When “Personal Care” is Not Enough….Turn to Continuum’s Specialized Behavior Management Program™ (SBMP)

Continuum developed the Specialized Mental Health Care Program to better respond to patients who either suffer from mental health issues, have acquired brain injuries that affect their behavior, or are in advanced stages of dementia. The services are designed to be provided in the clients’ place of residence which could be a private home, facility or group home.

Description of Services

Three different services are provided within the scope of care; Assessments and Development of a Care Plan, Counseling, and Direct Care as provided by a specially trained Behavior Management Technician or by a nurse.

Who May Benefit from Behavior Management Care….

Many of these clients are referred to home care principally because of the need for physical care, but also have a history of mental health issues, or have sustained head injuries that have resulted in behavior changes that require specialized handling by direct care staff.

SBMP™ Objectives:

• Assessing in the home the behavioral, medical and social issues that may potentially create barriers to patient’s ability to achieve highest level of independence and function

• Redirecting destructive behaviors

• Developing better adherence to the plan of care Developing and reinforcing independent care skills

• Helping family members and family caregivers cope with issues surrounding care and support of the client.

• Providing training skills for direct caregivers to be able to correctly intervene with escalating behaviors and reinforce desired behaviors

 

 

Services

Care Assessment and Development of Plan of Care: These are conducted by a ACSW level social worker or Mental Health Nurse. Primary focus is on developing a picture of client’s current mental status, assess for social support including care and support provided by family members, assess the environment for safety issues, establish a base line of current medications. The Social/Worker nurse completing the assessment than develops a Care Plan based on their findings.

A Care Assessment is always provided to client’s being referred into SMHCP program requiring direct care, however, Continuum can provide also provide an assessment to individuals who do not require direct care on a fee for service basis.

Counseling: Professional counseling is provided to the client by either the ACSW or Mental Health Nurse at start of care and on an as needed basis throughout the length of the client’s care An important part of the program involves family counseling. Under the SBMP program, Continuum provides a counseling session to the client’s family members and/or inner support group as a value-add non-billable service during the initial start of care. This counseling session is designed to help family caregivers understand the pathology of the client’s illness and develop skills to deal with behavior issues that may arise, to encourage them to develop their own coping skills in dealing with a difficult care situation and to develop proper parameters for a successful “care partnership” with the agency.

Direct Care by a Mental Health Tech: Although much of the care is based on physical and functional need, direct care workers that provide care to individuals with either mental illness or acquired head injuries have a need to possess skills in the areas of behavior management and medications. With the training provided by a mental health nurse, they become an active part of the treatment team. Besides their existing knowledge and training in providing personal care, the Behavior Management Health Tech (BMHT) will have specialized training in:

• Brain functioning and acquired head injuries

• Basic understanding of mental illness, depression and dementia

• Basic psychiatric care techniques Basic behavior management skills: redirection, etc

• Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques Emergency situation protocol

• Basis protocol on observing and communicating behavior responses to medication changes to mental health nurse