Category: !CAI

I happen to be a high-energy, compassionate, and creative individual, who believes in taking every opportunity I get to help those in need. As a Social Engagement Specialist for Capital City Nurses, I’ve been enabled to do just that for the last 17 years! Through our “Daughter-Down-the-Street” program, I provide cheerful companionship and cognitive activity through customized social visits to seniors living with dementia, and other age-related disease.

My mission is to encourage and help people stay meaningfully connected to family, friends, and communities, and to hopefully, rediscover their personal passions along the way. I begin gaining trust by mindful listening and friendly conversation, then introduce creative activities and offer inspiring outings to achieve my goal.

Throughout the years, it’s been my privilege to help seniors with everything from daily errands and shopping to lunching at a favorite restaurant, taking in a movie, play, or even a concert at the Kennedy Center.  Together, we’ve frequented neighborhood bookstores, coffee shops, as well as small venue, cultural treasures such as the Phillips Collection and Dumbarton Oaks. We’ve toured almost every museum in the Smithsonian…including the National Zoo…where we watched in wonder as pandas played and ate bamboo. We’ve discovered fascinating, facts about our world and beyond at National Geographic Museum, and traveled through presidential history at Mount Vernon, Lincoln’s Cottage, and even The White House.  Exploring formal gardens in and around our city remains a very popular outing.  We’ve been charmed by the fabulous, outdoor “rooms” at Hillwood, soothed by the serenity of Bishops Garden (Washington National Cathedral), and delighted “walking through” butterflies at Brookside Gardens.   In Springtime, we strolled along the Tidal Basin and experienced the enchanting beauty of our Cherry Blossoms trees in full bloom.  Come Summer, we spied hummingbirds in the park, and later, fireflies at dark.  We’ve cruised and paddled the Potomac to view our incredible, national monuments from the rivers’ perspective. I especially enjoyed accompanying seniors to family celebrations and milestone events.  Whether a casual, birthday picnic or formal reception on Embassy Row, it’s always heartwarming to witness the joy of families just being together.

Of course, I’m fondly reminiscing about outings on hold since the Covid-19 virus literally stopped us in our tracks last March. Nonetheless, we in the home healthcare industry are keenly aware of the urgency for seniors to not only maintain their daily activities, but to try new ones as well.   Exercising our brain as well as our body is necessary to retain a positive mental attitude, good health as well as a sense of purpose in life.  So, the question is…how can we continue to help seniors stay connected to the people, places, and passions they love…while navigating the many restrictions a global pandemic has placed on us all? In my experience, to put it simply, “if there’s a will there’s a way!”  Many activities can be modified, yet still yield the positive results that are so important to the health and well-being of our seniors. It just takes a little creativity.  Depending on the individual, try both traditional and more modern “high tech” activities from the suggestions below, until you come up with just the right recipe for healthy and happy engagement!

“Reach out and touch someone ”Not really…not just yet!  Do, however, remind seniors and encourage family members to make more frequent phone calls.  Especially during the dark of winter, a short and sweet call can do wonders to lift the spirits. Or…Facilitate a Facetime call or Zoom meeting, if possible.  Coordinate with family and friends a good date and the best time of day to make a successful connection.

Eat Well  Many seniors are missing going out to restaurants, but with little effort you can create an intimate “café” experience, right at home. Prepare a favorite meal, set a special table, and adjust lighting to achieve just the right “restaurant” ambiance. Or…Introduce and facilitate online delivery services such as Door Dash, Uber eats, etc. for a special meal! Being able to scroll through different menus before making a selection encourages a sense of independence and satisfaction.

Keep Moving Walking is by far the most popular and accessible exercise for seniors who are mobile.  Whether it’s up and down a hallway, around the block, or inside a mall, as the saying goes, “Just do it.” If the individual is unable to stand or walk unassisted, put on some big band music and make up a simple, chair exercise routine to do at a regular time each day! Or… Find an age-appropriate exercise video on You Tube, pump up the volume and go for it!

Take a trip down Memory Lane   With so many seniors separated from loved ones, reminiscing can be an important tool to fight off feelings of isolation. Look through photos albums together and ask the person to name as many people pictured as he/she can. Encourage storytelling of special places and life events depicted in the photos. Or…Enable them to view photos in “real time” via a smartphone or Ipad for an instant lift!

Play Games   Scrabble, word searches, and crossword puzzles are tried and true, cognitive activities that promote a sense of accomplishment, and can be done even while social distancing.  Working on a colorful, jigsaw puzzle together is currently a very popular activity…but details matter here!  Choose a puzzle subject the individual can relate with, as well as the appropriate size and number of pieces. I often find playing soft, classical music for background really enhances the experience. Or…if preferred, introduce an online game such as “Wordscapes” or “Jigsaw” and see how many “levels” can be achieved.

