Of all the symptoms associated with the treatment of chronic disease and disability, pain is perhaps the most individualized.

We are extremely attentive during this treatment because all individuals have different pain tolerance levels. In addition, every individual experiences and copes with pain in unique ways. We are sensitive to these differences.

Our focus on individualized treatment gives us an advantage in providing palliative care in each of our skilled nursing centers. While our care teams provide relief from pain and other symptoms of serious illness, they also help residents learn to manage these symptoms in an understanding way.

Symptoms treated may include the following:

• Pain
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Loss of Appetite
• Shortness of Breath

Arms of Care™ – Our Holistic Approach To Clinically Complex Individuals

Briarwood Village Arms of Care approach is essential in achieving excellent care and providing expert attention for adults with complex, advanced illnesses and other distressing symptoms, which include both physical and psychological symptoms. Arms of Care ensures a team based approach when caring for the patient in his or her entirety. Developing a custom treatment plan improves the quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Understanding Our Care Continuum

The care continuum concept is the broad range of available and integrated health care services offered. Through the care continuum we guide and track patient care while addressing overall health, wellness and psychological needs. Our care continuum encompasses care ranging from prevention and treatment to rehabilitation and maintenance; required to support optimum health and well-being.

Arms of Care Key Benefits

• Improved communication, coordination and understanding of disease treatments among patients, families and health care providers
• Education and emotional support to family, friends and caregivers as they cope with and care for a loved one with a serious illness
• Provide confidence and security in the overwhelmed setting of a loved one’s illness
• Establish patients’ goals, reducing unwanted or unnecessary painful interventions
• Better quality of life; relief from suffering; family support; control and choice

Addressing the Whole Person in Pain and Symptom Management

Arms of Care offers expertise in pain and symptom management, particularly for complicated cases where symptom relief is hard to achieve.

We provide care coordination and time intensive patient-family communication about the goals of pain management and overall care. By supporting the plan of care and helping coordinate with the working physician’s orders, we ensure a safe discharge and smooth transition home.

Caring For Chronic Diseases and Rehabilitation Management

HCF works directly with hospitals and community clinicians to identify and implement chronic disease-specific, evidence based and rehabilitation care management practices.

We immediately begin education and discharge planning upon admission, while continually assessing the patients’ symptoms. Our keys to successful chronic disease management include, identifying patient goals, improving overall function, ensuring effective interventions are in place and actively involving patients and caregivers in decisions.

What Does It Mean To Have a Chronic Condition?

Chronic conditions may affect one’s physical health, mental health, social life, and employment status in many different ways. Chronic conditions come with varying levels of severity and physician recommended treatments.

Some chronic conditions are highly disabling, while others may have less of a physical impact. Some chronic conditions may not disable a person immediately, but may lead to severely disabling effects if the condition is not treated early and effectively. Some individuals with chronic conditions live full, productive, and rewarding lives. For others, isolation, depression, and physical pain are consequences of an ongoing chronic illness.

Typically, the more chronic conditions a person has, the greater the likelihood that they will have difficulties navigating through the care continuum.