A Door Opens
Phases of life often begin with change.
At Kindred Healthcare we know that life changes – one door opening as another door closes – can occur at the most unexpected times, in the most unexpected ways.
And our doors are open to help you deal with the changes that you and your loved one are experiencing.
Kindred’s Family Education Program: Partners in Caring focuses on answering questions, offering information and insight, and helping you or your loved one through the admission process into one of our nursing homes, whether for a short-term stay or for long-term recovery.
Click here to view video clips on this topic.
Our aim is to convey facts about what to expect, listen to your concerns and, above all, open the door to reveal what life is like in a Kindred nursing home.
Creating a Partnership
Partners in Caring is designed to educate, inform and assist in the formation of realistic expectations about nursing homes. The first step is to outline what must occur in order for the resident and his/her family to make realistic decisions about long-term healthcare.
Entering a nursing home requires adaptation on the part of the resident and his/her support network. We can help by informing you about what to expect as this new life phase begins.
Our objective is to teach you and your loved ones by listening to your questions and concerns and by giving you as much information as possible about aging as well as about choosing a nursing home and the quality of life it offers.
Short-Term Rehabilitation
A nursing home generally includes two types of residents – those who are receiving short-term rehabilitation to recover from an injury or illness, and those with multiple medical, cognitive or emotional problems or illnesses who are receiving long-term care.
Whenever possible, the short-term resident is sent home. In some cases, they resume their lives and continue their recovery; in other cases, they may experience a relapse or another health issue and be readmitted.
Realities About Aging
Challenges
There is no fountain of youth, no magic potion to diminish the effects of the aging process. Aging inevitably brings on physical, mental and emotional challenges for the people who are aging as well as the loved ones caring for them. Hearing and vision are almost always affected to some degree, and even a mild infection can have a serious impact on a resident’s fragile state of health. Many mental changes are a normal part of the aging process, including decreased memory and slower thinking. Pain from a joint or muscle problem also becomes more frequent.
Fear and apprehension about these changes can be reduced by open, honest conversation. And the support of family or friends is very important in several ways:
- to keep the resident engaged in what is going on around the nursing home as well as engaged with his or her family
- to provide valuable information to caregivers and staff about the person’s unique characteristics, including family and work history, food preferences and activities they find enjoyable
- to assist caregivers in keeping the resident comfortable
- to alert the staff to any history of falls or wandering
- to help the resident maintain a balance between independence and appropriate risk
Stress
Upon admission to a nursing home, a resident might feel disoriented and stressed over the new environment. Moving at any age is difficult, and sometimes a move to a nursing home may have overtones of finality, or at least semi-permanence.
Very few family members admit their loved ones to a nursing home without experiencing feelings of guilt – even if caring for that loved one at home has become an overwhelming task. This stage of life is filled with conflicting emotions, and guilt is a natural part of that. One way to deal with any guilt feelings is to stay involved through regular visits, by getting to know the staff and by acting as an advocate for your loved one.
Working Together Through Angel Care
To help keep communication open between family members and caregivers, Kindred’s Angel Care program offers yet another dimension of care. This one-on-one program pairs an Angel Care representative with a resident in order to focus extra attention on the needs of the people we care for.
As the Angel Care representative and resident form a special friendship, our commitment to our residents and family members is emphasized. For more information on the Angel Care program, contact the executive director of your nursing home.
As We Age…
Through the efforts of researchers, physicians and other caregivers, we know and understand more about how we age than ever before. Because many of the elderly have multiple health, psychological and emotional issues, it’s more difficult to diagnose and treat illnesses. In addition, a longer recovery time makes it difficult to determine if treatments are working.
Although this list certainly is not all-inclusive, here are a few effects and risk factors involved in aging:
- Bone density decreases. This is a fact in virtually all women and men from about age 50.
- Risk of falling increases. Each year, over 30% of senior citizens experience falls at home.
- Appetite may decrease. The change in the sense of taste and smell that most people experience as they age may lead to a diminished appetite.
- Risk of dehydration increases. As people age, their ability to sense thirst can lessen, making dehydration more difficult to detect or diagnose.
- Skin becomes more fragile. As we age, our skin becomes less elastic and the layer of fat under our skin decreases.
- Mental status/ability may change. Even senior citizens with no history of Alzheimer’s or other dementia experience some normal mental changes as they age, including decreased memory, confusion, or a decline in intellectual function.
- Incontinence problems may develop. Whether through decreased awareness of bodily function or muscle weakness, incontinence occurs often in the elderly.
Points to Consider
As you research healthcare centers for yourself or for a loved one, consider these points.
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Does the healthcare center have a Performance Improvement Committee?
Kindred healthcare centers do.
Our Performance Improvement Committees gather data, identify problems, and formulate and implement solutions to those problems. Above all, these PICs are an ongoing monitoring process to ensure goals are being met and that Kindred healthcare centers meet a standard of quality care. -
Does the healthcare center feature an advocate program that gives residents another dimension of care?
Kindred healthcare centers do.
Our Angel Care program focuses extra attention on our residents and, in some cases, their family members as well. The goal is simple – to meet the special needs of the people we provide quality care for every day. -
Does the healthcare center have programs in place to train caregivers about helping to prevent injuries from falls?
Kindred healthcare centers do.
Our Falling Stars program uses colorful star symbols to establish a common method of communication to alert staff about who is at risk for falls. A risk assessment for falls is completed upon a resident’s admission and updated quarterly. Any resident who has fallen in the interim will be identified by the Falling Stars symbol to alert caregivers. -
Does the healthcare center have a special unit for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia?
Kindred healthcare centers do.
Some of our healthcare centers include a Reflections Unit – a community that celebrates the spirit of our residents, offering a comfortable and compassionate environment that emphasizes positive life experiences and active involvement in a daily routine. -
Does the healthcare center encourage a personal visit to see firsthand their commitment to quality care?
Kindred healthcare centers do.
There’s no substitute for seeing for yourself. We invite you or your loved one to call and schedule a visit.
Kindred Healthcare Centers vs. Assisted Living
Today there are more options for senior living than ever. That makes it challenging to select the most appropriate living arrangements for a loved one. Here are some comparisons to consider:
Kindred healthcare centers offer registered nursing care, treatment of medically complex residents, dietitian-supervised food service, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, hospice affiliations, daily living activities and amenities, and physician-directed policies and programs.
Assisted living facilities are designed to provide a more independent living environment for individuals needing only limited assistance and supervision.
The Medicare Nursing Home Compare website has survey results for every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.
