Category: Alzheimer’s/Dementia

Dementia Care & Antipsychotic Medication Resources

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Dementia care and antipsychotic medication resources, tools, and data reports are now housed on the CMS Quality Improvement Organizations website. Helpful information is also available on the CMS National Partnership website. Below are direct links to this information.

CMS National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes Website: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/national-partnership-improve-dementia-care-nursing-homes

CMS Quality Improvement Organizations Website: https://qioprogram.org/landing-page – Search with the keywords ‘dementia’ and ‘antipsychotic’

Antipsychotic Medication Use Data Report: https://qioprogram.org/tools-resources/antipsychotic-medication-use-data-report

Antipsychotic Use by State: https://qioprogram.org/tools-resources/antipsychotic-use-state

If you have additional questions, please let us know. Specific questions related to the data reports can be directed to CMSQINQIOProgram@cms.hhs.gov.

MHCA Behavioral Health: Care Process for Residents with Dementia

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February 8-29, 2024: Behavioral Health: Care Process for Residents with Dementia (4-Part Webinar Series)

Join MHCA as Barbara Speedling, author of “Why is Grandma Screaming?” presents the webinar series, “Behavioral Health: Care Process for Residents with Dementia”. Following this 4-part webinar series participants will be able to describe the importance of a comprehensive holistic assessment and understand the impact of the disease process, the history of lifelong psychosocial issues and coping skills, develop team approaches to non-pharmacological interventions for mood and behavior, and create a satisfying livable environment by understanding the impact of human nature on care relationships, mood, and behavior.

MC5 Event – Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar

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May 23, 2023: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar
Location: The Sarah Community, Bridgeton
Trainer: Madisen Mendez, MOT, OTR/L, MSCS, CDP, CADDCT, CMDCP

The prevalence of dementia is on the rise. Successful dementia care in skilled nursing facilities, residential communities, and the home setting requires an understanding of the disease process, communication techniques, and possible causes of unwanted behaviors in persons living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar is a National Council of Certified Dementia Practioners (NCCDP) curriculum and will provide fundamental education on dementia care to enhance the quality of life of those living with cognitive dysfunction and their caregivers. In addition, this course will provide participants with approaches for daily activities, unmet needs, behavioral care, and interdisciplinary support.

REGISTRATION is LIMITED. No Refunds will be given, however substitutions can be made.

Free Four-part Webinar Series: Brain Health and Trauma-Informed Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)

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March 8, 2023 (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm): Trauma and Ableism as Social Determinant of Health for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
April 26, 2023 (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm): People with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability Experiencing Abuse: Tips, Tools, and Strategies for Providers
May 10, 2023 (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm): Beyond Silos: Trauma Informed Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

This four-part webinar series presented by the HealthMatters Program will focus on brain health and trauma-informed care through conversations with national peer advocate survivors, allies, and healthcare providers. Brain health and trauma resources for people with I/DD will be shared to increase awareness of systems change efforts to eliminate disability bias through culturally relevant healthcare.

Dementia Across the Continuum: Exploring Best Practices in Every Setting

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April 28, 2023: Dementia Across the Continuum: Exploring Best Practices in Every Setting
Location: Saint Louis University Campus

The workshop will discuss the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to maximize functional abilities at each dementia stage and include expert presenters from hospital, home, rehab, and long-term care settings. Learners will gain skills for effective communication strategies as well as a structured and organized approach to identify appropriate interventions across dementia care settings.

Speakers include Dr. Lenise Cummings-Vaughn, a Washington University of St. Louis Physician in the Division of Geriatrics and Associate Medical Director at Parc Provence; Dr. Beth Templin, a Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapist and founder of HouseFit, an innovative outpatient physical therapy company; Dr. Sarah Pease, Occupational Therapist at Memory Care Home Solutions; Amy Sobrino, Social Worker at Memory Care Home Solutions; and insight and advice from people living with dementia and their care partners on best practices.

Course approval applications are being submitted for six hours of continuing education credit for nursing home administrators, physical therapists, physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers.

