Behavioral Health Guide

The Behavioral Health Guide aims to assist long-term care providers in developing and maintaining effective behavioral health programs, offering modules that can be used individually or combined to meet specific needs, with a focus on regulatory compliance with F740 related to behavioral health services.

This guide was developed by members of the AHCA Clinical Practice Committee, who have expertise and experience in building successful behavioral programs.

This program consists of five modules: each focused on a key area of behavioral health. Each module contains one or more education videos, corresponding PowerPoint presentations, handouts and an overall key takeaways document. The modules are designed to be used individually or in combination with each other to best meet your facility’s needs. This means you can use this guide sequentially or utilize individual elements of the guide separately.

Module Descriptions:

1. Acquired Brain Injury/Traumatic Brain Injury: Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), also known as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), presents a significant health challenge, especially among the elderly where falls are a major cause. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies TBI as a leading cause of mortality in older adults, highlighting the urgent need for interventions and rehabilitation strategies, as this population faces serious physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments with profound implications for individuals, caregivers, and the healthcare system. 
2. Dementia: This dementia training module is part of the Behavioral Health Guide and equips long-term care providers with essential strategies for incorporating dementia care and approaches into behavioral health services. Designed to address the needs of persons with dementia, it emphasizes collaboration and best practices for regulatory compliance with F744 standards, which indicates a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia, receives the appropriate treatment and services to attain or maintain their highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. The module highlights how staff can support non-pharmacological interventions for behaviors, ensuring individuals receive treatment and services that foster independence, safety, and enhanced quality of life. 
3. Medical Complexities and Mental Health: As mental health issues continue to rise, facilities are finding more and more residents admitted to the facility who have both medical needs and mental health issues.  Understanding how to balance the medical needs as well as the mental health needs of residents requires an interdisciplinary approach that focuses on the resident and their specific triggers, not just a focus on the diagnosis. By staff understanding how the resident’s mental health issues and medical issues interrelate, more successful outcomes may occur. 
4. Substance Use Disorders: This Substance Use Disorder (SUD) training module is part of the Behavioral Health Guide and equips long-term care providers with essential strategies for incorporating SUD approaches into behavioral health services. Designed to address the needs of persons with SUD, it emphasizes collaboration and best practices for regulatory compliance to ensure individuals receive the appropriate treatment and services to attain or maintain their highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. The module highlights how staff can support non-pharmacological interventions for behaviors, ensuring individuals receive treatment and services that foster independence, safety, and enhanced quality of life. 
5. Rehabilitations Therapies: This training module, part of the Behavioral Health Guide, equips long-term care providers with essential strategies for incorporating Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy into behavioral health services. Designed to address the needs of clients with dementia, traumatic brain injury, and mental health conditions, it emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and best practices for regulatory compliance with F740 standards. The module highlights how therapy can enhance functional abilities, promote recovery, and support non-pharmacological interventions for behaviors, ensuring clients receive holistic care that fosters independence, safety, and improved quality of life. 

Registration is free to AHCA/NCAL members. 

Instructions to Register: 

• To avoid technical problems, use Google Chrome. 
• Members will need to log in using their existing email and password first. 
• Once you are logged in to the website you will be able to register by clicking the green register button at the top of the page. 
• If you have forgotten your password click here. 
• If you are new to the site, you can create an account here. Answer all fields on the create an account page- especially locating your company name. You can search by name or zip code. After creating an account, you will be able to register for the webinar. 

Instructions to join, after registering: Click on the Contents tab and begin the modules.

Email educate@ahca.org if you need assistance.

This guide was developed by members of the AHCA Clinical Practice Committee, who have expertise and experience in building successful behavioral programs. 

Deanna Bokel: RN-BC, Director of Corporate Compliance, StoneBridge Senior Living

Gail Polanski: RN, BSN Clinical Consultant, Tara Cares, LLC

Dr. Anna Fisher: CADDCT, CDP, CMDCP, CDSGF, QCP, Nurse / Educator, Papillion Community Living Center

Annette Wenzler: MBA, BSN, Senior VP and Chief Nursing Officer, Exceptional Living Centers

Beth Gifford: LMSW, Director of Social Services and Behavioral Health, Mission Health 

Elicia Jacobson: MPA, MsM, HSE, LNHA, Executive Director/North Shore Healthcare, Minot Health and Rehab

Greg Seiple: RN, Vice President of Clinical Informatics, Strategic Healthcare Programs | SHP

Jacqueline Vance: RNC, BSN, IP-BC, CDP, ACWN, RLMS level III certified, Senior Director of Clinical Innovation and Education, Mission Health

Jennifer Pyne: MSN, RN, VP of Clinical Ops/Nursing Informatics, Genesis HealthCare Administrative Services LLC

Kim Blunt: RN BSN LNHA, DE Regional Support /Interim, ExcelCare

Linda Riccio: OT/L, FAOTA, Vice-President of Healthcare Solutions, TCM Consulting & Management

Lisa Volk: RN, BPS, LNHA, Executive Director Foundation for Quality Care

Michele Self: MA-SLP, Customer Success Manager, Real Time Medical Systems

Dr. Michelle Stuercke: RN, MSN, DNP, MPA, LNHA, QCP, Chief Clinical Officer, TCM Consulting and Management

Michelle Wallace: BSN RN, GERO-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CRRN, CDP, Director of Clinical Services, Vetter Health Services

Michon Scott: RN, Director of Nursing, Cottage Grove Place

Tara Roberts: PT, ACWPT, QCP, CDP, Vice President of Quality, Rehab and Wound Care Services, Nexion Health Management, Inc.

Amy Miller: RN, BSN, RAC-CT, CPC, Director of Clinical and Regulatory Service, AHCA, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living

Dr. Pam Truscott: DNP/HSL, MSN/ED, RN, Director of Quality Improvement, NCAL | American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living