ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS
Fall is officially here and we are looking forward to a season full of fun activities like harvest crafts, festive treats and doing more things outdoors on our beautiful patio as the weather cools down. Every month we have our resident council meeting and this month we will discuss what we would like to do for a Halloween/Fall Festival keeping in mind the current conditions. Once we know for sure what our plan is, we will be reaching out to the community for help, so keep an eye out for that! As we begin to open up more things here in the facility, we want our loved ones to know that we always keep in mind the safety of our residents and staff first, making sure that all activity equipment used is being properly sanitized and that everyone is maintaining social distance. As always, we encourage loved ones to reach out to our staff so that we may assist you in connecting with your family member. We hope you are all doing well and just know that while we miss you very much, we are doing everything we can to stay busy, happy and healthy!
All the best from your activity team,
Heather & Kristian
From the Business Office:
Attention Families,
There have been concerns regarding the stimulus checks that were issued in May and June. It is important that any Medicaid recipient make sure they do not have more than $2000 (combined) in any bank account. The stimulus checks, however, do not count against the recipient for 1 year. There are many ways that Medicaid will allow residents to “spend down” their funds to remain in compliance. Ultimately the funds must be spent on the resident or for the resident’s benefit. Does your loved one have their own TV? Has their wardrobe been updated? If your loved one has a home, they are allowed to make updates on that home. Also, if arrangements have not been made for after life services, now is an excellent time to put those plans into place. Please feel free to reach out to either Brandi Vega (BOM) or Luci Mendoza (SW) if you need any assistance.
The Business Office would like to remind you that we are able to accept checks, money orders, debit, and credit cards for payments at this time. As always, we thank you for allowing us to care for your loved one.
Thank you,
Brandi Vega, BOM
From Our Nursing Unit Manager:
It’s Almost Flu Season
We will be doing flu vaccines starting in October.
Flu prevention is very similar to Covid it is important to:
- Know how it spreads
- There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
- The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.o Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).o Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.o These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.o Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
- Wash your hands often
- Avoid close contact
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others
- Core coughs and sneezes
- Clean and disinfect
- Monitor your health daily
Source: CDC.gov
Kristen McConnell LVN
Unit Manager/Infection Preventionist
A Word from our Social Worker:
Here are some key vocabulary words you may come across when it comes to your loved one:
Advanced Directives – a written statement of a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment, often including a living will, made to ensure those wishes are carried out should the person be unable to communicate them to a doctor.
Living Will, also called Directive to Physicians – This outlines you parent’s wishes concerning end-of-life medical care.
Durable Power of Attorney (POA) for Health Care – gives some trusted relative or friend the authority to make health-care decisions for your parent, should they not be able to make them for themselves at some point.
The following advanced directives should be made by the parent, however, if they are not able and you know their wishes, they can be made by POA, family, guardian or physicians.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) – is specific wishes to withhold Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), transcutaneous cardiac pacing, defibrillation, advanced airway management, artificial ventilation if found unresponsive with no signs of respirations, heartbeat and pulse.
Full Code – this means to initiate CPR immediately
If you have questions about the following, don’t hesitate to talk with Social Worker.
Luci Mendoza, LBSW, MCG
Luci.Mendoza@altamontecare.com