News Release: Missouri Alzheimer’s State Task Force releases report and recommendations

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More than 120,000 individuals in Missouri are currently living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. With the aging of the baby boomer population, that number will escalate to more than 130,000 by 2025. A recent report, Missouri Alzheimer’s State Task Force Report and Recommendations identifies areas with strategies for the State of Missouri to address and respond to the escalating public health crisis regarding Alzheimer’s.

Commissioned by the 101st General Assembly, the Alzheimer’s State Task Force members were appointed by Governor Parson. Task force members were commissioned to:

  • Assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease on Missourians.
  • Examine existing services and resources for persons with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
  • Develop recommendations to respond to the public health crisis of Alzheimer’s in Missouri.
  • Ensure inclusion of all ethnic and racial populations that have a higher risk.
  • Identify opportunities for the state to partner with federal government entities.
  • Provide information and coordination across all state agencies regarding Alzheimer’s.
  • Examine dementia-specific training requirements across health care, adult protective services workers, law enforcement and all other areas in which staff are involved with the delivery of care to those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
  • Develop strategies to increase the diagnostic rate of Alzheimer’s disease in Missouri.

“Alzheimer’s disease poses a grave and growing challenge to Missouri and our nation,” said Paula F. Nickelson, acting director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “The Task Force did a tremendous job gathering information and developing recommendations that will assist in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s and benefit those with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and their family members.”

Upon completion of reviewing current services and resources related to Alzheimer’s and other dementias and hearing the needs of Missourians through eight community forums, the Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force identified four focus areas.

  • Advance Risk Reduction, Early Detection and Timely Diagnosis
  • Increase Access to Care, Support, and Treatment
  • Improve Quality of Care
  • Ensure a Coordinated Statewide Response

“Gathering input from persons living with Alzheimer’s disease, family caregivers and stakeholders from across the state was a critical part of the planning process,” said Nickelson. “The voices of those who spoke during the in-person town hall-style community forms and those who completed surveys are considered throughout the plan.”

ALC Memory Care Certification Standards Review Panel

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The Joint Commission is developing a new Assisted Living Community (ALC) Memory Care Certification (MCC) program. This program will promote consistent high quality dementia care and assist organizations in providing a safe living environment across the assisted living industry for residents living with dementia.

The MCC program is being developed in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and aligns with their Dementia Care Practice Recommendations. The program will include standards requirements addressing the environment, staff training, emergency management, leadership, medication management, resident care, treatment and services, process improvement, and more.

Note: The survey includes 14 questions about specific standards and 4 focused questions for you to review and provide feedback. Please download and review the ALC Memory Care Requirements document for the full set of standards and provide any additional feedback you may have prior to submitting your survey. This document requires Adobe Reader.

The survey should take about 35 to 40 minutes to complete. Please use the arrows at the bottom of each screen to move forward or backward within the survey. If you are unable to complete this survey in one sitting, the survey tool will automatically save your responses. When you are ready to continue, please click on the link and you will be directed to your remaining questions.

Note: Due to the programming of the Qualtrics software, your data can only be identified from one IP address. Therefore, the survey must be started and completed using the same computer.

Comments will be gathered for six weeks beginning

August 15, 2022 and ending on September 26, 2022.

Thank you in advance for your time and thoughtful responses. If you have any questions, please contact Beth Ann Longo at BLongo@jointcommission.org

Free Dementia Training – Changing Talk: Online Training (CHATO) to Reduce Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia

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CHAT educates staff about reducing elderspeak (infantilizing communication) and results in reduced behavioral symptoms and need for psychotropic medication for residents with dementia. The new online version (Changing Talk: Online Training (CHATO)) consists of 3; one-hour interactive online modules that provide flexible and accessible access for staff.

There is no cost, direct-care staff can earn 3 contact hours, and all staff get a Certificate of Completion for their file.

