Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Here's a tip to help rehab therapy residents attain and maintain the highest level of "practicable" functioning, as required by OBRA '87.

Make sure everyone on staff approaches the rehab patient in the same way based on the therapy plan of care, says Garry Woessner, principal of Woessner Healthcare Consulting Group in Edina, MN.

"If nursing isn't tuned into the plan, they will work in isolation and the goal will be more difficult to reach," Woessner cautions.

For example, all staff need to approach the stroke patient with receptive aphasia using the communication techniques formulated and used by the speech pathologist, Woessner advises. "When teaching ADLs, asking the patient with aphasia to 'first, turn on the water'is easier to understand than 'before you pick up the toothbrush, turn on the water.'"

Tip: Use Section G7 (task segmentation) to help break down ADLs into simpler tasks so residents can perform the activity or at least parts of it more easily.