Hi All,
I’ve attached one of the Labelle Co-op SC Newsletters. The members, Liaison and Sheila have all received this very well.
Thanks Victoria and Diane for sharing.
About admin
Author Archive | admin
Talking with Members/Residents about Personal Hygiene
Answer:
Lack of insight is really a challenge with residents! We want to be direct but diplomatic, firm but not offensive, helpful but not overbearing—always a balance, right?
For individuals who have little to no insight, its best to be concrete but diplomatic and not beat around the bush. I would wonder a bit about the cognitive issues of resident, dementia, mental health issues, perhaps? If you notice that hygeine has fallen by the wayside it may be indicative of depression or other mental health issues. Another issue may be rehabilitative too. So, if she has issues with weakness or cant get around, she proably cant give herself a proper shower other than a sink shower.
If the resident becomes offended by your question or suggestion, just keep in mind that you cant take it personally and there will be a risk that they feel hurt.
So for example you can say (speak with that person in private–even if there are several of them)
“Ms Jones, I say this with much care, but I worry about you. I cant get used to the odor that I notice from you. Are you feeling OK? Is your faucet/shower in working order? I know that when I asked you before you indicated that you didn’t notice the odor. But usually, we dont notice our own odors (give example that people ask you what perfume you are wearing and compliment you that smell nice but your dont really nemsotice your owns smell–good or bad). This the same situation. We often dont notice our own odors –good and bad odors! Because its noticeable and others may have already expressed concerns about it. Is there some way we can work on it? I have some extra shower items and body spray items if you want to give these a try”
If she still denies it, and continues to not have insight then you have an issues with passive self neglect. You may need to explain the building policy–eviction process etc. Option for APS to get involved to provide additional services.
If you want to be indirect ” Ms Jones, I need some direction about an concern that I have an I am wondering if I can get your suggestion” If she cannot connect the 2, then you can be more direct
“Ms. Jones, I am concerned about your body odor. Please dont feel offended I say this with much care and love. When some of our residents experience this it brings up a lot of red flags like being sick, having issues with getting around, or they’ve lost someone special and they are depressed and cant bring themselves to shower up and take care of their hygeine. When this happens, we have to address it because it’s a sign that something is going on.”
Good Luck! I had to address this with a patient years ago, and it turned out she had complicated grief and had some aggitating signs of depression. We addressed depression, got her on meds and had enough energy to shower up and wash her hair. She was still offended but now that her depression lifted and was addressed and it was in the context of her depression she understood why it needed to be addressed.
Take care
Joanne
Joanne Cruz,MSW, LMSW, ACT
Clinical & Medical Social Worker
Home Health Partners, Inc (248) 358-1186
Question:
I’m looking for advice on how to talk with clients about personal hygiene that is being neglected to the point of being at risk of eviction, but reports not being aware that it is an issue (she is unaware of the odor of her body and apartment). How do you have this conversation?
CSI and Medical Marijuana
Answer from Sheila:
Medical Marijuana is not legal per the Federal government. I would not feel comfortable advising them on any other from to use it. We can look into these other forms through the HUD.gov website.
The subsidy comes from HUD, so they would be aware of the illegal use of the drug. I would say yes to the resident no being able to get subsidy elsewhere if they did move. I will ask for more information on this from either Anne or Karen.
Question:
First-When we talk about medical marijuana, we normally talk about smoking marijuana. What is CSI’s position on other forms of THC such as drops? Would it be okay for us to advocate that members use those alternatives in the building rather than smoking? Would it get them in the same trouble as smoking medical marijuana since they would not be possessing the drug rather a compound of the drug?
Second-When they get in trouble for using medical marijuana and lose their subsidy, is that reported to HUD? How is that handled? Would they be able to apply for subsidized housing at other locations or have they lost that privilege all together?
It Can Happen to Anyone: Problems with alcohol and medications among older adults
Hi All,
Available in the Hannan Library for checkout. This is a VHS film, plus a whole box of additional information about older adults and alcohol.
“It Can Happen to Anyone: Problems with alcohol and medications among older adults” by AARP and staring Ed Asner! This is a 26 minute discussion about the role alcohol plays in the lives of some older adults.
Also at Hannan! AA and AARP are Hannan Tenant Partners on the 4th floor of Hannan. You are welcome to stop by and talk with their volunteers and gain informational resources.
Stuffed
Hi All,
Available for use as an educational workshop in the Co-ops and Villages! You can arrange to check out the laptop and projector through Maxine. “Stuffed” is saved to the laptop through Unbox (Amazon). You can also purchase it for a nominal amount on Amazon.com.
“Stuffed” by Arwen Curry and Cerissa Tanner. This is a 21-minute documentary about compulsive hoarding that is appropriate for service providers and residents/members alike. More information on the film at http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/489_stuff.php.
STUFFED
discussion questions developed by Matt Hamburg
— Has anyone worked with hoarders or clutterers before? If yes, how were you able to recognize the problem and what did you do about it?
— Do you identify with anyone from the video? If so, who and why?
— Did you learn anything about hoarding that you did not already know? What did you learn?
