Whether you’re looking for intensive rehabilitation to help you recover after a surgery, accident, cardiac event or stroke, or are seeking longer-term skilled nursing care, our dedicated team offers a wide continuum of healthcare services that balance the celebration of life with compassionate care. We understand that finding a center that meets your personal needs is extremely important and feeling comfortable and safe in a healing environment is the best way to recover. At our center, we believe in helping people live better by providing quality care with dignity and respect, while enhancing the life of each individual. We encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have related to the services listed below.
Ventilator Care and Weaning
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If your loved one needs a device in order to breathe, you know how scary it is when he or she struggles. Only in recent years can those who need a machine that breathes for them be cared for outside a hospital. At Greystone Healthcare Center, our skilled nurses are trained in ventilator care methods. They can assure that a respirator is working properly, and they know how to assist in weaning off as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Acute Respiratory Failure
Rapid breathing and confusion are symptoms of high carbon dioxide levels in the blood. If the oxygen levels are too low, the person experiences an inability to breathe. The skin, lips, and fingertips acquire a bluish hue.
People with acute lung failure are restless, anxious, and sleepy. Other symptoms include irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness, and shallow breathing. Also, profuse sweating can be a symptom.
What Are the Causes Of Lung Failure?
There are several causes of breathing failure:
- Injury
- Obstruction
- Chemical inhalation
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Infection
- Stroke
- Allergic reactions
- Pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Spinal cord or brain injury
How Can We Help?
Our staff assesses several things on an ongoing basis:
- Unobstructed airway
- Infection
- Stability
- Pain
- The nutritional needs of the patient
Residents on ventilators can’t always speak, but they can usually express that they are in pain. Our nurses know how to make your loved one as comfortable as possible.
While anxiety medications can help, visits from family members are important as well.
Also, to ward off infection, changing the resident’s position and exercising their limbs are important. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common issue. Due to these risks, our staff keeps a close eye out for any warning signs.
Basic Needs
Proper airway management checks are performed constantly. In addition, daily routines of oral hygiene, such as brushing the patient’s teeth, are scheduled.
Blood pressure checks ensure the patients’ stability. Another risk is pneumothorax. This is when a lung collapses. Through constant monitoring, our nurses detect potential issues. Because a resident on a ventilator can’t swallow, feeding tubes become necessary. Many residents have feeding tubes to provide liquid nutrition through the gut. Of course, we ensure that all of the nutritional needs of our residents are being met.
How Do We Help Wean Off The Ventilator?
Of course, weaning off the machine is the aim for many residents. While breathing distress is resolved, our team creates a removal plan.
Many factors are involved in weaning such as:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Medications
- Nutritional status
If or when our team decides to wean the resident, we look at these and other factors.
Some residents gradually ease off the ventilator over a period of weeks. Others may be weaned off sooner. Our goal is to provide an improved quality of life for your loved one. Therefore, we will report to you on his or her progress, and you’ll receive the attention you deserve at this difficult time. Of course, if you have questions or concerns, you can contact us at any time because at Greystone Healthcare Center, we are always here to help!
Nutritional Management Service
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Healthy Living is Healthy Eating.
As we get older, many of us need to reassess our food intake. Many older adults ingest the same amount of calories for years, yet their activity levels are much lower than they used to be. On the other hand, some forget to eat at all or have no appetite. Losing or gaining significant weight at this stage of life can predispose a person to many difficult diseases and conditions. At Greystone Healthcare Center, our nutritionists are trained to recognize dietary issues and address them quickly. We take our residents’ meals seriously, as they are the basis of a healthy, active life.
Balancing It Out
A healthy diet is all about balance. The human body needs a mix of the right nutrients to thrive. However, varying their sources give off the full health benefits your loved ones need.
Healthy foods include fruits and vegetables of varying colors, whole grains, and healthy fats. Our nutritionists make sure your loved ones get these in their diets every single day.
H2O Is The Way To Go
Hydration is vital to proper body function. You may not consider fluid intake as part of your diet, but it is. Water, in particular, is essential for good health. We make sure all our residents have access to good hydration, and our nurses encourage drinking even when residents say they aren’t thirsty.
Vitamins and Minerals
The reason we’re told to eat certain types of foods is for the contained nutrients. Certain nutrients are essential for overall health.
Vitamin B12 is one of those nutrients. To make sure your loved one gets enough of this vitamin, we choose foods that are great sources for it. These include some types of fish, lean meats, and fortified cereals.
For good bone health, we include plenty of vitamin D and calcium in our customized food plans. Dairy products and multiple beverages have added calcium. Foods like cheese, egg yolks, and calcium-enriched juices are all good choices.
Lower Sodium–High Fiber Diets
Reducing blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease, and a high-sodium diet can cause your body to lose calcium from bones, increasing your risk for osteoporosis. Not everyone is sensitive to sodium’s effects on blood pressure, but there is no way to identify those who are sodium-sensitive. That’s why we recommend that all our residents curb their sodium intake.
Fiber plays an important role in the body’s digestive system, but that’s not all it does. It may also help keep heart disease and Type 2 diabetes out of the picture. While fiber may not sound appetizing, there are plenty of great foods that will help your loved one get enough. Bran cereals, whole-grain bread, peas, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables are all great sources of fiber.
Encouraging Good Eating Habits
Older people might not have the appetite they once did. Additionally, some residents with memory issues may forget to eat altogether. Because of this, they might end up not eating enough.
Eating enough healthy food is vital for keeping your body healthy, so we will help your loved one get enough of the right foods. Because, not eating enough can lead to issues with muscles, bones, and organs.
That being said, it’s still important that you don’t overeat. If your loved one’s appetite is still intact and they are merely eating more because they are not as active, they could have a problem.
As our bodies age, we need fewer calories. That means that a healthy weight can be maintained with less when we’re older. This happens because of energy loss, metabolism slowing down, and other circumstances.
Nutritional Counseling For You And Your Loved Ones
Healthy eating can be difficult. Planning ahead can make it easier, though. We want to hear all about your loved one’s food preferences and needs. Together with families, we map out a food plan our residents can enjoy and benefit from. We are always available to answer your questions and hear your concerns. Please feel free to contact us anytime. At Greystone Healthcare Center, your loved one’s nutritional health is our top priority, because enjoyable, healthy meals ensure a greater quality of life!
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