HEARING FROM POWERFUL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Kim Campbell, Alzheimer’s advocate, and Dr. Daniel Levitin, neuroscientist, musician, and author, kicked off day one of the conference. Campbell shared her powerful story of serving as a caregiver to her husband who lived with Alzheimer’s and turning to a memory care community to help provide support to her family. There, Campbell spoke about how music continued to help him thrive. Dr. Levitin, who specializes in studying the effects of music on the brain, spoke about the latest research and innovations in the area of music and memory care. The closing keynote presenter, Kat Cole, COO and President, North America, FOCUS Brands shared her tips and best practices for building a successful and resilient brand— even when the goal seems unreachable.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THEME: BE PROACTIVE
The importance of getting ahead of challenges in senior living—and some ways to do so—formed a message that ran throughout the Quality Improvement Deep Dive sessions.
• Being aware of “grooming” behaviors by a potential abuser can help prevent elder abuse, pointed out Juanita Davis, Associate Director of the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, in her session on spotting and stopping elder abuse. She presented ways in which elder abuse has barriers to detecting and reporting, as well as some unexpected signs to look out for. For instance, overuse of cleaning supplies or a strong smell of bleach can indicate a hasty cleanup done before a visitor gets there; and a caregiver who is over-the-top helpful, charming, and involved may be trying to isolate an older person from the community or family.
• Preventing discomfort and discontent among people with dementia led to a study and action by University of North Carolina researcher Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, and Brightview’s Corporate Director of Dementia Care, Patrick Doyle, PhD. They presented results
from a 250-community study examining use of pharmacological interventions versus evidence-based nonpharmacological ones such as music, massage, and aromatherapy. The alternatives are effective, but caregivers often don’t know how to use them. Zimmerman’s team created easy-to-use guidebooks with specific instructions. “Prevention is not in a pill,” the presenters declared.
• “Risky Business: Honoring Resident Choice in a Challenging Regulatory Environment” sparked discussion among the panel and the large audience on hot-button issues such as background checks, resident mobility devices, cannabis use, and electronic monitoring. Sharing real-life examples, the panel looked at the complexity of regulations that differ from state to state and ways to prevent problems down the line. The consensus: Even in environments where policies, practices, and technology are rapidly changing, a community culture of openness and transparency can be your best defense.
MAY/JUNE 2019
ARGENTUM.ORG 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