— Were you surprised by anything you saw?
— Does anyone have anything else that comes to mind that you’d like to talk about?
Robert Wood Johnson Videos Train on Care Transitions
If you like learning via Youtube and also keeping an eye out for how physicians and nurses are being educated on care transitions, this is for you!
http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/program-areas/quality-equality/care-about-your-care/continuing-education.html?cid=XEM_A7059
The goal of this program is to inform nurses and physicians about the drivers of avoidable hospital readmissions and how improved care transitions may reduce avoidable readmissions. Our panel of national experts will provide innovative models of care that are helping people make the difficult transition from hospital to home. In addition, participants will see what interdisciplinary teams from around the country are doing to address this complex problem.
After studying the information presented here, participants will be able to:
- Identify at least three drivers of hospital readmissions.
- Describe at least two peer-reviewed, patient-centered models for care transitions.
- List at least three tools or lessons that will be incorporated into your own efforts to implement interventions related to care transitions.
Educational Workshop Ideas for “Not being Old”
Hi All,
At yesterday’s SC Team Meeting we discussed options for educational workshops that aren’t specifically geared towards older adult issues. I wanted to follow up with some ideas that the team has used over the past year (gleaned from your AASC Online reports). Please add more!
– Chef demonstrations of all sorts
– Creating and following New Year’s Resolutions
– Music Appreciation (WC3, Motown Revue, etc)
– Understanding your Ballot
– Farmer’s Market
– Public Speaking by Toastmasters
– Communicating in Challenging Circumstances
– Telling your Father’s Day or Mother’s Day Story
– Paper Organization
– Meditation
– Healthy Walking – starting a walking group
– Journaling
– Summertime/wintertime skin care
Great ideas all!
CSI Volunteer Request
CSI and each Co-op have a process for inviting in external volunteers, due to them wanting to build volunteership from within the Co-op as much as possible. They don’t want potentially less able-bodied, but otherwise capable, member volunteers to feel replaced by external volunteers. Hence, SCs are not permitted to seek or host volunteers. The seeking and hosting of volunteers would need to be done by the Co-op members.
A slightly more nuanced answer does include the following consideration for individual clients:
1. If you are specifically working with a member as a client, you are welcome (with their involvement and consent) to help line up volunteers to assist from everything from phone reassurance to heavy lifting. Concerning a member with a tendency to hoard, I would stick with skilled and trained volunteers from organizations like RSVP or CSS or student interns with specialized training like Social Work students.
2. If it is for a co-op wide event, that is the domain of the co-op members/committees. In order to encourage as much “in-co-op” volunteerism as possible, I would err on not getting involved with any volunteer recruitment unless asked if you can perform a specific component of an overall volunteer event strategy that you co-plan with your leadership team.
Community Client Eligibility
Answer:
– In order to establish a community resident as a client, you would need to do a full assessment, and that requires that they make an appointment with you in your office. Since, the potential client is a nursing home resident, that is not feasible, and hence you would be unable to establish the necessary process to engage in a client relationship.
– HUD guidelines state that SCs can provide case management, but only when client has no other access to case management services. This potential client potentially has access to case management through the social worker at her nursing home (which should be your primary referral), through the case manager at TSA for the NFT program (your secondary referral), or private pay care management.
– The intent of serving community clients is to meet episodic needs, not to conduct ongoing case management. This is why you can close community client cases after the initial need is met.
The short answer is that this potential client doesn’t meet eligibility to be a community client. However, you can indicate in your PNs with your member that your provided I&R for a family member. No more detailed information is required.
I think the family’s trust and desire for you to work with their extended family members demonstrates how much they value your social work services.
Question:
I got two referrals for potential community clients. One referral is a woman in a nursing home in Taylor who is an excellent candidate for the Nursing Facilities Transistion program (NFT). I can refer her to NFT at TSA without divulging her personal information, but the daughter wants me to continue to help her with her mother. A couple of questions: What would be a recommended way for me to do an intake and assessment when the potential client is in the nursing home? Do I do a resident enrollment for her in AASC and document the TSA referral even without a full assessment? I am expecting to hear from the sister of the other potential client. I am not sure what the sister would like me to do, but the potential client’s income is very high. The potential client is able to private pay for services, but I believe the sister would like case management services from me. Am I allowed to work with this person given her high income?
CSI Procedures for Flyers and Handouts
Hi All,
Sheila and the Liaisons discussed SC flyers and educational workshop handouts at their last meeting. Here are some good suggestions/procedures they have come up with to address some of their concerns:
– Flyers should be proofed by your Liaison, Sheila and Rachel prior to posting in the co-op. You can do this by sharing them via email. This needs to happen in advance of every posting.
– Educational Workshop handouts should be proofread (by your fellow SC, Rachel or trusted co-presenter), source material cited, and printed in 14-point or greater font. Materials should be shared with your co-op leadership team in advance of your monthly meeting so that you can then discuss their congruence with co-op policies (house rules in particular). Please request workshop materials from your presenter in advance.
Thanks so much,
Rachel