THE ADHC AM/PM FALL MESSENGER
FALL EDITION SEPTEMBER 2008
6442 SOUTH YAKIMA AVE TACOMA, WA 98408 459-7222
HEALTH FOCUS FOR
SEPTEMBER
5-A-DAY MONTH
CHOLESTEROL
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
HEALTHY AGING MONTH
SKIN CARE MONTH
FOOD FOCUS FOR
SEPTEMBER
APPLE MONTH
BISCUIT MONTH
CHICKEN MONTH
MUSIC/GAME/GARDENING
ARTS & CRAFTS
FOCUS FOR SEPTEMBER
PIANO MONTH
DARTS MONTH
BUTTON CRAFTS
FALL HAT MONTH
S.C.O.P.E.
FOCUS FOR SEPTEMBER
(Social/Cultural Observances and
Political Events)
LABOR DAY OBSERVANCE
PEOPLE PRIDE
ADULT DAYHEALTH SERVICES
THERE ARE PLANNED
CLOSURES FOR
OCTOBER!
THE NEXT PLANNED
CLOSURE WILL BE IN
NOVEMBER
IN OBSERVANCE OF
THANKSGIVING!
SEVERE WEATHER
PROCEDURES
a copy of the procedures
are sent home!
If you do not have a copy
of ourSevere WeatherProcedures please check
our website or call us and
request a copy to be sent
BIRTHDAY
RECOGNITIONS!
AM BIRTHDAYS
THE AM PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS
WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING
A BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH
ARE:
MIA C. DONALD R.
WESLEY C. KIMBERLY R.
LACIE F. RON S.
GERALD Mc. JOHN S.
CURTIS Mc. NORMAN W
SARAH Mc. CURTIS W.
TIFFANY H. ALBERT L.
VIOLETA L. ERICKA L.
CHARLES Mc.
PM BIRTHDAYS
THE PM PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS
WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING
A BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH
ARE:
DONNA B. TAMMY D.
STEPHANINE J. RYAN J.
CHRISTINA K. JEAN S.
CHRIS S. CHRISTINE S.
JOHN ST. TONI V.
COLETHA V.
We will be recognizing those with SEPTEMBERbirthdays on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008!
IT’S BACK…….
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FALL WEATHER IS HERE!
We are PLEADING with all of our caregivers to PLEASE make sure that youMARKallouterwearitems of participants.
If the participant you care for has several different coats he/she likes to wear….we need each and every one of them marked!
There is no way our staff can remember what 60 different people wears in on any given day….we rely on you to have all personal and clothing items marked! We have many participants who are not accurate in their answers or who become easily confused when they look into our closet of 60 some coats! Please help us out by having all coats /hats etc marked.
We will not be responsible for any items not sent home if the items are not marked.
NAMETAGS……NAMETAGS……NAMETAGS
Each and every participant has a specific name tag made for him/her.
These tags not only inform the staff and volunteers about the participant’s specific medical status, but also informs all of us to any dietary limitations or allergies. If a participant comes home with a nametag…or two…PLEASE see that it returns to the Center on the very next attendance day! We are sorry that these keep getting by us—we will try to improve in this area!
THANK YOU to all of the caregivers and family members who send these back!
YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR 4 (FOUR) HOUR PROGRAM!
Recently our management team met and discussed the fact that we need to request and reinforce the fact that our funding sources reimburse us for 4 hours of service. We are asking that all participants and caregiver work as hard as you can to make ALL of your other medical and dental as well as social appointments for the days you DO NOT have an appointment with us!
If this is not possible, we would rather you cancel your appointment with us and we will work on finding a possible opening on another day….however, this is not guaranteed to happen due to the other clients we are committed to serving.
The day(s) you come to the Center is considered a medical appointment and you need to make every effort to be here, otherwise we cannot verify to the powers to be that you need the service.
For our AM participants we need you to be at the Center by 10:00 am and please do not schedule any departures earlier than 1:45.
For our PM participants we need you to be at the Center by 3:30 pm and please do not schedule any departures earlier than 6:45.
Again, in order for you to qualify for service at the Center you need to not only be here for the meal, you need to be here for your skilled nursing care and your OT treatments and to participate in either a small or large group.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call your ADHC Case Manager.
Communication Helps Everyone!
Caregivers, we must ask your help in a very important area!!!
Communication is the key in our ability to support and care for any of our participants. There are many changes in our participant’s lives that DO affect how they act and react here at the Center. Please give us a call or email us if there are some significant changes in a participant’s life.
If there is a change inmedicine or prescription levels, address, employment status, or caregivers (new staff or staff leaving) a simple phone call can assist us in supporting or redirecting a participant.
We are not trying to invade your privacy, however, we feel that changes cause our participants to act out and we are here to assist them and support them during the changes. It helps to know before hand if there’s something in their life making them feel insecure or out-of-sorts or emotional vulnerable!