Music is Magic Music has a universal ability to boost mood, reduce agitation, and increase happiness and engagement.  Listen to favorite songs (radio) together, even have an impromptu sing-along or dance!  A recent client had an old-fashioned jukebox in her home, and a favorite activity was to push random selections and then dance to whatever songs came on! Or…Go to You tube, select a music channel of interest, relax and enjoy.

“You’ve got Mail” Communicating by cards and letters is a wonderful and easy way to stay in touch.   Remember, what we now call “snail mail” was their custom and has been long cherished by senior citizens.  Or…Offer to assist with sending emails. I regularly visit a retired businessman who can no longer manage a keyboard, but still loves to “dictate” notes for me to email his family and friends.  Easy to do and provides a sense of connectivity.

‍Encourage Creativity and Culture There’s never been a better time to re-connect with the art of drawing and/or coloring than right now.  Fresh pencils, crayons, or markers and paper are all you need to create.  Or… There is also an incredible array of curated material and artistic activities to choose from online.  Visit the “Google Arts & Culture” website or download the app to “color” a Van Gogh masterpiece or take in an exhibit at the Muse’e d’Orsay in Paris or wherever the heart desires.

Nature Nurtures   Pandemic or not, we all benefit from spending at least a few minutes outside every day.  Breathing in fresh air, watching birds fly or squirrels play is often the only bright spot in an otherwise, gray winter day. If current restrictions prohibit outdoor time, open the shades, and let the sunshine in!  I’ve found seniors who care for even a small plant on a windowsill can experience the feelings of peace and calm inspired by communing with nature. Or…turn on PBS or visit the Nature YouTube channel to learn something new about our natural world.

Armchair Travel   Especially now, many people are fantasizing about finding escape in a distant land.  Ask where they’ve always dreamed of visiting…and then make it happen! Most bookstores and neighborhood libraries are still open for check out service.  In either venue, search for a “coffee table” style or travel book of the desired location and enjoy exploring together. Or…travel anywhere in the world via Google Arts & Culture “Places” site.  Take a virtual tour of the Great Wall of China, see the Northern Lights in Greenland or checkout the Great Pyramids of Egypt…all in the same afternoon.

Remember, it’s the journey, not the actual destination that matters!

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been the worst of times, but one that’s brought out the best in human ingenuity. Isolated due to social distancing rules, seniors have invented or adopted ever more creative ways to bond, interact and share precious experiences with friends and family.

Looking for new things to do during coronavirus? Here are seven ideas for COVID-safe activities.

1. Defend your Monopoly crown

What’s a rainy Sunday afternoon without a board game or a few hands of gin rummy? Thanks to the internet, this is one family activity you can safely continue during COVID. Countless user-friendly apps and websites offer the chance to play everything from Cluedo to Carcassonne in a virtual setting. Added bonus? That sneaky son-in-law who insists “Qa” is a legal Scrabble word will get short shrift from the computer dictionary.

2. Give your grandkids an art challenge

You may not be able to hug your grandchildren, but you can still connect with them in powerful ways. Set the kids a weekly art challenge and ask them to bring you their finished masterpieces, which they can press against your window. A picture is worth a thousand words, but the three that count are, “I love you.”

3. Organize a bake-off

Who says COVID-safe activities have to be healthy? Assuming your diet allows it, bake yourself a treat and dare family and friends to take on the same recipe. Share photos of your triumphs and disasters, and swap tips and techniques with your co-bakers.

4. Set up a singalong

If you like to sing, you’ve probably winced a few times this year during fun-filled but tune-empty renditions of “Happy Birthday” on family Zoom calls. So why not dial it up a notch? Bringing folks together with music can be as simple as setting up a video call with friends and belting out a familiar classic or a rousing hymn. (Tip: you can find the lyrics to any song with a quick Google search.) If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can download a karaoke app for your smartphone or tablet and jam together or take turns sharing center stage.

5. Throw a movie watch party

Online streaming services let us watch what we like, when we like. That’s great, but there’s also something special about watching a movie in a group, knowing that you’re laughing, crying and jumping out of your skin at the same time as everyone else. Providers like Netflix have turned this into a COVID-safe activity, with options to stream movies simultaneously and chat during the screening. Another perk: the popcorn is all yours.

