A Newsletter for the HHQI Underserved Populations (UP) Network June 2014

UPcoming Webinars

There will only be one UP Network webinar during the month of June 2014. Click on the date of the session below to register.

June 11 at 3 - 4 pm (ET)

The Universal Language of Caregiving: What We Need to Know Now

The goal for this interactive presentation is to take your current caregiver role to a more positive, enriched and life-changing experience.
We will explore the challenges we face as professional and family caregivers and help you put them in a prospective that is comfortable and enlightening.
Together we will make shifts in our perspectives to gain excellent outcomes.

Keynote Speaker: Kim Linder,Certified Senior Advisor, Caregiver Coach, Radio Talk Show Host, and Consultant; The Caregiver Resource Network

Guest Speakers: Deb Perian, RN, MHA, CPHQ, Manager of Clinical Leadership at BAYADA Home Health Care & Karen Hinkle, MSW Retired Executive Director, Kentucky Home Health Association

Did You Miss the "Best Practices for Care Transitions: Engaging Emergency Departments & Urgent Care Centers" UP Networking Event?

Dr. Rebekah Gardner, Senior Medical Scientist, Healthcentric Advisors discusses Rhode Island's Safe Transitions Best Practices, with a focus on the emergency department and urgent care settings, and how home health agencies are an important part of the processes.

There are also Safe Transitions Best Practice Implementation Measures from Healthcentric Advisors for Community Physician Offices; Emergency Departments; Hospitals; Nursing Homes; and Urgent Care Centers.

Available Tool

Home Health Safe Transitions Best Practice Implementation Guide

In addition to the Best Practice Measure specification, Healthcentric Advisors created a Home Health Safe Transitions Best Practice Implementation Guide. This guide provides a framework for implementing these practices. It includes suggested steps for getting started and measures to consider/track ensuring that your interventions are not only measurable - but more importantly have a meaningful impact for the patients you serve.

To learn more or request a copy of the guide, contact:

Lynne Chase, Senior Program Administrator, lchase@healthcentricadvisors.org or Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI), hhqi@wvmi.org.

Check out the UP Event Archives for previous webinars and teleconferences.

UP News & Highlights

June is national Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month(ABAM).

Alzheimer's Quick Facts

2 minute video about the facts from the Alzheimer's Organization (alz.org)

Current FDA Approved Medications to treat Alzheimer's Symptoms

Drug	Approved for Stages
Donepezil (Aricept)	All stages
Galantamine (Razadyne)	Mild to moderate
Memantine (Namenda)	Moderate to severe
Rivastigmine (Exelon)	Mild to moderate
Tacrine (Cognex)	Mild to moderate

(alz.org)

Click here for explanation on how the drugs work.

Heart-Head Connection

There is evidence that the risk of developing Alzheimer's or vascular dementia appears to increase with heart or blood vessels damage. Heart conditions include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol. Autopsy findings show approximately 80% of people with Alzheimer's disease also has some type of cardiovascular disease (alz.org).

Tools/Resources of the Month

HHQI Underserved Population Networking Event

Alzheimer's Disease: A New Way of Understanding for the Home Care Worker recorded webinar
Guest Speaker: Jane Marks, Consultant on Dementia Care, Sandwich Caring
Excellent presentation of caring for dementia people with practical understanding and interventions (60 minutes)

WVMI's Care Transition's Project

Cognitive Impairment: Addressing an Underlying Cause of Hospital Readmissions
Guest Speaker: Laurel Kirksey, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Association, WV Chapter
Presentation focuses on understanding readmissions with dementia patients