Thank you for any help you can give us in these areas! We want to take a pro-active approach to the challenging behaviors many of our participants can and do present! We need your help inthis area, please consider calling or emailing our staff about any changes you feel we may need to know in order to support and carefor our participants in an effective way.
AM ADHCMEMORYLANETHEATER
(AM SENIOR PARTICIPANTS)
Norman W. shares this information about the film we were lucky enough to view!
“THE SEVENTH YEAR ITCH”
On August 5, 1962 Marilyn Monroe died of a drug overdose, an apparent suicide.
She was 36 years old.
In remembrance of Marilyn Monroe’s cinematic charm Norman presented Marilyn’s most popular film. The movie was a comedy smash hit of 1955 and I stars Marilyn at the age of 29, Tom E. Well, Robert Strauss as the janitor and Sonny Tufts.
The film was direct by Billy Wilder.
Marilyn was married to Joe Dimaggio at the time and he was so upset by the scene where Marilyn’s skirt is blown up around her hips that it eventually led to divorce.
Our September feature will be “STATE FAIR”….a classic that will no doubt bring back memories for all of us!
COMMUNITY BOWLING STARTS IN SEPTEMBER!
PCFA is starting their bowling program in
September. If you want to be a part of this you need to
Contact:
Krissy Rehberger at
(253) 858-2531
e-mail at
or check out their website:
(this is not a MultiCare organization, but many of our participants and their families participate with/ support and endorse this group!)
Gas Prices….Transportation and ADHC
As the price of gas rises, and rises and rises….we need everyone to dig deep and be as patient and understanding as possible!
The operators and owners of the shared riding services that the majority of our participants depend on in order to come in for their appointments are not only trying to provide the best service they can, they are also trying to stay in business!
One of the ways the companies are trying to be thrifty and cost effective is that they trying to fill their vans and shuttles up with as many of their customers that is possible.
In the past when 3-4 participants may be loaded up and brought in or taken home by a shuttles/van, we now have 4-8 participants being loaded up on one shuttle.
What does this mean for you or the participant you are a caregiver for?
Some trips from home to the Center and some trips from the Center to home may be a bit longer!!!!!
We need everyone to understand that it is not cost effective for the drivers or their companies to run 2-3 shuttles half full, when they can run 1 shuttle with all their seats full.
If you have an issue with the time someone is coming home or leaving home, please feel free to call us, but you need to be aware of two things:
#1-MultiCare Adult Day Health does not own/operate or supervise any of the vans/shuttles or drivers.
# 2-The service is a shared riding service and we need everyone to be ready to load and unload as quickly as possible so that you do not cause anyone’s arrival to the Center or to their home to be delayed! Please be considerate to those still on the shuttle/van…they also want to get home!
The staff at ADHC will do their very best to make sure that everyone is prepared and ready for the drivers in as timely a manner as possible so that we do not add delay anyone’s trip back home.
Again, we need to ask you for your patience and understanding during what is going to be a very trying time for you as the customer and our shuttle/van operators and owners!
CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH MEMORY LOSS?
Family Caregiver Support Groups
provide a consistent and caring place for caregivers to learn, share and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with dementia.
Meetings
are FREE and open to all care partners, family members and friends of individuals with dementia.
Support Groups
are led by trained volunteers who receive ongoing technical support and training from the Chapter office.
2nd Tuesday of each month
1:30-3:00pm
Maple Creek Retirement Inn
10420 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
Lakewood, WA98499
Contact group facilitator:
Alice Jackson
253-539-0926
THE 3RD ANNUAL ADHC GARAGE SALE/FUNDRAISER
IS A H-U-G-E SUCCESS!
There is an old African saying….
“It takes a whole village to raise a child.”
…..At Adult Day Health, we believe…
“It takes a WHOLE COMMUNITY to have an enriching and engaging Activities Program!”
Well…the community of staff, caregivers and family members who donated FANTASTIC, TERRIFIC TREASURES for our Garage Sale as well as all of the ADHC and community shoppers who purchased those treasures are the reason our sale was the BEST we have done in 3 years of this annual event!
We can’t Thank You enough for being part of our Garage Sale and helping us to raise funds so that we can make sure our activities and events continue to be enriching and engaging as possible!
THANK YOU…THANK YOU…THANK YOU!
ADHC’S EXTRA CLOTHING
We are in need of any/all ADHC marked clothing to be sent back to the Center at the very next attendance day! We have a minimum amount of clothing stored here at the Center to use on theoccasion that there is a toileting mishap. We however are not getting these items returned to us when we send them home and now our supply has dwindled down to nothing. We are asking that everyone check to see that you send back any ADHC clothing or that if possible you consider donating some sweatpants or pants with elastic on it so that we can hopefully build up our supply of extra clothing!
Thank you very much!