Benefits to you, your staff, and your residents include:

  • A person-centered approach.
  • Education about elderspeak and better communication strategies.
  • Reduction in resistiveness to care and other behavioral symptoms in residents with dementia.
  • Reduction in the need for psychotropic medication.
  • Convenient, online educational format for busy nursing homes.
  • Qualifies for CMS dementia care training hours requirements.
  • A free, nonpharmacological, evidence-based intervention is an excellent addition to a Quality Improvement Plan.

Here is also a one-page summary of the study.

Please see the website to learn more about CHATO and view our training resources or

Access the Google drive to download the NEW pilot research and CHATO National Trial information.

Interested parties can email Carissa Coleman (below) or complete the interest form on the website.

Carissa K. Coleman, PhD, MA
Research Assistant Professor
University of Kansas School of Nursing
t: 970-270-6839 | ccoleman3@kumc.edu

New QIPMO Newsletter – May 2022

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The Quality Improvement Program for Missouri (QIPMO) has published MDS Tips and Clinical Pearls (Volume 9, Issue 3).

In this issue:

  • Addressing Your Residents’ Psychosocial Needs
  • Building and Keeping Great Staff
  • ICAR Corner
  • Down and Dirty in the Dementia Unit
  • Discharge before Admission
  • Visitation and Visitation Guidance

Please visit QIPMO’s website here for this and other previous newsletters.

MANHA Dementia Programing Seminar

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April 7, 2022: Independence
April 27, 2022: Lake Ozark
April 28, 2022: St. Louis

Dementia Programming: A Hands-on Approach

Understanding and managing dementia is difficult, even on the good days. This seminar will focus on a presentation of practical knowledge for the care of individuals with dementia in long-term care, including a brief overview of dementia as an illness including the various types and symptoms and the stages of the illness. By identifying the progression of the disease, you can tailor the care and communication to fit the needs of the resident in a compassionate and person-directed way. You will also learn the practical steps of running an effective dementia unit in a long-term care facility, including the regulations that apply specifically to this type of care. This hands-on workshop will give you real-time practice and knowledge for not only interpreting the difference between actions and “behaviors”, but it will expand your understanding of clinical symptoms versus human reactions and building that knowledge into a safe, compassionate, living environment that is supportive to your residents and your staff.

Dementia Hacks 2.0

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April 8, 2022: Dementia Hacks: Solutions for Every Stage

This all-day virtual education event will guide learners to develop refined observational and analytical skills to recognize hallmarks of early, moderate, and late-stage dementia. Learners will gain skills in matching their own care approaches to the person with dementia’s and care partner’s needs at each stage according to their abilities and strengths.

Pioneer Network’s Virtual Symposium

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June 16, 2021: Envisioning the Future – Dementia Care: 2021 and Beyond

The second in our 2021 four symposium series based on the theme, Envisioning the Future, this virtual event is designed to provide valuable learning on the topic of Dementia Care. Held within a 6-hour window, there will be four general sessions followed by an opportunity to gather together with the general session speakers to ask questions, explore the topics, and further define our vision for the future.

Dementia Hacks: Expert Strategies for the Most Difficult Symptoms & Behaviors

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April 30, 2021: Dementia Hacks: Expert Strategies for the Most Difficult Symptoms & Behaviors

Memory Care Home Solutions is proud to offer this event in partnership with Saint Louis University & the Gateway Geriatric Education Center.

Join us on April 30th for Dementia Hacks: Expert Strategies for the Most Difficult Symptoms & Behaviors, an interactive six-hour virtual continuing education event to explore the most puzzling and challenging dementia symptoms! Memory Care Home Solutions clinicians will provide training and coaching in management of common behavioral and psychological symptoms including resistance to care, agitation, refusal to bathe, and more. This event will feature guest speakers including Washington University geriatrician Dr. Timothy Holden to discuss the medical management of dementia symptoms and Project Present founder Ann Marie Mohr on creative communication strategies. Attendees will leave with new knowledge and skillsets in behavioral management strategies to immediately apply in their work and caregiving roles.

