

This years Spring Tea event hosted by Care Net was a wonderful tribute to our seniors.  The guests were pampered and enjoyed some of Coeur d Alene's best goodies.

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Food Sponsors: Hospice of North Idaho, Comfort Keepers, LaCrosse, Beehive Homes, Legends, ResCare, Bell Tower Funeral Homes, Legacy House, Legends, Wytychak Law Office, Gentiva, Aaging Better in-home care.

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Table Sponsors: Fairwinds & Family Home Care, Legacy House, Home Instead Senior Care, North Idaho Home Health, Four Seasons, Addus Home Health Care, Legends Park Assisted Living, Loyalton, Beehive Homes Assisted Living, Hayden Senior Center, Mill River Senior Apartments, SHIBA, Bestland Retirement

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Coffee was provided by Amy Bartoo

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Rebecca Harlow Photography

The lovely corsages for all of the guests were sponsored by Tiffany Walker, Addus Home Health Care.  Thank you Tiffany!!

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Sourdough Baggett toasted with basil pesto and parmesan cheese topped with cream cheese and fresh smoked salmon -- Thanks Chef James | Beehive Homes

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Beehive Homes Assisted Living | HomeInstead

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

May is a wonderfully kind woman who works for HomeInstead Senior Care

and comes to read and walk with one of our residents who

is a retired school teacher. 

With outside agencies, our residents can experience the greatest

quality of life here at Beehive Homes.

Healthcare is more than just woundcare, we strive to keep our

residents healthy and happy

in every way that we can!

Making Custom Place Cards for the Spring Tea Event |

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Beehive Homes Assisted Living is one of many wonderful table & food sponsors at this years' annual SPRING TEA event hosted by Alzheimer's Association.

Six wonderful ladies from Beehive Homes will be honored among the 100

senior citizens present.  The Spring Tea will occur @ the Coeur d Alene Public Library from

2-4 by invitation only.



Rebecca Harlow Photography

 In preparation for the Spring Tea, we went down and collected some scrapbooking supplies

and had the ladies create a custom card and write a little note

to someone other than themselves to mark their seat.

As the ladies privately designed their cards, we wanted to share a few of

their comments:

"I haven't done this in a while.  This was fun."  -Bobi

"This was something different to do and fun." - Pauline

"Oh, this is neat!" - Jodi

"Now, don't let me make all the decisions." - Bea

Beyond the Kitchen | Chef James

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Chef James is always tempting us with in-house smoked Chicken and other delicious foods.

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Today, we kicked off the traditional weekly outdoor BBQ

Chef James created an AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, FRAGRANT fruit display.

BBQ Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Fresh Garden Salad.

Chef creates beautiful food daily, I take pictures several times per week, to update our
web page, blog and marketing materials.

Assisted Living | a long-term care solution

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)

ASSISTED LIVING IS A LONG-TERM CARE SOLUTION
During the past four years, Beehive Homes Assisted Living has provided specialized care with the cooperative efforts of Hospice of North Idaho for one of our long time residents diagnosed with Progressive supranuclear palsy. Although, it is a rare disorder, our care staff has hands on experience with the day to day needs and complexities of this disorder.

PROGRESSIVE SUPRANUCLEAR PALSY
What is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)? Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disorder that causes serious and progressive problems controlling balance and movement, along with complex eye movement and complex thinking. Mood and behavior alterations are common with those with PSP. Commonly misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, Progressive supranuclear palsy effects similar areas of the brain-substantia nigra. The hallmark of PSP is the accumulation of abnormal protein called tau which collects mainly in the brain stem.

As it's name suggests this particular disease begins slowly and continues to worsen over long periods of time (progressive), and causes weakness (palsy) by damaging certain parts of the brain above very small structures called nuclei in the brain that control eye movements (supranuclear).

Due to its rare nature, PSP only affects approximately 20,000 Americans, whereas Parkinson's disease affects more than 500,000 Americans.

Loss of balance while walking is the first symptom to be recognized in individuals with PSP, the individual may experience unexplained falls, stiffness or awkwardness in gait. As the disease progresses an individual will begin to develop a blurring in vision and problems controlling eye movement. If you or your loved one is affected with PSP, then you already understand that maintaining a safe environment that provides assistance with daily living and mobility is vital especially as the disease progresses.

More from Beehive | Coeur d Alene Id

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Chef James is always creating something brillant in the kitchen!  Preparing for a

special family gathering the other evening at Beehive.

Rebecca Harlow Photography

Spring is here, and every minute there is sunshine

we are taking advantage of the good weather.

Gary brought K.C. out to stretch his wings and visit

with residents.

Rebecca Harlow Photography

A bit of prepping in the raised beds

soon we will be planting...

Rebecca Harlow Photography

An afternoon game of Bingo,

the ladies get really competitive about their Bingo-

this is serious stuff at Beehive!