6. Spread out at a picnic

Too much screen time can give you eye strain and headaches, so take any chance you can to meet your family outdoors in a socially distanced setting. You should not only follow CDC guidelines for outdoor activities but local ones too — if the transmission rate is particularly high in your area, don’t hesitate to postpone your plans.

7. Do what’s best for you

Above all, be kind to yourself. Too little interaction can cause loneliness; too much may wear you out. If you’re being bombarded with invites to Zoom this or FaceTime that, feel free to opt out, unplug and curl up with a good book instead.

Without question, the best part of my job as a Home Care Specialist with Care Advantage (other than meeting the people and families we serve) is meeting their pets! I have bonded with animals for as long as I can remember. Having grown up with dogs, cats, ducks, geese, ponies and horses, I not only have great memories and experiences, but also developed a strong compassion for all living things, especially the voiceless.

I specifically remember coming home from school one day and was greeted by a couple of new animals – a three-legged cat, and a VERY short legged dog with a very large head whose name was Jolene. I asked my mom where they came from and I will never forget her reply. “I went to the shelter and asked for the animals no one wanted. Just bring them out, I don’t even want to see them.” It was in that moment that I realized just how cool my parents were. That act of kindness led to a deeper understanding of animals and their eternal gratitude and unconditional love.

Fast forward to 2020 where I have the pleasure of working with seniors in an unconventional year filled with uncertainty, sadness, loneliness, and isolation. Now more than ever, our seniors need companionship, exercise, socialization, and comfort.

There are countless benefits to seniors having pets.  A pet can have a very positive impact on the social, physical and emotional well-being of seniors. Did you know that just petting an animal can result in reduced levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, and increased levels of oxytocin, the anti-stress calming hormone? Here are some other health benefits for seniors who have pets:

 *  LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, HEART RATE, ANDREDUCES THE RISK OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE. Social isolation can lead to loneliness, depression, and poor physical health. It turns out giving and receiving unconditional love is literally good for your heart.

 *  PROVIDES COMFORT AND HEALING POWERS. Many seniors report animal companions help in coping with medical treatments and recovery after illnesses. Dogs, cats, and other animals can be keenly sensitive to their human’s distress and discomfort.

 *  EASES ANXIETY AND PAIN: Anxiety exacerbates pain. By reducing anxiety, pets can help ease pain for seniors who may experience conditions like arthritis, therefore reducing the need for pain meds.

 *  REDUCES DEPRESSION: While you are just one person in a big world, you ARE a pet’s entire world. Making the commitment to care for a pet give seniors daily structure therefore reducing stress and helps give a sense of purpose.

 *  INCREASES MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE: A daily outdoor walk with a pet is a healthy, low stress form of exercise. Also, pets can alert seniors with hearing loss when the doorbell rings or an alarm goes off.

Those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia can benefit from pet therapy as well. By their very nature, pets do not judge and are not harsh or critical. For someone with dementia these are all good qualities for a good companion. Those of us lucky enough to have pets know that life is SO much better with at least one furry friend. Ask me about my five rescues anytime!

 “Everybody deserves somebody who makes them look forward to tomorrow” – Susan Vogel

About Susan: Susan is one of our Home Care Specialists in the Central Virginia area. She speaks with families and facilities about personal care for your loved ones. Susan is passionate about caring for those who cannot care for themselves and works tirelessly to answer the call of care any time, day or night.

Home Health is very important within our communities.

Skilled care in the home helps to keep our citizens safe and healthy and where they want to be during their “golden years” as opposed to having them admitted into a Nursing or group home. On many occasions, after a patient has had surgery, a doctor will suggest a rehabilitation facility for a patient. But it is not uncommon that the patient doesn’t want to go to a facility, or alternatively their insurance may not cover the cost. It is times like these when home health companies can step in!  

Patients tend to be happier and thrive more when they are in their own home environment and receiving excellent care from a caring group of professionals. Providing in-home care represents about 95 percent of cost savings over a hospital stay and is approximately $200 less expensive per day than a skilled care facility. At Virginia Home Health and Hospice in the western part of Virginia (and our sister company All About Care in Richmond who serve the central part of the state) we have a program called “Bridge to Home” that allows us to further ensure our clients get the needed care they deserve by bridging the gap between hospital and skilled nursing care.  

Being under the Care Advantage, Inc. umbrella and part of this new in-home care family has given Virginia Home Health and Hospice the tools needed to grow our business and our team. Our team is made up of caring professionals who go above and beyond to take care of our community. Our success is due to our close-knit and passionate group of professionals. Our team members see our patients as part of our own family and care for them that way!