Included with event registration, participants will have access to a Dementia Hacker Chat Drop-in session on May 14th with clinical experts to brainstorm and discuss their experiences in applying the strategies and refining approaches.

Course approval applications are being submitted for continuing education credit for nursing home administrators, physical therapists, physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers. For more information on course objectives and to register, visit our website at https://memorycarehs.org/events/ceu/.

National Partnership Medicare Learning Network Call

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March 23, 2021: Long-Term Care: Dementia-related Psychosis Call

During this call, learn about the appropriate assessment, accurate diagnosis, and approaches to care for dementia-related psychosis in the long-term care setting. Hear about customized care strategies for nursing home residents. A question and answer session follows the presentations.

Speakers: Dr. George Grossberg, Dr. Alexis Eastman, Susan Scanland, and Dr. Chad Worz from The Gerontological Society of America’s Workgroup on Dementia-related Psychosis

Target Audience:

  • Consumer and advocacy groups
  • Nursing home providers
  • Surveyor community
  • Prescribers
  • Professional associations
  • Other interested stakeholders

New Resource – Dementia Care

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The California Partnership to Improve Dementia Care has created six resource videos on the topic of COVID-19 and residents living with dementia.

  • Activities for Patients with Dementia: Creative Ideas During COVID-19
  • Coping and Stress Management During a Pandemic
  • COVID-19: Tips for Reducing Emotional Distress in Patients with Dementia
  • How to Reduce Wandering in Patients with Dementia
  • Optimizing Dementia Care in the Era of COVID-19
  • Optimizing Person Centered and Family Dementia Care in the Era of COVID-19

The videos are housed on the link below:
https://www.leadingageca.org/Members/Partners.

Medicare Learning Network’s Event

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March 3, 2020: Dementia Care: CMS Toolkits Call
Speakers: Cathleen Lawrence, CMS; Michele Laughman, CMS; Sheila Hanns, CMS; and Dara Graham, CMS
Target Audience: Consumer and advocacy groups; nursing home providers; surveyor community; prescribers; professional associations; and other interested stakeholders

National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement

During this call, learn about new CMS toolkits for nursing homes:

  • Head-to-Toe Infection Prevention: Easy to access best practices for direct care staff to prevent infections before they occur.
  • Developing a Restful Environment Action Manual: Non-pharmacological approach to improve the quality of life and quality of care for residents living with dementia.
  • Staffing Toolkits: Staff Competency Assessment, Employee Satisfaction Survey, and Guide to Improving Employee Satisfaction.

Additionally, CMS provides updates on the progress of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes. A question and answer session follows the presentations.

Best Practices in Dementia Care with Teepa Snow

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March 20, 2020: Best Practices in Dementia Care with Teepa Snow
Location: Busch Student Center, St. Louis

Join Memory Care Home Solutions & Gateway Geriatric Education Center on March 20, 2020 as they present “Best Practices in Dementia Care” with Teepa Snow! During this all-day continuing education event, dementia expert Teepa Snow will teach strategies for supporting people living with dementia during regular interactions, care delivery, & daily engagement. Through her engaging instruction, Teepa will emphasize how creating a positive and caring environment rather than ‘dealing with the behavior’ after it is established is the most effective caregiving model!

For more information and to register, please visit www.memorycarehs.org/events.

Early bird registration is available before February 1st. Group, student and family care partner reduced registration rates are also available. Contact Amy Sobrino at 314-645-6247 or asobrino@memorycarehs.org for more information.

Conversations with Carmen

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October 18, 2019: Shedding Light on Dementia for Family, Friends and Care Givers – 2nd in series on creating a good life for persons living with dementia
Guests: Megan Hannan, MS and Linda Bump, MPH, RLD

How can we stay in relationship with the people we love who are now living with dementia?

Consider:

    • Listening and being present.
    • Appealing to strengths and abilities.
    • Experiencing even a small success.

These are things that help any of us have a better moment, hour or day, and often help persons living with dementia feel heard, included, competent and less isolated. That can be huge!

