On Thursday, June 4, the Morton Bakar Center community rallied to support Black Lives Matter in honor of the late George Floyd and countless others who’s lives tragically ended in similar circumstances nationwide.
Read MoreCongraulations to Morton Bakar Center for completing their first “Skillympics” (Skill and Olympics) event!
What are the Skillympics? Great question! It is a unique and FUN way to educate staff in all aspects of Morton Bakar’s policies, procedures, and many state and federal regulations that are critical to the proper management of the facility. The goal is to make learning fun, engaging, and competitive.
Like the Olympics, there was a torch and a parade. However, in true MBC style, they were exclusive in the series of competitive academic events. The events were managed and graded by the department heads. The winners were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals based on academic and skills performance. Each employee had the opportunity to interact with all departments, gaining critical knowledge and skills throughout the process.
This event will now be held quarterly. The goal is also to prepare employees for the annual state and federal survey by having each employee be academically competent and engaged.
The Skillympics is also intended to be a staff development and team building event!
In May, Cigna health insurance released a nationwide study on loneliness, declaring it an epidemic in the United States with nearly 50 percent of respondents reporting that they sometimes or always feel alone or left out. As research professor at the University of Houston and author Dr. Brené Brown points out in her 2017 book, Braving the Wilderness, "To combat loneliness, we must first learn how to identify it and to see that experience as a warning sign." The best response to that warning sign? Finding and making connections.
At Telecare's Morton Bakar Center, a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) in Hayward, California, the feeling of loneliness can be a significant part of the people they serve. Unchecked, loneliness can lead to hopelessness, isolation, and despair. Staff commonly hear that it isn't so easy to make friends, and therefore individuals feel discouraged in their recovery. In Morton Bakar Center's treatment settings, they use a guided conversation taught in Telecare's Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS) to inspire hope and resiliency through building connections.
"Some of the most powerful connections happen with fellow consumers," said Julia Egan, Clinical Director at Morton Bakar Center. "Finding another like-minded soul who helps them feel loved and cared about can turn around their life. The power of friendship is universal and something to be treasured."
To read more about building connections to your self, others, and your community, check out our latest RCCS Tidbit of the Month: Connections [link to final blog here] and find a simple practice to try at home or in the office.
For more information on Telecare's RCCS, click here.
National Nursing Home Week was recognized from May 13-19 and is celebrated annually at Telecare's Morton Bakar Center. Each day of the week was centralized around a theme. On Wednesday, May 15, the team celebrated "MBC Goes Wild" — staff dressed up in safari gear and animal print while others brought their pets into work. Birds, dogs, and bunnies paraded through the building throughout the day so that residents could touch and play with them.
One staff member was able to bring her relative's horse, Jugete ("toy" in Spanish), to MBC for the residents to interact with. MBC had never brought Jugete in before, and it was such a special treat for residents and staff alike to touch and take photos with the horse. They opened up the back patio area for the horse to stand in and for residents to be able to view and play with the horse safely. Residents of MBC were pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
This year, in honor of our 50th anniversary, we invited all of our programs to share their stories of recovery, values, and inspiration. We would like to say a huge thank you to all of the programs who put their time, effort, and love into this contest. Take a look at the videos below to see who will be bringing home The Morty, an award created in honor of Anne Bakar's father and one ofTelecare's founders, Morton Bakar!
Telecare staff and members of our inpatient program in Hayward, California, share what recovery means to them and what they are most proud of in their life and work.
Our community-based program in East Oakland showed their heart, spirit, and all the unique ways they are incorporating the Telecare values and Evidence Based Practices to improve the lives of the members they serve.
Telecare members and staff in our court-ordered program in Orange County share their stories of making it through hardship and give words of hope and encouragement to those on their own recovery journey.
50 Years of Services to People With Serious Mental Illness
