Programs & Services
Our specially trained care professionals help individuals realize their strengths instead of focusing on their losses. This type of encouragement comes daily from our caring and supportive staff, who dedicate themselves to improving and maintaining the quality of life for our residents. They have learned to connect with residents during every phase of this progressive disease process. Hence, our extraordinary ability to “join them in their world-wherever it may be.”
Activities
Our goal is to provide care and activity programs designed uniquely for persons living with all forms and stages of cognitive challenges. Our approach is to help reduce the four A’s of Alzheimer’s: Apathy, Anxiety, Agitation and Aggression.
We have daily activities that address the cognitive, physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of residents, to muscular weakness, history of falls, gait, balance deficits and cognitive impairment. Speech-language pathologists play a primary role in the swallowing disorders associated with dementia.
Rehabilitation
Our specialized therapy department is made up of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech- language pathology services. Blue Hills’ therapy department will assist in changing and enhancing our residents environment to improve function and safety.
Rehabilitation services can help our residents be as functional as possible for as long as possible. The focus of physical therapy (PT) with dementia care is to improve balance, muscle strength and mobility, and provide pain management. Another goal of PT treatment is fall prevention. People with Alzheimer’s or dementia are and greater risk of falls and mobility problems due to muscular weakness, history of falls, gait, balance deficits and cognitive impairment. Speech-language pathologists play a primary role in the swallowing disorders associated with dementia.
The role of physical, occupational and speech therapies change over the progression of the disease. Rehabilitation therapists can recommend and help obtain proper medical equipment to maximize comfort and function.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy meets the needs of patients who have a loss of function or independence due to an illness or injury. Residents are assisted in regaining functional abilities such as walking, improving strength, balance, endurance, and recovering from painful injuries. Comprehensive physical therapy offers:
- Gait training with assistive devices
- Muscle re-education
- Muscle strengthening and coordination
- Pain management
- Prosthetic evaluation and training
- Transfer training
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps patients and residents return to their optimal level of independence in activities of daily living. Functional skills such as self-feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and homemaking are taught. Outcome oriented occupational therapy may include the following:
- Activities of daily living
- Assistive device assessment & training
- Cognitive/perceptual assessment and training including recommendations for environmental adaptations
- Energy conservation techniques
- Instruction in self-help tasks
- Safety training
- Splint fabrication and modification
- Upper extremity strengthening and coordination
Speech Therapy
The speech pathologist treats patients with speech, language, swallowing and hearing impairments. The patient's ability to communicate and swallow are two functional skills improved through speech therapy. Treatment includes:
- Alternative means of communication assessment and training
- Cognitive assessment and training
- Speech language evaluation and therapy
- Swallowing (Dysphasia evaluation and treatment, including food texture evaluation and recommendations)
- Vocal evaluation and treatment
Long-Term Care
We provide general and restorative care to residents who cannot be taken care of at home due to the caregiving demands of a chronic illness, the frailties of age, or physical limitations. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are the heart of our general nursing and restorative care programs. They focus on providing care and comfort while striving to enhance the joy and dignity of life.
Our general and restorative services include:
- 24-hour comprehensive nursing care
- On-call physician coverage
- Medication administration
- Social services
Dietary Services
Residents are served three nutritious and well balanced meals daily. We offer flexibility in menu options as much as possible and have snacks available as well. We have dietitians available to accommodate special dietary needs as well as physician-ordered therapeutic diets.
Helping our Residents Feel at Home
Our goal is to provide quality, compassionate care in a secure setting. We are committed to providing individualized personal care. Our centers are attractive and comfortable. We want our residents to feel comfortable during their stay at our centers, and we make every effort to help them feel at "home" with us.
We offer a blend of structured daily activities designed to stimulate the whole person with periods of rest and relaxation that help residents to meet the goals of their individual plan of care. We welcome family and friends to visit and we encourage socialization during meals and recreational activities.
Palliative Care
Palliative care is medical care designed to address the needs of residents and patients with a terminal illness. A terminal illness is defined as "any illness where death is expected within six months or less if the disease runs its normal course". The Palliative care program addresses the entire scope of care. We strive to establish, for those living with a terminal illness, a degree of care that not only treats their medical needs but also includes their family and friends in their care. The staff's goal is to identify and implement interventions that meet the individual needs of the resident, patient, and their family while attending to quality-of-life issues that they are faced with. The program addresses medical symptoms, pain, nutrition, psychosocial needs, spiritual needs, and financial/ legal concerns.