Home Healthcare has been my passion for over 20 years, and I have countless stories of kindness to share. But there is one in particular that touched my heart as I am sure it will touch yours.

Sometimes I ride along with my Clinical Manager in the field to see patients. Just a few weeks ago, my colleague Jessica and I went to get to know some of our patients and observe our nurses providing the amazing care that they do. As usual it was a blessing to meet this patient, as she had a lot of stories to tell us!  

As we were talking, I noticed she kept staring at my bracelet. I finally ask her if she would like to see it and when I handed it to her she hugged it to her chest and smiled and said, “I love it”.   This patient had just shared with us that her brother was ill with cancer and she was not able to go see him, and she cries all the time thinking about him being lonely. I asked her, “Would you like to have this bracelet to bring you a little comfort to know that someone is thinking of you and your brother?” She said, “oh yes please” and hugged it against her chest.   The bracelet was very inexpensive and didn’t have any particular meaning to me, but I never knew it could make someone so happy and comforted.

This is not something that we would do all the time, but it meant so much to her to know that we are thinking of her family. I have been told that the patient is telling everyone who will listen that we are there for her family and she wears the bracelet to all her doctor’s appointments.  

A small gesture and a little conversation sure went a long way to show our patient that we cared about her. Just giving her the kindness and patience of our time can make a real difference in her mindset which will, in turn, lead to a better progression of her own rehabilitation journey and reaching her health goals. It makes my heart melt when I can see that a patient’s positive interaction can really set up for a great recovery from a hospital stay and our team of nurses and therapists are part of that patient’s journey.

Written by: Sharon Hendricks

Sharon Hendricks works for our skilled division in the western part of Virginia called Virginia Home Health and Hospice. She has been in healthcare for more than 20 years. She loves spending time with her husband, 3 sons and 4 grandchildren. If you can’t find her shopping at the mall, you might find this cool Nana at the roller-skating rink showing the grandkids how it’s done!

We are all looking forward to some family time this week, whether physically in person or some other creative way.  As we continue to remember best practices for keeping us all safe, here are some thoughts around creative measures to consider this holiday season:

• Go all out for your immediate family and make the most of a small but special day together (make everyone’s favorite dish)
• Find an oldie but goodie movie and circle up the troops for a family movie experience (even on an iPad, family can still watch with you)
• Set up a table in your front yard, dress up in your finest thanksgiving garb and show that Thanksgiving spirit to your neighbors, better yet, invite them to do the     same and you’ll have a neighborhood outdoor celebration with perfect social distancing in place
• For those of you with kids (or just feeling like a kid yourself), draw giant turkeys and Thanksgiving sayings on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk, send some well     wishes to those serving on the front lines
• Decorate a tree in your front yard with pictures or sayings of things you are most thankful for
• Donate to a local food pantry or drive as there are SO many in need this Thanksgiving (make that a family tradition going forward)
• Write thank you notes to those on the front lines and deliver them to a local facility so those working feel the Thanksgiving love
• Create a Thanksgiving Mad Lib and do it over the phone with relatives that you aren’t able to spend the day with and prepare to laugh out loud
• Do a “food exchange” where you make extras of your classic dishes that you usually share together to swap off in a distanced masked quick exchange. Then set up a zoom dinner pajama party!!
• Speaking of Zoom, for Thanksgiving Day, try a Zoom family meeting to check in with each other, Zoom is offering all accounts free unlimited meetings on Thanksgiving Day! You can play games such as Thanksgiving Trivia or Bingo. 

This season is about recognizing and focusing on those things that stand out to us as special and meaningful. Of course this year has forced us all to really re-evaluate what is important in our lives. It’s 2020, and although you still have to wear your masks, social distance and wash your hands, your Thanksgiving day can be as crazy or as simple as you want because you can say “Well it’s 2020, what else did you expect!”

Written by Cathy Dancy, Vice President of Human Resources for Care Advantage, Inc.

Working for Care Advantage has been truly eye opening when it comes to how a company should treat their employees and the amount of investment they have in their staff. I went through a comprehensive training over the past few months since I was new to the health care industry. There is a team environment here where one person’s success is everyone’s success which I love. Also anyone that finds out I am prior military is always appreciative and thanks me for my service. Being a part of this company reminds me of my experience in the United States Air Force the family like environment and us all working together for a common goal, to provide excellent in home care to all of our clients.

My role as the Central Intake Manager entails handling all incoming phone/email/ web traffic of potential clients and assisting inquiring families about Care Advantage can provide exceptional care to them and their family members. To go a little further in depth, my role requires me to develop rapport with the family members by being very empathetic to their unique situation and talking them through how we can help them through these troubling times. 