SAVE the GLADD Dances
Family members and caregivers….PLEASE consider stepping up to
SAVE the GLADD Dances! The board has dwindled down and a few people are doing LOTS and LOTS to keep this activity alive for those with special needs! As you know the people who do LOTS get burned out and if others do not step up and help out, the GLADD Dances MAY be a thing of the past….much like the Rainbow Festival! PLEASE consider being a part of the future for the GLADD Dances and get “On the Board!” You need to call Geri Lavin at (253) 223-4800 or (253)344-0126. If you don’t have the time to get involved and you know someone with the energy and vision to help keep this community activity alive for all of those who get some pleasure out of this once a month activity PLEASE ask them to get involved and have them call Geri as soon as possible!
WORK AND THE CENTER
Our participants who work are in need of their CAREGIVERS help when their work is closed due to Staff Training, Holidays or planned days off.
The ADHCENTER does not follow the calendars of MOST of our working participant’s job sites/placements.
Again, we have too many participants to try and keep up with everyone’s schedule outside of out Center.
We are asking that all CAREGIVERS assist the participants in their care with cancelling their rides and to make sure that all staff or family members know when the Center is open or not!
ADHC IS A LOW-SALT, SUGAR-FREE FACILITY!
We are STRONGLY discouraging participants from bringing in any seasonings or candies to the Center.
We supply the seasonings(Mrs. DASH) for any of our meals and due to the fact that we have many, many, many dietary restrictions we cannot have participants sharing their own seasonings with others. We also have participants with blood sugar issues and if their neighbor shares candy with this can cause a medical crisis in their health and lives. We also have a number of participants who have food allergies and ask that you do not bring in any food in order avoid anyone getting a food item that could present a potentially life threatening episode for any of our clients!
Caregivers we ask that you assist us in reinforcing that no outside food needs to be brought in!
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this area!
MEDICAL ALERT AWARENESS
August is Medical Alert Awareness Month and the perfect time for us to bring to your attention that EVERYONE who attends the Center needs to have some type of identification on them! We encourage everyone to have their Washington State Identification Card wit them or to have a Medical Alert bracelet or for those of our participants who use a wheelchair for their mobility, they need to have a luggage tag type identification card on their backpack or in their backpack.
At the very minimum the person’s first and last name as well as an Emergency Contact number needs to on the ID bracelet/tag/card.
It would also be helpful if the person’s home address is on the ID bracelet/tag/card.
In case of an accident to or from the Center we want to have the police or fireman or medical team to be able to quickly identify the person injured and to get information about the person from a family member/caregiver with little to no delays.
Many of our clients would be able to be calmed down and reassured if the person who is attending to them could at least call them by their first name or let the family or caregiver speak to them if they could reach them by cellphone.
We don’t want to appear to be thinking like “doomsday” is around the corner, we just want to be as proactive as possible and we want to make sure that communication can quickly be accessed so that our clients…when they are not with you or us can receive immediate care and comfort in a crisis.
If you need any assistance in getting a WA. Id card or a medical alert bracelet, please call the Center and ask your ADHC Case Manager for assistance!
POP, WATER AND ADHC
The staff at the Center is committed to the fact that we are leaders in the community and that we need to assist our participants in making healthy lifestyle decisions.
We are currently discouraging anyone from bringing pop to the Center to drink and we are giving out a special prize to those who “Re-THINK their DRINK!”
We are a medical facility and we are trying to educate all our participants on the amount of sugar and caffeine that pop has in it!
If you do bring a pop or an energy drink in, we will be asking that you do not drink it here, and we will encourage you to take it back home.
We supply water, milk and decaf coffee as well as juice here at the Center and there is really no reason for anyone to go to the expense of bringing in a pop or energy drink for the 4 hour program!
We hope that our participants, family members and caregivers will join in the campaign to
Re-THINK our DRINKS and make healthier choices during these hot August days and nights!
PERSONAL ITEMS
You are asked to mark any/all items that are yours, however we have noticed an increase in the “stuff” participants are bringing to the Center!
We have limited closet space and we really need ONLY those who need a clothing change to bring a bag into the Center…and we need to stress…1(one) bag!
We also want you to know that you are responsible for taking care of all of your own items…if something is put into the common closet and it is lost the ADHC staff cannot be held responsible.
We also want caregivers and participants to understand we cannot have “stuff”, bookbags and backpacks stored on or under the tables as these are trip hazards for the participants as well as for our staff.
Again, you are here with us for 4(four) fun hours and we really believe we can
MAKE YOU DAY …with all the things we have to offer!
Thank you for keeping it at home…unless you really need it…and if it is here…it is up to YOU to take care of!
EVERYONE HAS A STORY!
ADULT DAY HEALTH SERVICES MONTH!
September is Adult Day Health Services Month…..we need our participants and/or caregivers to provide us with their “story” about the services they receive.