Restorative care is frequently confused with or incorrectly labeled as rehabilitation therapy. While both restorative care and rehabilitation therapy are complementary, they are distinctly different. Understanding this difference is crucial to appreciating the value of restorative care.
The main purpose of a restorative care program is to help individuals maintain their highest possible level of physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. This proactive approach is designed to prevent functional decline and preserve quality of life. In settings like the Smith Care Center (SCC), restorative care is integrated into the daily routines of residents, becoming an essential part of their comprehensive care. This encompasses a wide range of activities including active and passive range of motion exercises, assistance with ambulation, support during mealtimes, facilitating locomotion or wheelchair use, and implementing fall prevention strategies, such as the Sit-to-Stand program.
Beyond these core activities, restorative care teams also manage residents’ adaptive devices, such as skin protectors, night lights, chair pad alarms, and pendants. It’s noteworthy that at SCC, a significant portion of residents benefit from restorative care services; since January 2016, approximately 58 percent of residents have participated in these programs, highlighting the broad reach and impact of restorative care.
So, how does a restorative care program actually work? Typically, there isn’t one specific pathway to begin restorative care. However, it often starts after a resident completes therapy and has reached their maximum rehabilitation potential. Following this point, a therapist develops a personalized restorative care plan. This plan is then shared with a Restorative Nurse, like Lauren Krause at SCC, who takes charge of implementing the program. The restorative care team’s primary objective then becomes maintaining the resident’s current functional abilities. Restorative aides play a vital role in delivering this care, adhering to the care plans, monitoring progress, and reporting any changes in a resident’s condition.
What distinguishes a dedicated Restorative Care Team, such as the one at SCC? While many skilled nursing facilities incorporate some elements of restorative care into their staff training and expect all floor staff to contribute, SCC’s approach is unique. They have a specialized team dedicated solely to restorative care, working in close collaboration with the therapy department. According to Lauren Krause, “The communication between our department and therapy is really amazing,” emphasizing the integrated and coordinated nature of their care.
Furthermore, while Medicare mandates restorative care programs to operate at least six days a week, the Smith Care Center extends this to seven days a week. Lauren leads this program with her team of dedicated restorative aides – Dennis Ortiz, Sheila Strahorn, and Nancy Chan. When visiting SCC, observing Lauren and her team in action provides a clear picture of their commitment to resident well-being. For those seeking more information about restorative care, Lauren can be contacted directly at 941-361-7361.
