Milestone HCQU West Blog

September 4, 2024

Why Should You Care About Psychiatric Polypharmacy?

Over the years I have had the pleasure to work with many people receiving services in our system. Our team typically gets called in, not when people are doing well, but when they are struggling. This can be from a medical standpoint, a behavioral standpoint, or often both. When reviewing their records, many people are noted to have a mental...

Everyday Life/General

August 28, 2024

Think Safe: Have Successful Meals, Not Sickness

Modified from August 2019. Summer is all about getting out of the house and enjoying the great outdoors. Time outside could include picnics, fairs, parties, grilling, and all kinds of fun. However, being outdoors with food means we need extra care around food safety. Whether you are purchasing, preparing, consuming, or storing food, it is very important to protect yourself...

Community/Everyday Life/General

August 21, 2024

Let’s Get Candid: You Don’t Want to Miss Grace Key

“Hey, party people!” That is the phrase you will hear often if you follow Grace Key on any of her social media sites. I was introduced to Grace several years ago via social media when I came across her Instagram page. This day Grace was explaining why ice cream was most likely a health food and she wasn’t going to be...

General

August 14, 2024

Project Lifesaver to the Rescue!

Last revision 8/24 Do you support someone who is prone to wandering from home or a program site? Have you had to call 911 when a loved one cannot be found? Project Lifesaver, a program comprised of components specifically designed to protect “at risk” individuals, may be able to help you to be proactive in supporting a loved one or...

Community/General/Resources/Technology

August 7, 2024

Now You CAN Have a Sensory-Friendly Adventure at Myrtle Beach

I love the beach! The sand, the sun, and the soothing sound of the waves. Not to mention scouring the beach for shells and sharks’ teeth! Myrtle Beach, SC. has always been a family favorite. But for individuals who may have sensory issues or be on the autism spectrum, navigating travel and accommodations can be overwhelming not only for that...

General

July 24, 2024

Fun in the Sun? More like Safe in the Summer

Modified from July 2019 5…4…3…2…1…SUMMER! June 20 marked the first day of summer. Warm weather is here. Swimming, beach-combing, cookouts, camping, and medications await us. Wait? Medications? What do medications have to do with our summer fun? We don’t often think about what medications do besides alleviating symptoms. Many of the people we support are on several different medications. Often,...

Everyday Life/General

July 17, 2024

Breaking News: Milestone HCQU West is on Facebook!

What is a HCQU? Do you know what HCQU stands for? What services do they offer? Back in January of this year, I had the privilege of attending the Everyday Lives conference in Hershey, PA. Some of my colleagues and I shared a vendor table with the other Health Care Quality Units (HCQUs) across the state and had an opportunity...

Community/Everyday Life/General/Resources

July 10, 2024

All-Abilities Media and A Valid Podcast

Who doesn’t love a good podcast? They can be informative, uplifting, comforting, humorous, give you the “feel-good” in your heart and sometimes make you scratch your head and think “hmmm, I never thought about that!” Sometimes it is simply good company for those long drives or rides. Recently a local podcast out of Pittsburgh is getting well deserved notoriety. All-Abilities...

Community/Employment/General

June 26, 2024

Outdoor Safety in the Summer: Avoid Tickborne Diseases

It’s that time of year when the weather starts to warm up and we start to have outdoor activities. As we go outside to enjoy the sun so do other living things. We may not realize the prevalence. According to the Smithsonian Institute “insect /arachnids species have been found to be quite numerous, with calculations of from 3 to 23...

General/Resources

June 12, 2024

Pittsburgh Zoo: Sensory Friendly Mornings

“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” What is the first thing you think of when you hear this famous quote? It might be the movie “The Wizard of Oz”, which this quote came from, or like me, you might think of the zoo. A visit to the zoo can be an amazing experience for many; however, for those with...

Community/General

Category: General