We invite staff, families and friends of persons living with dementia to join us for this “illuminating” conversation. We’ll discuss the five basic human needs: comfort, inclusion, identity, occupation and attachment, and how understanding those can help us be present and in relationship with persons living with dementia. We’ll also talk about simple communication techniques and approaches that have been shown to help ease agitation or confusion.

For this show, we encourage communities to invite family members and friends of your residents living with dementia, to join you for this webinar. Make it a party!

For those who support someone living at home with dementia, gather family and friends together for this webinar.

As always, registration for the webinar allows you to attend the live show and/or to watch the recorded show. Learn at your convenience!

MHCA Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care Seminar

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May 7, 2019: Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia Care
October 22, 2019: Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia Care

Sponsored by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, this is the required seminar for those pursuing certification who qualify as CDP/Certified Dementia Practitioner or for those who just want to enhance their dementia education.

CMS Launches Nationwide Effort to Improve Quality of Care in Nursing Homes

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Nationwide Effort to Improve Quality of Care in Nursing Homes

As part of its continued commitment to the nation’s most vulnerable populations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP), a three-year effort to reduce adverse events, improve staffing quality and improve dementia care in nursing homes. This effort is funded by the Federal portion of CMPs to conduct activities that support and protect nursing home residents.

Through this program, CMS and its contractor will develop and implement evidence-based interventions, activities tools, and resources help to improve dementia care, reduce adverse events, and improve staffing quality. Staffing quality includes areas such as reducing turnover, improving tenure, and enhancing general staff performance. Additionally, the CMPRP will support projects for resident and family councils, develop and maintain the ability to provide temporary management of a nursing home, and support activities to protect residents during facility closures. Lastly, this program will support efforts to administer, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of CMP projects implemented throughout the country.

For more information, visit:
www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/LTC-CMP-Reinvestment.html.
www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/CMPRP-Civil-Money-Penalty-Reinvestment-Program.html.

New QIPMO Newsletter – November 2018

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New QIPMO Newsletter – November 2018

The Quality Improvement Program for Missouri (QIPMO) has published MDS Tips and Clinical Pearls – Volume 6, Issue 1.

In this issue:

  • Resident Rights on Discharge
  • Emergency Preparedness Program
  • Vaccinations
  • Gastronomy Tube and the Nursing Plan of Care
  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Please visit QIPMO’s website here for this and other previous newsletters.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease

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Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease

October 7, 2018: Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Location: Ellis-Porter Riverside Park, Jefferson City

Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death and affects millions of people. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. DHSS is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Please join our Director, Dr. Randall Williams, and your DHSS colleagues in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday, October 7th at 11 a.m. This is a family friendly walk with roughly .65 miles that will be held at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park Pavilion, 1425 Riverside Dr. Jefferson City. Teams may consist of one or more persons, and may include friends, colleagues, family members, etc. Teams will need to create a team name and designate a captain to register the team online. Each team member will then go online to register under their team name. “Team DHSS” has already been created and the team roster is growing. If you would like to join our team you may do so here. However, if you choose to create your own team, please include DHSS in your team name so we can represent our department with as many staff as possible! Everyone who participates will receive a flower pinwheel to represent someone you know that has been affected by this disease. For more information and to register, go to the 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Jefferson City, MO.

Dementia Care Mapping

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Dementia Care Mapping

October 15-18, 2018: Dementia Care Mapping for Realizing Person Centered Care
Location: The Neighborhoods by Tiger Place, Columbia

Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) is a method to evaluate the delivery of person centered care and, in general, to improve the quality of care delivered to persons with dementia in formal care settings. DCM goes to the real heart of caring by striving to assess care from the viewpoint of the person with dementia. It involves making and recording detailed observations. DCM provides valuable, clear and reliable information for those concerned with quality care for people with dementia. After the data is analyzed, immediate feedback can be given to care partners so that existing practices can be analyzed and improved.

Please see the flyer for more details including registration.