7th Avenue Center  

7.                  Extensive staff training on techniques for de-escalation to avoid containments whenever possible—certified Nonviolent Crisis Intervention trainer on staff—denials of rights involving restraints down 90%

8.                  Regular meetings with nursing staff to develop and implement quality care and minimize errors

9.                  High turnover among licensed nurses has begun to stabilize and most who left have been replaced

10.              We are now a field training site for psych rotations of registered nursing students from Cabrillo College

Program/Activities

1.                  Strong Resident Council with officer elections

2.                  Canteen brought in-house so items, including cigarettes, are more readily available and not as expensive for residents

3.                  Rehabilitation Program is being revamped, including more emphasis on functional skill building with focus on each resident’s expected discharge plans

4.                  Denials of rights and incidents of restraint reduced significantly

5.                  Program groups are happening on time, longer duration, and more meaningful to residents—we have instituted routine surveys of resident interests and opinions about our groups

6.                  Added karaoke, pet awareness, pool table, indoor ping-pong table, organ, and a library of books and videos

7.                  Large garden planted and maintained by residents with vegetables, flowers, and herbs

8.                  Resident-driven activities such as live bands, talent shows, and a client-produced play the end of Summer, 2001

9.                  Residents enjoy jam sessions with the many musical instruments

10.              Out of county special outings to San Francisco Zoo, Giants games, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, others planned

11.              Many special activities include “popcorn and movies” with carnival style popcorn cart, ice-cream socials, birthday parties, among others

12.              Weekly DRA meeting integrated into overall program

13.              Santa Cruz County Hospice Project conducts weekly grief therapy group in-house

14.              Santa Cruz AIDS Project speakers conduct resident groups semi-annually

15.              Suicide Prevention agency meets with resident groups approximately quarterly

16.              Increased budget for behavior incentives and activities

17.              Residents encouraged to do their own laundry, about 40% participate

18.              New private telephone room and inside phone booth for resident privacy in main building and an additional resident telephone outside

19.              Weekly meetings with program staff to develop and implement quality of care improvements and minimize error

20.              New psychiatrist joined the staff  has significantly enhanced services to residents

21.              Department of Mental Health survey conducted in November, 2000 concluded that there is “tremendous improvement” in the program and documentation

Dietary

1.                  New Dietary Supervisor with extensive background in food service and a BS in dietetics from UC Davis

2.                  New commercial barbecue for back yard

3.                  Increased budget to enhance quality and quantity of food

4.                  Serving fresh vegetables, fruits, and “finger foods” before lunch and dinner to enhance appetite and dining experience

5.                  Changes in method of food service to minimize long lines

6.                  Outdoor awnings and new dining tables and chairs as well as new picnic tables for the back yard added

7.                  New registered dietician started January, 01

8.                  New major equipment in the kitchen (e.g., refrigerator, freezer, walk-in refrigerator)

9.                  Now serving a “table for six” family style at each meal

Physical Plant

1.                  Painted inside of main building

2.                  New dining tables and chairs, new couches and overstuffed chairs in group areas

3.                  New VCRs

4.                  New furniture, beds, dressers, nightstands with locks for all resident rooms

5.                  Cut trees down in back and side of main building

6.                  Worked with neighboring condo association to remove diseased trees

7.                  New storage units added to give more room inside of all buildings

8.                  New PA system so residents and staff can hear announcements inside and outside the buildings

9.                  New phone system with voice mail

10.              All new smoke alarms to reduce false alarms

11.              New window, awning, and staff break area in medical records office area

12.              Air exhaust vents in med room and social services office

13.              New roof

14.              Fences raised with cantilevered extensions to reduce and further discourage AWOLs

15.              Good neighbor fence to reduce sound and improve visual field of neighbors

16.              Significant parking lot repair completed

17.              Added a new commercial water heater booster and a water softener

18.              New water fountain in the back yard

19.              Installed continuous-flow water purifiers for residents and staff

20.              Newly landscaped back yard with new lawn furniture and fixtures completed April, 2001—residents designated the grass areas to be non-smoking space

21.              New drapes and art work throughout the Facility

22.              Three new computer network servers and new hardware throughout

Physical Plant Improvements Planned in the Next Few Months

1.                  Master plan for interior renovations being developed with Dejong Construction—complete renovation of the interior of the building will be done in phases starting in 2002

Other Items

1.                  Average 15 admissions and discharges per month

2.                  Only 1 incident of use of restraints, on average, monthly

3.                  Quarterly reports are sent to the three major counties

4.                  New brochure developed for the Facility (in English or Spanish)

Additional Goals

1.                 Developing improved systems for tracking resident personal belongings during stay and at discharge

2.                 Increased involvement of families—families to serve on committees (letters were sent to offer family counseling, no response as of yet)

3.                 Satisfaction surveys from all stakeholders, including residents, conservators, case managers and implementation of needed changes

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations.  We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

Copyright 2005 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Santa Cruz County, All Rights Reserved.

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