Social Care Issues

Mary C. Hogan National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities

and Dementia Practices

Common Themes

• Fear • Lack of information• Isolation• Struggle to access coordinated care• Difficulty partnering with medical community• Overwhelmed by demands of caregiving• Profound sense of Loss• End of life issues

Aging in Place

“Aging in place” requires a commitment to:–On-going caregiver training– Increasing staff –Creating a calm, safe, “enabling”

environment–Person centered planning–Supporting family/peers and monitoring

their quality of life

Coordination of Care

CPerson

Evaluation

PlanGoals

Assessm

entReassessment

Family

Group Home

StaffHe

alth

Car

e P

rovi

ders

Day Program Staff

Model Developed by Kathleen Srsic-Stoehr, MSN, MS, RN, NEA-BC

Peers

Employers

Community Support Services

Colla

bora

tion

Com

mun

ication

Coordination

Action

Strengths & Challenges

3/18/13 Version

Staff Challenges • Dementia care is the

opposite of everything staffed was trained to do…no longer about skill acquisition.

• Communication, coordination and collaboration in care planning-how does this happen?

• Day to day care• Medical care

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Staff ChallengesGiven the tools to modify the environment, staff can:

be empowered become proactive problem

solvers avoid sense of helplessness

Training related to disease process is often short term rather than on going.

Care giving is a difficult job!

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Staff Challenges• Day programs can

• be too large• exceed staff capacity to “care” • impact quality of life• be an inappropriate placement

• Acknowledge and support • staff • housemates

experiencing grief and loss.

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Getting started Facial Expression Tone of Voice Body Language

Approachfrom the front Smile Identify yourself

Use theperson’s name If possible, beat eye level

Establish andmaintain eyecontact Be friendlyand relaxed A ways rememberhumor: smiles andlaughter go along way Be patient andsupportive

Speak slowlyand clearly Use a gentle &relaxed tone ofvoice Convey an easygoingmanner

Avoid suddenmovement Be open andrelaxed withyour stance Remain calmand confidentto providereassurance Use gestures such as pointing Give visual cues

National Down Syndrome Society: Aging and Down Syndrome: A Health and Well-being Guide Book

Maintaining Quality of Life

“We can do better…”