AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

October 29, 2004

ADSA: AFH #2004-008
TOOLS FOR UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH & BEHAVIORS

 

Dear Adult Family Home Provider:

In 2002, DSHS received funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Real Choices System Change Grant. One of the projects funded through this grant is an effort to improve services to adults and older adults with co-occurring medical and behavioral disorders. The grant provides the opportunity to look at new ways and creative strategies to address these issues

Enclosed is a flyer that introduces a new website offered by the department. The website, Real Choices, contains information formatted as a document to be downloaded that can assist care providers in understanding mental health and behaviors. Topics covered include conditions that can affect behavior, interventions for difficult behavior, staff safety, treatment planning and mental health resources and reference materials.

The information was developed in response to findings from regional stakeholder forums and recommendations for improvements. B oth mental health and residential providers expressed a desire for simple tools for residential caregivers who provide care to older adults and/or adults with medical and behavioral challenges.

I encourage you to utilize the guidance offered in these resources as you meet the daily challenges of caring for a vulnerable population.

Sincerely,

Patricia K. Lashway, Director
Residential Care Services

 

Understanding Mental Health and Behaviors: Guidelines for Supporting Older Adults/Adults with Behavioral and Medical Challenges in Residential Facilities

Offers easy to understand, useful tools for caregivers in residential settings, including the following:

• Information about delirium, dementia, depression and pain, and ways that each can cause behavioral challenges.
• Ideas about ways to intervene before behaviors become a crisis.
• Overview of psychotropic medications, including ways to document the use of meds
• Safety of staff members
• Ways to document difficult behaviors that can help in intervention.
• Treatment planning
• Responding to behavioral crises

Now available for downloading at
http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/mentalhealth/realchoices.shtml

Hard copies available by contacting:

Traci Adair, ADSA/HCS
206-341-7653 or adairt@dshs.wa.gov (one per facility)