Comments for Professional Caregiver Blog http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog Professional Caregiver - A Care and Compliance Group Blog for Assisted Living and Residential Care Professionals Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:42:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Administration of Medications to Residents Receiving Hospice Services by Rita Morris http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/resident-care/administration-of-medications-to-residents-receiving-hospice-services_03-11-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-884 Rita Morris Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:42:05 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/resident-care/administration-of-medications-to-residents-receiving-hospice-services_03-11-2008/#comment-884 I understand what you are saying completely. I went through these same feelings when my mother was terminally ill in 2009. My mother's wish was the same. She had lymphoma and wanted to be coherent and live life as best she could but she did not want to be in pain. It seemed the hospice nurse didn't understand the "live life as best she could" part. She only heard my mom didn't want to be in pain. She discussed the drugs and discussed the drugs - morphine and others - until mom acquiesced. Once on the morphine there was no going back. As I look back more than a year since her death I have begun to understand that a terminally ill patient cannot live pain free without the drugs and the drugs are so powerful if they are to control pain the patient cannot be coherant. I am so sorry about the suffering you, the loved one and caregiver, are experiencing. Hospice provides us the opportunity to care for our loved ones in a less sterile environment than a hospital or nursing home, but the days of care can be difficult, wonderful, disappointing, angering, and a blessing at the same time. I understand what you are saying completely. I went through these same feelings when my mother was terminally ill in 2009. My mother’s wish was the same. She had lymphoma and wanted to be coherent and live life as best she could but she did not want to be in pain. It seemed the hospice nurse didn’t understand the “live life as best she could” part. She only heard my mom didn’t want to be in pain. She discussed the drugs and discussed the drugs – morphine and others – until mom acquiesced. Once on the morphine there was no going back. As I look back more than a year since her death I have begun to understand that a terminally ill patient cannot live pain free without the drugs and the drugs are so powerful if they are to control pain the patient cannot be coherant. I am so sorry about the suffering you, the loved one and caregiver, are experiencing. Hospice provides us the opportunity to care for our loved ones in a less sterile environment than a hospital or nursing home, but the days of care can be difficult, wonderful, disappointing, angering, and a blessing at the same time.

]]> Comment on Administration of Medications to Residents Receiving Hospice Services by Anesa http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/resident-care/administration-of-medications-to-residents-receiving-hospice-services_03-11-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-882 Anesa Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:39:10 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/resident-care/administration-of-medications-to-residents-receiving-hospice-services_03-11-2008/#comment-882 My fiance is under Hospice care with hepatic failure. He is 47 years old. He also suffers from diabetes and congestive heart failure. His death is inevitable. However, the Hopsice nurse that he has has no concept of listening to the patient. He does not want to live in extreme pain, yet he wants to be coherant enough to be able to live the quality of life that he wants. Whenever the subject of pain comes up (every visit), his nurse says it is the disease process and I will ask for more morphine. He has a drug history and morphine does not work for him. If any one has any suggestions to get the Hospice nurse to really hear what he is saying, please let me know. My fiance is under Hospice care with hepatic failure. He is 47 years old. He also suffers from diabetes and congestive heart failure. His death is inevitable. However, the Hopsice nurse that he has has no concept of listening to the patient. He does not want to live in extreme pain, yet he wants to be coherant enough to be able to live the quality of life that he wants. Whenever the subject of pain comes up (every visit), his nurse says it is the disease process and I will ask for more morphine. He has a drug history and morphine does not work for him. If any one has any suggestions to get the Hospice nurse to really hear what he is saying, please let me know.

]]> Comment on Use of Window Restrictors by Jennifer http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/resident-care/use-of-window-restrictors_02-16-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-879 Jennifer Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:44:13 +0000 http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/?p=780#comment-879 If a resident escaping from a window is an actual concern, then get a simple alarm on the window. That way when the resident tries to open the window the care staff can respond accordingly instead of having to worry about the above concerns. If a resident escaping from a window is an actual concern, then get a simple alarm on the window. That way when the resident tries to open the window the care staff can respond accordingly instead of having to worry about the above concerns.

]]> Comment on Tuesday Tip: The New “Official” California RCFE Regulations are Available by NISHITH http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/administration/tuesday-tip-the-new-official-california-rcfe-regulations-are-available_08-19-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-878 NISHITH Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:35:09 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/?p=295#comment-878 i want to regulation for volunteer in RCFE facility. how many hours they can work in a week ? i want to regulation for volunteer in RCFE facility. how many hours they can work in a week ?

