Condition Corner
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a chronic and progressive condition that affects how well your heart can pump blood throughout your body. Fluid can begin to build up in the heart, lungs, and other areas of the body- usually the legs. CHF is the leading cause for hospitalizations in people over the age of 65.
- Symptoms can include Shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations, increased fatigue, swelling in ankle, legs, and abdomen, weight gain, nausea/loss of appetite, a hacking cough, and more.
- Causes: some causes include kidney disease, tobacco use, alcohol use, diabetes, other heart conditions, high blood pressure.
- Risk Factors: Some risk factors include being over 65, using tobacco products, an inactive lifestyle, high blood pressure, heart attacks, or family history.
- What are some things we can do?
- Regular exercise
- Treat risk factors/causes such as hypertension, alcohol/drug use, or high cholesterol
- Medications
- Fluid restrictions
- Weight tracking (we do daily weights often for these patients to determine if they are retaining too much fluid)
- Low sodium salt diet.
Emergency Prep:
Snow Emergency:
If there is a snow emergency, all non-essential visits will be rescheduled. We will try to reassign staff to clients close to their home. If you are on shift, please call the office and let us know if any supplies are needed. We will have someone bring out necessary supplies. Stay with the client and remain calm. Call the office every 4 hours for an update.
Infection Control:
Cover your cough!
Serious respiratory infections like influenza, RSV, whooping cough, and SARS are spread by coughing or sneezing and unclean hands. To prevent the spread, make sure you always cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or cough/sneeze into your sleeve at your elbow. Always wash hands after coughing or sneezing.
Caregiver 360:
Making a bed:
- Lay a fitted sheet on the bed, aligning corners.
- Tuck in one corner, then the opposite diagonal corner.
- Repeat with 2 remaining corners
- Smooth out the sheet and pull it tight
- Lay the flat sheet on the bed so that it hands over both sides evenly
- Start with hospital corners at the bottom of the bed.
- Tuck in the sides neatly and tightly.
- Lay the blanket and/or comforter on bed so that it hangs evenly on both sides. Repeat hospital corners with a blanket if possible.
- Put pillows in a pillowcase and arrange them at the top of the bed.
**Always wear gloves when handling soiled linen and wash hands before/after glove use. **
**Never hold soiled or clean linen against your clothes/body. **
**Always make bed with client’s preferences in mind. **
Recipe:
Cooking Oatmeal:
Supplies/Ingredients:
- ½ cup of oatmeal
- 1 cup of water
- Pan with lid
- Spoon/fork
- Measuring cup
Directions:
- Place 1 cup of water in the pan
- Plan the pan on stovetop
- Turn on burner to high heat and bring water to a boil
- Once water is boiling, add the oats and reduce the heat to medium.
- While cooking oatmeal, stir is occasionally
- Take a clean spoon and check if its consistency is suitable for the client based on their preferences/plan of care.
- Once at the appropriate consistency, turn off the burner and spoon oatmeal into a bowl.
- Add topping per client’s preferences (brown sugar, butter, berries, apples etc.)
- You can always follow instructions on the oat container too!
BrightStar Care Standards:
Serve With Passion. This means that we are great team players. We help first and are confident yet humble. We serve the greater good and make a real difference. Can you think of a time you served with passion?? Send examples to monica.kilpatrick@brightstarcare.com
I have witnessed serving with passion with our physical therapist, Melissa. Melissa has gone above and beyond for our client’s time after time. Recently, she had a client that is thought to have Lyme’s disease. She communicated multiple times with his doctor’s office and fought for him to get proper testing and hopefully treatment. This passion and helpful attitude make a huge difference in our client’s lives for the better. Thank you, Melissa!
Back to the Basics:
Do you ever struggle to find things to do when your tasks are completed? Engaging with the client provides important social interaction that is beneficial to everyone! Here are some activity ideas:
- Do a puzzle
- Read
- Play a card game
- Play a board game
- Go for a walk (outside if weather permits)
- Watch a TV show
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Color/paint
- Look through old pictures
- Reminisce about their life
- Bake cookies
If you ever have any questions about an activity, please call the office.
ABS:
Do you know the difference between shift notes and care notes? Shift notes are in the “details” tab for the client. This section is the perfect place to put any time clock concerns or changes. For example: "I adjusted my start time as when I arrived, I had to assist the client immediately" or "I stayed 15-minutes late due to helping the client toilet".
A care note is used in the task list. This is a note you can put in the event occurrence section for each task list. It explains why something wasn’t completed or any pertinent information regarding the client’s care or condition. For example: “Client had a hard time completing his shower and I had to help a lot more today.” Or “Client’s shower was not completed because he had some family there and wanted to spend time with them. We will do it at his next shift.”
Dementia Highlight:
Staff Birthdays/Anniversaries- December
Happy Anniversary:
- Alicia C. 1 year
- Winifred K. 1 year
- Monica K. 1 year
Happy Birthday:
- Mercy Q.
- Michelle T.
- Melissa N.
- Ariana R.
- Patience F.
Message from the Office:
Happy holidays to a wonderful team! May this season bring you moments of peace, laughter, and time with those who matter most. Thank you for your commitment and passion towards providing the best care!Dates to Remember:
- 12/25- Christmas Day (Office is closed)
- 1/1- New Year’s Day (Office is closed)