April 2015 - East Bay RCFE Alliance

SPRING 2015
www.eastbayrcfe.com
EAST BAY RCFE ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER
EBRA NEWSLETTER
EAST BAY RCFE ALLIANCE
What is EBRA?
The East Bay RCFE Alliance
(EBRA) was organized in 2012 by
five established care home owners
from the East Bay. Each facility has
been qualified to remain compliant
with CCLD regulations. All 5 EBRA
founders have served as an
advisory board under the leadership
of Dr. Ray Grimm, City of Fremont
Human Services Department as
part of the Pathways to Positive
Aging Initiative. The founders are
also current members of the
advisory board of the Bay Area
Community Service (BACS)
Fremont chapter.
EBRA meets monthly to empower
RCFE owners through relationship
building within the community,
providing a voice in decisions that
impact care homes and sharing
best practices to improve
operations for RCFE’s. Discharge
planners, referral agencies and
social workers from a variety of
organizations attend the EBRA
meetings to share insight on current
issues in todays dynamic elder care
industry.
EBRA meets every 3rd Thursday
of the month except when CEU
classes are scheduled the same
day in the Fremont Facility
Center
Where: Washington Hospital
Nakamura Clinic
Address: 33077 Alvarado Niles
Road, Union City, CA 94587
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
How to Help Seniors Survive Allergy Season
As pollen fills the air weeks ahead of schedule, people afflicted by seasonal
allergies are beginning to groan. Like
many millions of Americans, the elderly
are not exempt from the stuffy noses and
watery eyes that accompany allergies.
But, unlike most of those millions, seniors
often have complicating factors such as
chronic diseases that can make it difficult
to deal with their allergies.
1.Look for the Signs: Caregivers should
be on the lookout for the traditional signs
of allergies: sneezing, a runny nose, and
itchy eyes.
2. Be aggressive: Allergy symptoms, such as a congested nose and an
irritated throat, can be extremely dangerous to a senior who has pre-existing
cardiovascular problems. Allergies in the elderly should be treated as rapidly
and aggressively as possible
3. Avoid traditional antihistamines: Antihistamines, the class of drug most
commonly prescribed to treat allergies, can be dangerous to seniors. Potential
side effects from these medications include: confusion, drowsiness, urinary
retention, dry mouth and eyes, and dizziness. For the senior suffering from
seasonal allergies, a doctor will likely prescribe a nasal steroid or some form
of topical medication.
4.Make sure their doctor knows: Elderly people often have multiple chronic
health problems, and it can be hard for a doctor to separate a potential allergy
from an ongoing disease. A caregiver who suspects that their elderly loved
one may have allergies should bring their concerns to their loved one's doctor.
New Law Effective July 1, 2015
Liability Insurance - Requires all RCFE’s, except those facilities that are an
integral part of a continuing care community, to maintain liability insurance
covering injury to residents and guests, caused by negligent acts or omissions
to act of, or neglect y, the licensee or employee, in an amount of at least $1
Million per occurrence and $3 Million in the annually aggregate.
!
!
SPRING 2015
www.eastbayrcfe.com
EASTBAY RCFE ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER
EBRA Member Directory
Become A Member of the East Bay RCFE Alliance
To register or for more information about EBRA, please contact any of the board members:
Gladys Williams at 510-432-0332 | Vic Evaristo at 510-579-6911 | Josie Espejo at 510-304-7005
Precilla San Miguel at 510-258-2486 | Ditas Saluta at 408-218-6470
EBRA Director and Newsletter Editor: Lester Del Rosario, Palms Place Home For The Elderly
!
SPRING 2015
www.eastbayrcfe.com
EASTBAY RCFE ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER
Upcoming EBRA & Vitas Workshop Series
!
Topic: Understanding Dementia/Respiratory Symptoms and COPD
Presenter: Gary Cornelia - Vitas Community Liaison
Sponsored By: Vitas
When: Thursday April 30, 2015 Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Fremont Family Resource Center, Pacific Room, Suite H800
(3 CEU’S)
!
Topic: Caring for Persons who are Grieving/Grief in the Workplace/Depression
Presenter: Gary Cornelia - Vitas Community Liaison
Sponsored By: Vitas
When: Thursday August 20, 2015
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Fremont Family Resource Center, Pacific Room, Suite H800
(3 CEU’S)
!
Topic: Getting Your House in Order: Advance Care Planning/The Value of Hospice Care for
Residents/Families/Providers/Palliative vs. Curative Care
Presenter: Gary Cornelia - Vitas Community Liaison
Sponsored By: Vitas
When: November 19, 2015
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Fremont Family Resource Center, Pacific Room, Suite H800
(3 CEU’S)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!