]]> Comment on New Fall Safety Law by Stephanie Hadley http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/communication/new-fall-safety-law_05-05-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-877 Stephanie Hadley Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:38:18 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/?p=84#comment-877 We are looking for some data collection and analysis tools providers have found that are useful on the prevention and reduction of falls with elderly patients. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you! Stephanie Hadley, LCSW Align Hospice 940 E. Carol Street Meridian, Idaho 83646 Cell (208)949-9478 OF (208)639-1122 We are looking for some data collection and analysis tools providers have found that are useful on the prevention and reduction of falls with elderly patients. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

Stephanie Hadley, LCSW
Align Hospice
940 E. Carol Street
Meridian, Idaho 83646
Cell (208)949-9478
OF (208)639-1122

]]> Comment on California: Who Can Administer Medications to a Resident on Hospice? by taryn boisvert http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/hospice-care/administer-medications-resident-hospice_01-26-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-875 taryn boisvert Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:49:42 +0000 http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/?p=761#comment-875 -please clarify..specifically regarding hospice patients- can the RCFE medical technician administer meds to the self-administering hospice patient? Is there a difference in any of the rules/regs for a hospice patient at RCFE? -please clarify..specifically regarding hospice patients- can the RCFE medical technician administer meds to the self-administering hospice patient?
Is there a difference in any of the rules/regs for a hospice patient at RCFE?

]]> Comment on Tuesday Tip: California Assembly Bill 749 by Rachel Main http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/disaster-preparedness/tuesday-tip-california-assembly-bill-749_11-04-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-867 Rachel Main Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:44:02 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/?p=529#comment-867 Have you ever posted a Tuesday Tip of Volunteer Requirements? If they are always supervised, never left alone, serve less than 16 hrs a week, they don't need fingerprints, right? They need to sign a statement of health. Do they also need recent chest x-ray, tb, and physical? At what point would we request this? We have one time volunteers, special event volunteers, once a month, once a week....what about family members and relatives? At what point would we want to maintain personnel records for them? Thank you, Have you ever posted a Tuesday Tip of Volunteer Requirements? If they are always supervised, never left alone, serve less than 16 hrs a week, they don’t need fingerprints, right? They need to sign a statement of health. Do they also need recent chest x-ray, tb, and physical? At what point would we request this? We have one time volunteers, special event volunteers, once a month, once a week….what about family members and relatives? At what point would we want to maintain personnel records for them?

Thank you,

]]> Comment on Tuesday Tip: Stay Current on Staff Training by Josh Allen, RN http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/communication/tuesday-tip-stay-current-on-staff-training_10-07-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-849 Josh Allen, RN Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:43:43 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/?p=497#comment-849 Teresita...I would recommend that you ask hospice for a discontinue order for the comfort kit and then arrange to have the meds returned to your pharmacy, if possible, or dispose of the medications. Teresita…I would recommend that you ask hospice for a discontinue order for the comfort kit and then arrange to have the meds returned to your pharmacy, if possible, or dispose of the medications.

]]> Comment on Tuesday Tip: Stay Current on Staff Training by Teresita Valdovino http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/communication/tuesday-tip-stay-current-on-staff-training_10-07-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Teresita Valdovino Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:12:54 +0000 http://www.communityed.com/blog/?p=497#comment-848 What will I do with the meds on "Comfort Kit" if a resident is taken out from hospice? The Hospice agency is discharging one of my residents from hospice service soon because they think she is okay and does not need to be on a hospice care anymore. All her regular meds are provided by the hospice agency. The meds in the "comfort Kit" are PRN, most of it she did not need. What will I do with the "Comfort Kit" after she is released from hospice. What will I do with the meds on “Comfort Kit” if a resident is taken out from hospice?

The Hospice agency is discharging one of my residents from hospice service soon because they think she is okay and does not need to be on a hospice care anymore.

All her regular meds are provided by the hospice agency. The meds in the “comfort Kit” are PRN, most of it she did not need. What will I do with the “Comfort Kit” after she is released from hospice.

]]> Comment on Tuesday Tip: Crushing Medications for Hospice Residents by Dawn Hopson LVN http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/hospice-care/tuesday-tip-crushing-medications-hospice-residents_10-20-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-847 Dawn Hopson LVN Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:11:48 +0000 http://www.careandcompliance.com/blog/?p=698#comment-847 I am hoping that patients in Assisted Living facilities and are on crisis care at the end stages of life are allowed sublingual medications and morphine drops prescribed by the Physicians and RN's. Please advise if it is permitted. Thanks! I am hoping that patients in Assisted Living facilities and are on crisis care at the end stages of life are allowed sublingual medications and morphine drops prescribed by the Physicians and RN’s. Please advise if it is permitted. Thanks!

]]>