Teamwork makes the dream work
Team based intervention for Veterans struggling with dementia.
The Sioux Falls VA Health Care System is dedicated to delivering the best possible care to all Veterans, especially those diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders. The Behavioral Recovery Outreach (BRO) program, which specializes in dementia care, was established to alleviate stress for both Veterans and their family members. The program aims to enhance the quality of life for Veterans and improve their access to care.
“We made sure that the process is simple,” said Kimberly Morgan, BRO Team Program Coordinator and social worker for the team. “Veterans with VA benefits or their family can request a consult through their provider, for non-medication assistance and approaches from our team.”
To achieve their goal, the BRO team consists of a psychologist, a nurse, and a social worker. They work with Veterans at the Sioux Falls VA and consistently travel to Veterans in assisted living and nursing homes to provide their expert care and make an impactful difference for the Veterans.
The BRO Team utilizes a variety of techniques to manage a Veteran’s diagnosis, which could include mood, behavior, memory, and other challenging neurocognitive changes.
“With our Traditional Program, we follow inpatient Veterans into the assisted living, medical foster home or nursing home facilities to work with their staff and share a Veteran’s specific behavior plan to ensure they are well taken care of,” said Morgan. “We also stay connected with the facility as a resource and guide while performing regular checks on Veterans ensuring they are doing well. BRO Team Preventative Program is offered to outpatient Veterans residing at home, medical foster home, or a facility, helping their fulltime caregivers with interventions to prevent them from needing to be hospitalized due to behavioral concerns.”
Although the team is small, the BRO Team undeniably makes a substantial and positive impact on the lives of Veterans with dementia and their families.
“Our team is truly invested in helping Veterans,” said Morgan. “Our team takes the time and effort to create a care plan because every Veteran’s diagnosis is different.”