Affiliated With

MAADS.org
Managed by LifeSpan

Description of Educational Programs

There are core modules offered in The Wellspring Program that are usually offered as one-day workshops; these include:

Culture Change 101

This program provides a basic overview of culture change and the Wellspring Program including historical factors that have led to the challenges faced by today’s nursing homes, and models, stages, and core components of culture change.

Culture Change Nurse Coordinator Preparation (2 day workshop)

As nurses are viewed as the discipline with the most influence in assisting staff in affecting practice and behavioral changes, a nurse typically is the Wellspring Coordinator with participating nursing homes. This workshop equips nurses to play a leadership role in assisting with the transformation of their nursing homes. Content includes the growth of nursing homes and the current models for transforming them, elements and stages of culture change, offers factors to consider in assessing residents and developing resident-centered care plans, the importance of going beyond regulatory requirements to provide holistic care, consistent assignments, effective communication skills, sensitivity to customer service, Best Practices for major clinical issues, creating a home-like environment, and processes for assessing the nursing home’s current culture, methods for developing teams to assist with implementing new practices, and strategies to monitor progress.

At the completion of this workshop, nurses will fulfill the requirements for the American Association for Long Term Care Nursing’s Culture Change Nurse Coordinator Certification.–– CCNC-C™.

Leadership

The objective of these leadership development seminars is to become an effective culture change leader within any position that one fills. The modules under this category include:

Leading Culture Change

Administrative and managerial staff’s actions can facilitate or create obstacles for culture change. This module will describe transformational leadership, measures to create conditions for effective teamwork throughout the organization, the use of data in continuous quality improvement, and management practices that empower residents and frontline staff. Specific issues organizations encounter when implementing the Wellspring Program, will be addressed.

Leadership for Frontline Staff

With the limited amount of CNA training required and the almost non-existent education for the other frontline workers, this group has very little time devoted to leadership skills. While they are expected to be the eyes and ears for the clinician, they have not been taught to assume a similar role with regards to co-worker interaction, problem solving, and mentoring one another. In addition to their significant role in fostering high quality of clinical services, frontline workers are key representatives of the nursing home to residents and their families and greatly influence the quality of life residents experience. This module will promote frontline staff empowerment, increase customer service skills, and equip them with knowledge to support culture change.

Observing and Understanding the Older Adult

The purpose of this module is to review the normal changes of physical and psychological aging and implications for care. The content of this module provides a foundation for other clinical modules.

Best Practices in Elimination and Incontinence Care

Incontinence affects the quality of life of residents and the quality of work life of the staff. This module explores the complex nature of incontinence, including the causes, observation/assessment techniques, treatment options and the on-going evaluation process. Constipation control through increased use of natural fiber will also be stressed.

Nutritional Needs from a Holistic Perspective

This module is facilitated by a long-term care dietician. Aging changes related to the gastrointestinal system are discussed in order to correlate effective interventions to achieve positive nutritional outcomes for the residents. The main focus is risk assessment for dehydration and weight loss. Creativity in fluid management is discussed using ideas from all team members including activities and therapies. Restorative and therapeutic dining is stressed as keys to success. In addition, changes that nursing homes can implement that foster a resident-directed social model and create a more satisfying dining experience will be reviewed.

Restorative Care for Falls Prevention

Reducing falls and an aggressive restorative program are essential in maintaining a restraint free environment. Safety and risk management is a main theme. One of the goals of this module is to develop a facility wide program for identification of residents at risk, those who frequently faller, and strategies for implementing an effective facility response. Optimal functional, emotional and cognitive condition is another theme for this module. Effectively involving the entire interdisciplinary team in a collaborative effort in order to assist the residents in reaching achievable goals is reviewed.

Best Practices in Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Identification, and Treatment

The average cost of a pressure ulcer exceeds $41,000 and this figure does not include resident pain and suffering or the possible exposure to litigation. This module emphasizes the prevention of pressure ulcers through proactive identification of risk factors and immediately acting on that assessment. The staging of pressure ulcers and appropriate treatment is also presented. Using a multi-disciplinary approach to skin care, all staff in attendance participates in group activities and case studies that sharpen their skills in pressure ulcer prevention, identification and treatment.

Best Practices in Caring for Persons with Dementias

All facets of care for those with challenging behaviors are discussed. Restlessness, agitation, striking out, resistance to care, confusion, wandering and calling out are just some of the topics covered. Assessing sleep patterns and its impact on behavior is discussed. Dementia and delirium are differentiated and depression is highlighted. The utilization of Montessori methods in dementia care will be reviewed.

Holistic Palliative Care

In addition to providing quality care, nursing homes need to be sensitive to the resident’s quality of life and consider care of the body, mind, and spirit. Recognizing that palliative treatment encompasses more than end-of-life-care. this module provides staff with the necessary information to provide a holistic approach to making all residents’ comfort a reality.

Best Practices in Infection Control

The purpose of the module is to provide long-term care staff with the necessary basic information and resources to help control the spread off serious diseases/infections in nursing homes and personal care settings through a two-day interactive workshop. Staff will be equipped with sufficient and necessary information to identify, control, and help prevent the spread of serious disease and infection in their nursing homes. The training focus is consistent with training goals and objectives of federal and state mandates related to occupational and environmental regulations with evidence-based research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Creating Home in the Nursing Home

The human and physical environment influences the quality of life, safety, function, and satisfaction of residents and staff. This module reviews changes that can be implemented at no or minimal cost that can create a homelike environment in the nursing home. In addition, the issue of self-care as an important consideration in being a nurturing caregiver will be reviewed.

In addition, there are other topics that can be offered based on interest and need, such as: