Post Acute Care

World-Class Care Doesn’t Mean “Somewhere Else in the World”

June 28, 2019 by Steven Tyer

We always want the best for ourselves and our loved ones. Too often we’re conditioned that the “best” means something that can only be found in a big city. It’s true that we’re lucky to be in close proximity to Boston, which is home to some of the best hospitals in the country – perhaps the world. But when it comes to long-term care or short-term rehab for a loved one, the best care could very well be right around the corner.

Location plays a big part in selecting these services, but convenience shouldn’t be a priority over quality care and affordability. Luckily, Copley at Stoughton meets all these requirements. In fact, Copley was rated one of the Best Nursing Homes in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. It’s a designation we’re very proud of.

It’s that community connection that is so important in health care. As you know, I was born and raised in Stoughton. It’s not unusual for me to run into previous rehab guests while shopping at Stop and Shop or dining at the Town Spa, thanking me for the care they received and asking if I can help them again or help a loved one. “Of course,” I say. “I’d be happy to.”

Copley is part of the Stoughton culture. The fact that we are a Skilled Nursing Facility as well means that we are a temporary home for people of all ages here for rehabilitation and recovery. We touch the lives of so many of our residents, both directly and indirectly.

Copley’s close-knit feeling of family and community leads to world-class care. I know many people are comforted by the fact that they can get what they need without having to go far. Providing this comfort to our “neighbors” is something we are very proud of too.

Caring for Older Adults Means Keeping Everyone Active and Engaged

February 27, 2019 by Steven Tyer

I asked our activities director, Cheryl Woodward, to assist me in writing the blog this month. Getting older doesn’t have to mean getting less active! In fact it’s quite the opposite. Older adults who are less physically and socially active are at higher risk of losing the ability to do everyday routines. That includes everything from walking and dressing to dialing a telephone.

Exercise affects the mental well-being of older adults, too. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that lack of physical activity can lead to a greater risk of dementia-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. A good fitness program, on the other hand, can help delay or even avoid symptoms of these diseases. Yet at least one study found that older adults in long-term facilities spend up to 65% of their time alone in their rooms.

I can tell you, that is not the case at Copley at Stoughton!

We do everything possible to help our residents stay fit and active for their physical, mental, and social well-being. Our Activities team, led Ms. Woodward, developed the “Fitness Fun” program with activities designed to keep our residents active and engaged. These include group calisthenics, guided walks in and around Copley, gardening, dancing, and other activities. Even simple things like encouraging residents to walk to the cafeteria at mealtimes rather than take a wheelchair can go a long way to increasing quality of life.

Regular outings are big social events here which usually have some sort of physical element such as walking. Other activities at Copley include cooking, arts and crafts, and cognitive games and puzzles. These are great ways of keeping the mind active as well.

The most important thing is that we do these activities together. Copley is a little community, and we encourage everyone to participate and interact socially. I like to think of our community as that neighborly house we all envision retiring in, but with all the comfort and convenience Copley offers.

Activities are important for our short-stay residents, too. Getting rehab after surgery or an injury can be difficult physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is especially true when you are away from home. Our professional Activities staff at Copley helps the time pass a lot faster.

If you have any questions about our Fitness Fun program or any of our lifestyle programming, please feel free to contact me anytime. We can even arrange for a tour so you can see for yourself how Copley keeps residents active and engaged.

The Dreaded Flu

February 14, 2018 by Steven Tyer

“Flu activity in Massachusetts has spiked yet again, reaching the second-highest level the state has seen in at least the past decade.” The Boston Globe reported on February 8th.

Your first thought reading this may be “well I got the flu shot so I am fine” … wrong. The vaccine was reported by TIME Magazine to only have 17 percent effectiveness against the viral strain this flu season, meaning we need to remain cautious while we wait out the rest of this flu season.

Every year I remind visitors about coming into Copley if they are having any flu-like symptoms. Once illnesses like the flu or Norovirus are introduced to an environment such as Copley, they can infect almost everyone in record time. It is very serious when an elderly person contracts one of these viruses. As we age, our immune systems become weaker, making us more prone to these illnesses. Please, if you have symptoms we ask until your symptoms have subsided not to visit our facility. It is critical for our infection control protocols to mitigate the spread of these illnesses to our residents.

Here are some ways you can be mindful during flu season:

Even it is not 100% effective, getting your flu shot in early fall can still protect you against multiple strands of the virus.
Avoid close contact with others.
Keep your hands away from your face. ANY surface could be infected.
Clean communal surfaces and items DAILY and wash your hands after touching any. I.e. light switches, doorknobs, telephones, keyboards, etc…
Wear surgical gloves and a mask while caring for someone who is ill and AVOID direct contact.

And for those who have been hit already, here are a few ways you can lessen the pain of your symptoms while you wait it out via WebMD:

Fluids, fluids, fluids. Water, tea, juice, sports drinks, and broth are all effective in keeping your respiratory system hydrated.
Ibuprofen can save the day when it comes to those dreaded body aches.
Calm that cough with over the counter cough meds.
Breathe in steam. Fill your bathroom sink with hot water and a few drops of peppermint essential oils. This opens your airways up, easing congestion and making it easier to breathe!

Stay healthy this winter and remember to visit when you’re feeling better!

Helping Others Find a Career Path

January 25, 2018 by Steven Tyer

Setting out to find a career is an exciting, yet terrifying time in everyone’s life. It’s easy to wonder – am I choosing the right path? What if I end up not liking the job? Am I wasting my time? All of these questions are completely legitimate, but having a mentor to turn to for advice and guidance can make the journey less terrifying.

When we look back on when we first embarked on our career paths, there is usually a special someone who helped shape our careers by sharing their knowledge and past experiences. While it is said that struggles prove to be one of life’s greatest teachers, a mentor can help guide you through those struggles.

We’ve always taken mentoring very seriously. In fact, we encourage our staffs’ children and close family friends to shadow our employees if they show an interest in nursing, physical or occupational therapy or administration. As a locally-owned and managed facility, we can offer an exceptional learning environment with hands-on experience. We have employees that started as CNAs that are now RNs, nursing station secretaries that have gone on to nursing school and students from Blue Hills Technical School who have finished their technical hours at our facility.

Jill Owens is the MDS Coordinator here at Copley. As an MDS Coordinator, Jill’s daily tasks consist of assessing the quality of the emotional, mental and physical care that is given to long-term patients. She started as a CNA back in 1995 and has since worked her way through nursing school and up to a management position that is very important for the everyday function of our facility, staff, and patients.

We open our doors and not only welcome but encourage younger generations to use our facility and our well-trained staff as a source of knowledge for their future. Know someone looking for hands-on experience in nursing or any part of the skilled nursing field? We would love to hear from them and learn how we can work together to start them on their way to a rewarding career. Whether it is through volunteering, interning or finishing up technical hours, there are many opportunities to learn and grow in any field if you put yourself out there!

The Season of Giving

December 4, 2017 by Steven Tyer

As we approach the holidays, we begin to reflect on how thankful we are and how much we appreciate those around us. Here at Copley, this time of year brings us many opportunities to show our staff how grateful we are for them. Not that their efforts ever go unnoticed, but the holiday season gives us the chance to slow down and let them know how valued they are.

Our Employee Appreciation Awards took place on November 9th; we had the opportunity to take a break from our hectic routines to enjoy each other’s company over lunch while we recognized our employees. We kicked off the awards acknowledging those with perfect attendance. We are always amazed by the number of staff members we have here with perfect attendance, it really speaks to their dedication!

Next, we honor those who have been here for two, five, ten and twenty years. Each year we see more and more repeat faces filling our annual awards, and it gives us a great deal of pride to know that we are doing something correctly to keep our team around. It brings us joy to hear comments throughout the community about our dedicated team of professionals because if it weren’t for them, it would be impossible for us to operate as we do.

Another annual event we look forward to is the Thanksgiving pie delivery that fills our conference room with fresh apple pies from Whitey’s bakery. Each staff member is able to take one home to enjoy with their loved ones on Thanksgiving.

As we head into December we begin to organize our Giving Tree. Each staff member gets to pick an envelope off of the tree and receive a mystery gift card. This is such a great way to end the year and show our appreciation.

On December 14^th we will be hosting our annual Holiday Reception from 5:30PM – 8:00PM for our residents, guests, staff and families. Wishing a warm holiday season filled with rest and relaxation to you and your loved ones!

Employee Spotlight: Cheryl Woodward

September 28, 2017 by Steven Tyer

Activity Directors at Skilled Nursing Facilities play a vital role in developing and implementing different activities that will engage residents, give them something to look forward to and encourage socialization.

Cheryl Woodward has been our Activities Director for ten years now, planning and implementing the daily and annual activities for our residents. Cheryl lives locally in Taunton, MA and in her free time enjoys painting, decorating, arts and crafts and anything that gets her creative juices flowing.

Cheryl works hard to reconnect our residents with the hobbies they love to make their lives feel fulfilled and meaningful. Each month a thoughtfully planned calendar outlining activities gives residents something to look forward to, which helps tremendously with their mental well-being. There are also many events that occur on a regular basis including coffee hour & word games to keep residents minds sharp, fitness fun to encourage an active lifestyle, painting classes for artistic residents, spa days, restaurant outings, casino trips and more! Cheryl’s favorite activities to plan are the ones that involve bringing the resident’s families together. Some of the annual family events are the Winter Holiday Celebration in December and National Nursing Home Week in May.

Each season, our residents work collectively on a mural that graces the front lobby of Copley. Each resident participating is given one to two squares of a larger picture to complete. The individual paintings are then put together and revealed to the residents in a grand unveiling ceremony. This is one of the most looked forward to events each season as it takes hours of hard work and dedication. Cheryl started incorporating these murals into our activities three years ago, and past and present residents have now completed twelve collaborative murals, and we recently started donating the older ones to town buildings. Our spring 2015 mural entitled “April Showers Bring May Flowers” is on display at the Stoughton Public Library. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area.

Cheryl enjoys working here for many reasons but said that what she appreciates most about her job is how it feels like home. It is not only a comfortable environment, but she loves the people she works alongside and the special bond she has with our residents.

Skilled Nursing Facility Myths vs. Realities

July 24, 2017 by Steven Tyer

There are many unflattering stigmas associated with skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). So for this month’s blog, we want to take the opportunity to dispel some of these “un-truths” and shine some light on the realities of being a guest or resident at Copley at Stoughton.

Myth 1:

The food is awful and residents are malnourished

The Reality:

Proper nutrition is one of the main concerns of staff members at a skilled nursing facility, especially here at Copley. It is crucial to provide residents with proper nutrition to keep them healthy and feeling their best. Our registered dietitian Deb and head chef Bobbi Jo work hard to make sure each specialized diet plan is providing residents with the proper nutrients to make sure their dietary needs are being met. We must go above and beyond to make sure all guests and residents enjoy our menus.

A few of our favorite dishes here at Copley are the pan seared scallops over baby greens, the complete Thanksgiving turkey dinner and the daily breakfasts served in the dining room. We also strive to make every attempt to fulfill individual requests at each meal.

Myth 2:

Skilled Nursing Facilities smell

The Reality:

This myth is commonly associated with the fact that some older adults are incontinent due to medical issues. Properly cleaned facilities like Copley not only use highly effective products to avoid odors from building up, but also have trained staff members who thoroughly cleanse residents before odors become an issue. Of course, there will be odors in areas where we care for residents at certain times, but those odors should never affect the lobby or common areas.

Myth 3:

All residents do is play Bingo

The Reality:

There is no denying that we LOVE Bingo here at Copley and fit it into our schedules numerous times each week, but we do more than just Bingo. All skilled nursing facilities have activity directors on site to plan various activities on a daily basis that are mentally, physically and socially stimulating. We get our residents involved in seasonal murals, weekly art classes, a yearly harbor cruise, live musical performances, group story writing, restaurant and casino outings and much more!

Myth 4:

Residents are lonely

The Reality:

Transitioning into a new living situation can be difficult for anyone, regardless of their age. Adjusting is something that takes time, sometimes up to 6 months to even a year. By transitioning, we mean residents being fully engaged in activities, the dining room, and facility outings. Residents often meet many people during their stay with common interests, allowing them to bond and form friendships with one another. We are very aware of this transition process with new residents and make sure that we do everything in our power to make the process easier for them. We also like to encourage families to visit whenever they can to bring a sense of familiarity to their loved ones as long as they’re not interfering with the care of other residents. We also encourage all resident to bring some personal items to make it feel more like their home.

It is important that we do not fall victim to believing everything we read or hear. Do your research, visit and don’t let one bad experience with a skilled nursing facility speak for them all. We encourage you to visit our facility at any time for a tour! Check out our website here: https://copleystoughton.com/

Sources:

http://www.therubins.com/homes/stathome.htm

http://www.nmhca.org/myths

Protect your Skin this Summer

June 21, 2017 by Steven Tyer

Summer is finally here, and as much as we welcome the sun, it is important to remember that the older you get, the more sensitive your skin becomes to harmful UV rays. Each time our residents are outside, regardless of the amount of time they will be spending in the sun, we make sure that our nurses protect their skin with sunscreen. Protection with a SPF 15 or higher on a daily basis can dramatically decrease skin aging.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the older you get, the higher your risk becomes for skin cancer, and if you’ve had more than five sunburns in your lifetime, your risk of melanoma doubles.

Here are some tips on how to enjoy the sun without sacrificing your health;

Apply SPF 15 or higher on a daily basis, especially to your face, whether you are going to the beach or just to work! Learn more about what your sunscreen label is actually saying HERE.
Consider investing in clothing with SPF! It is a great way to further protect your skin from those harmful UV rays. Check out some SPF clothing HERE.
Seek shade! UV rays are the most harmful between 10AM and 4PM.
Wear sunglasses. Good sunglasses with UV-blocking properties are a necessity when it comes to protecting the sensitive skin around your eyes as well as your eyes in general!
Avoid tanning beds at ALL COSTS. They have been linked with increased risks of melanoma.

Stay aware of what is happening with your skin and keep an eye on any concerning freckles or moles. When giving yourself a skin check, keep in mind the ABCDE rule that the American Cancer Society recommends:

A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.

There is plenty of information on the hazards of UV rays and the risks of skin cancer/sun damage, but it is not all doom and gloom, if you are proactive with protection. And remember, you are susceptible to harmful UV rays 12 months of the year, not just in the summer months.

The Business of Keeping Everything In-House

May 23, 2017 by Steven Tyer

Outsourcing key ancillary departments by healthcare providers is a common practice. Housekeeping, laundry, and rehab staffs are frequently outsourced, dietary services also, but to a lesser extent. Providers may at times have no other choice but to outsource due to inability to attract a qualified staff or simply view it as an expense reducing strategy. I have found that at Copley it is best to keep all services in house. It is not worth the loss of the direct managerial control if we were to contract our services. In the long run, the increase in referrals we see by staying focused on our commitment (as a healthcare provider and employer) to our community far outweighs any expense reduction we will see in the short term.

By keeping everything in-house here at Copley, we allow our management team to maintain complete control of the services being provided to our residents and guests. For example; if we outsourced our dietary department it would be cost prohibitive to have the main dining serve three meals per day in the manner in which we do individual plate service. Our excellent rehab staff can focus on schedules that are optimal for our guests and not simply focus on inflated efficiency expectations which would be a major factor if outsourced. Without our highly-skilled staff, their individual talents and our direct management, the quality of our care would not remain at the standard we expect.

We pride ourselves on the “local” aspect of our facility, and as a Stoughton resident, I work hard to keeps things local, including hiring people from the local community and surrounding towns. Our Admissions Director, Chris Simonson, as well as our Director of Social Services, Laurie Jameson, are both from Easton. Dennis Andreotti, our Director of Rehab Services, is from Canton. The majority of our Certified Nursing Assistants are from Stoughton or a neighboring town. Having a staff of trained professional from the same towns that our residents/guests are from and keeping our services in-house creates a motivation factor in our facility to not let our neighbor down!