People living at Our House require a broad-based care system, one that is tailored to each resident. The residents are at the center of developing the care to meet their own range of individual needs. This care system is generally divided into one of three categories: Palliative for those requiring end-of-life care; Maintenance for those who require 24-hour care and whose health is not fluctuating frequently; and Transitional for those whose health has improved to a point where a discharge plan is appropriate. Regardless of the category of care a resident may need, many face severe challenges such as cancer, liver failure, mental illness, HIV-related dementia, and addiction. These challenges affect one’s ability to follow prescribed drug regimens and potentially compromise his or her health status. Challenges such as these may also affect a resident’s quality of life and their ability to live in a group setting. To foster the highest qualify of life possible for each resident, Our House utilizes an interdisciplinary care system that is characterized by collaboration, consensus and shared case management. A professional team of nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists creates a holistic approach to serving resident needs. Together, the resident and the team design a care plan and review it weekly in a care conference. This care plan is comprised of specialized medical services, social work, and occupational therapy services. Specialized Medical Services The men and women living at Our House receive medical services delivered by a medical team expert in the field of HIV/AIDS. At all times, residents are monitored and supported by a team of medical staff, including an RN, a Certified Medical Assistant or a Certified Nurses Aide, and consultation with the Our House Medical Director. The Our House medical team… Helps residents manage complicated medication regimens, proper nutrition, medical appointments and palliative care. Advocates with resident’s families, friends, health care providers and pharmacies or other suppliers to promote the best quality of life for residents. Incorporates alternative therapies, including acupuncture, dietary supplements, nutrition, therapeutic touch, Reiki and massage. Social Work Social Work at Our House of Portland recognizes and addresses the complex psychosocial needs of people with HIV. Social Work helps to create a community that is responsive, compassionate, and accepting while providing services to residents and their families. Social Work promotes and respects the values of acceptance, self-determination and individuality. A Mental Health consultant also participates in weekly care conferences to assist with appropriate medications for depression and mood stabilization as well as behavioral issues affecting the resident’s ability to live constructively in the Our House community. Social Work services… Provide a smooth admission to Our House, working with the prospective resident, family & friends, insurance providers to meet all admissions requirements Provide resident/family orientation Assist with setting up appropriate payment plan Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessment Give non-legal assistance with wills, directive to physicians, powers of attorney, and funeral arrangements Develop discharge planning; secure housing, plan move, and follow up on resident Obtain therapies and pastoral care which improve resident’s quality of life. Occupational Therapy As is the case around the country and in Oregon, greater numbers of Our House residents are living longer with AIDS and present a more complicated array of daily living needs. In response, Our House instituted an Occupational Therapy (OT) program in 1999. Occupational Therapy directly addresses the daily challenges of living with AIDS by enhancing each person’s ability to engage in and perform basic daily living activities, such as medication management, eating, dressing, toileting and bathing. Quality of life is often measured by the amount of control a resident has over his/her daily activities. Occupational therapy services support the resident in maintaining as much independence as possible, adapting as the resident declines over time. Occupational Therapy Services provide: physical rehabilitation remediation adaptive treatment discharge planning including an environmental assessment of housing client-centered goal setting in the areas of activities of daily living, self-care, and productivity avocational/vocational activities recreational activities Interdisciplinary Care Team The Interdisciplinary Care Team is led by Executive Director Nancy Sellers. Ms. Sellers has been Executive Director of Our House of Portland since July 1999 after serving on the Board of Directors for two years. She is responsible for all administrative and property management functions. Her background includes five years in educational program and curriculum development, 15 years of software development management plus three years in consulting. Her education started with a B.A. in Spanish and continued later with an M.A. in Adult and Continuing Education. Ms. Sellers is an active member of the Portland EMA HIV/AIDS Housing Advisory Committee— organized by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development (BHCD). Director of Nursing Kim Hutchinson, RN, MSN. Ms. Hutchinson obtained her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from San Francisco State University over ten years ago. Her experience in nursing has been primarily in the field of residential and community health, with over seven years experience working with people with HIV and AIDS. Ms. Hutchinson’s recent emphases have been continuing educational program consistent with the curriculum developed by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, creation of a program to provide emotional support to staff involved with resident care, and responding to the needs of residents via the ‘primary nurse model’ of providing care. Occupational Therapist Lori Gobel, OTR/L. Ms. Gobel graduated from Pacific University School of Occupational Therapy with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy (OT). She has over five years experience as an Occupational Therapist specializing in AIDS care. Her accomplishments include the creation and development of the OT Program at Our House of Portland. Since the program’s inception, resident/client services now include: physical rehabilitation, remediation, adaptive treatment, discharge planning, client-centered goal setting in the areas of activities of daily living, self-care, productivity, avocational/vocational, and leisure pursuits. Social Worker Kristin Durham, LCSW. Ms. Durham’s educational background includes a BA in Sociology/African American Studies and a Masters of Social Work. Her professional employment has been primarily in the field of mental health, specifically case management and crisis intervention with individuals with severe mental illness/personality disorder. Social work responsibilities at Our House of Portland generally include: admission/intake, counseling of end-of-life issues/spiritual needs, coordination of necessary community services, ongoing psychosocial assessment, assistance with finances/benefits, counseling with families/follow-up, and discharge planning. Medical Director Robert Lusk, M.D., Internal Medicine. A native of Texas, Dr. Lusk received his medical education and performed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston. He moved to Oregon and completed a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Oregon Health Sciences University. He practiced in Salem for eight years before joining Providence Health System. While in Salem, he served as medical director for the Willamette Valley Hospice and spent the last three years establishing a hospitalist program at Salem Hospital. His clinical interests include HIV care and hospital medicine. He also serves as Providence Milwaukie Hospital epidemiologist and is a partner in Infection Consultants, LLP. Mental Health Consultant Joe Doherty, LCSW. Joseph E. Doherty, MSW, LCSW is a psychotherapist, educator, clinical supervisor and consultant with 25 years clinical experience in the mental health field. He received his B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and his Masters in Clinical Social Work from Smith College. He was clinically trained at McLean Hospital, a Harvard University teaching facility. He is past clinical director of Phoenix Rising’s counseling services. He was the coordinator of HIV and Sexual Minority Services at Network Behavioral Health. He founded and has maintained a private practice in Portland for 11 years specializing in the treatment of adults with PTSD, HIV/AIDS, Sexual Minority Issues and Gender Issues.