Govig Senior Care – November Newsletter

Senior Care Connection                                                                                          Newsletter November 2011

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Video News

Nursing home mixes disco & dancing to rally enthusiasm Faced with flagging morale due to looming Medicare cuts, one nursing home operator came up with the answer: let’s dance. David Gendel, director of special projects for Chicago-based NuCare Management — which operates about 15 long-term care facilities in Illinois and Arizona — said his team hatched a plan to choreograph and film a video set to the Gloria Gaynor classic “I Will Survive” at a staff retreat in Itasca, IL. It reflects how “we’re going to persevere in the face of important changes in this industry,” Gendel told McKnight’s. The team drew inspiration from another viral video, The Pink Glove Dance, which raised awareness for breast cancer. “That was our model for this — the idea that we’re going to fight and have some defiance and hope about this. This is what really made an impact on people’s attitude going back to work after the retreat.” NuCare provided the props and colorful T-shirts for attendees, who had no idea they would be filming a music video when they signed up for the retreat. A NuCare marketing staffer, Erica Cruz, who moonlights as a Chicago Luvabull, a.k.a. a professional Chicago Bulls cheerleader, choreographed the dance routine, which was taught and filmed in less than two hours. Another NuCare employee, Cherese Williams, recorded the adapted lyrics, such as “Even though they’ve placed new requirements/We’re still going to be there to take care of our residents.” Reel Sweet Productions was enlisted to edit the video. Source:  McKnight’s

In the news Rehab and ADLsSince MDS 3.0 was initiated in October 2010, facilities throughout the United States have experienced a significant increase in “A” ADL scoring ratios. According to the RUGs payment system (prior RUG-III and current RUG-IV), the late loss activities of daily living (ADL) component determines the final reimbursement rate of the applicable RUG category. The late loss ADLs comprise bed mobility, transfers, toileting and eating skills. If a resident is independent in all areas, he or she receives the letter score of “A.” The more dependent the resident, the higher the letter score. Prior to MDS 3.0, the scoring algorithm basically allowed us to score more residents at a “B” level or higher. RUG-III gave us more credit for providing these services to our residents. MDS 3.0 and RUG-IV had minimal changes to the scoring methods; however, it significantly changed the scoring algorithm. We continue to document how much assistance is required for the late loss ADLs, and continue to use the same verbiage for self-performance and staff support. By changing the scoring algorithm, they no longer give us as much “credit” as we received with the MDS 2.0 and RUG-III system. This has resulted in a significant increase in RUG categories receiving the “A” ADL scoring component, and receiving the least amount of reimbursement for each RUG. Read More… Source: McKnight’s

Events National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month November 1 – November 30, 2011 November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. In the US alone, there are nearly 15 million Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers. National Movember Month November 1 – November 30, 2011 During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of mustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.