Previously I was in the staffing industry as a Business Development Manager. This required me to handle inside and outside sales and developing client relationships by providing information on how our process and business model could help their company staff more efficiently and saves money by expediting their process. I was highly motivated to help our small business grow to compete with the larger firms and by the time I decided to leave my previous company to come on board with Care Advantage, I had grown a book of business that was 65% of the companies total business.   

I love when I get to speak to someone that was former military, or their spouse, so I can discuss potential benefits through the VA or Veterans Care Coordination they may be eligible for. The ability to connect with service members and help them as well as the rest of our clients is a major benefit of this role and the fact that I am usually the first point of contact for them makes me try harder to set the tone for their Care Journey. Care Advantage has helped me grow in so many ways professionally and personally and has also helped me gain a new respect and prospective for our caregivers. I practically brag about who we are and the accomplishments we have made in this industry to potential clients and the fact that I am so proud of this company shines through on every call. 

If I could provide one piece of advice to potential clients, caregivers or anyone inquiring about Care Advantage it would be to know that we have your best interest at heart and we will do all that we can to help provide the right level of care for you and your loved ones until you know what the new normal is. The compassion that we all show is genuine and we love it when can help make your situation better and can provide some piece of mind.  As a veteran, I encourage anyone I know to look into Care Advantage because their name says it all; they truly care about everyone connected to them!

As the world faces a pandemic of historic proportions, home care and hospice workers represent some of the most critical workers in our lives today. With the increased need to protect our loved ones, families across the nation are turning to in-home care and hospice services. In what has proven to be a challenging year for many, our home care and hospice workers have always shown incredible resilience, bravery, and support.

Now is our chance to say thank you…

November is designated as Home Care & Hospice Month a time to celebrate the nurses, therapists, aides, and other home care and hospice workers in an effort to highlight the remarkable work they perform while caring for their charges. Playing a definitive role in our healthcare system, home care and hospice workers have become the unsung heroes that provide our loved ones with the care and support they need when they are at their most vulnerable.

Jessica White, an RN for Paradise Home Care, A Care Advantage, Inc company, is very passionate about Home Care and has been in their industry over 18 years. “Home care is not for everyone, but I have never seen myself doing anything but helping people in their home. I have been a home health clinician since 2002 initially as a Physical Therapist Assistant then, while working, I felt that I could help the patients even more by furthering my education and completing my nursing degree which I finished in 2007”.

LIVING TO CARE FOR OTHERS

Home care and hospice workers have the gift of adapting to each patient’s particular circumstances and the home environment. A patient’s home is essentially an extension of their personality. Home care and hospice workers know how to adapt the way they deliver information and provide a type of care that is as unique as the person who is receiving it.

“I have a passion for teaching and learning and this is very important as a home health care provider. I’ve actually had patients tell me that I’ve provided them with more information than their medical providers which makes my heart happy. The individualized approach we take in this type of care is something that is always appreciated by patients and clients” says Jessica.

They spend their lives caring for others, providing comfort and support in times in which it’s needed the most. Home care and hospice workers can help bed-ridden and mobility-impaired patients recover with dignity and, when necessary, can assist with tasks such as the following:

•          Personal Care

•          Meal Preparation

•          Bathing

•          Grooming

•          Dressing

•          Toileting and Incontinence Care

•          Medication Reminders

•          Accompaniment to Medical Appointments

•          Transportation, Shopping and Errands

‍Additionally, they serve as companions that help ward off the feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and much more by assisting their patients in the following areas:

•          Conversation and Company

•          Emotional Support

•          Engagement in Social and Outdoor Activities

•          Promoting Overall Health

In most cases, the caregiver’s presence becomes so important to their patients and their families that they also become something akin to a good friend or family member rather than a nurse or other type of home care aide.

In the case of skilled home health services, it is a very similar story.

Jessica White says, “There’s a lot that goes on in the background of an actual visit and I think it takes special people to manage their case load and schedule, complete documentation, make phone calls to doctors and family members while balancing that with life outside of work. There is often worrying about patients that are in “not the best situations” whether it’s the family dynamics, environment, financial difficulties or overall loneliness.

I have developed some wonderful relationships over the years, heard amazing stories, laughed, shed some tears, assisted in transition to hospice and Even some unexpected loss that has truly hurt my heart.”

SETTING THEIR LIFE TO THE SIDE

Home care and hospice workers stand out for one major reason, and that is the fact that they willingly set their personal lives aside in order to bring life and love to those who need them. To these heroes, the needs of their patients come before anything else. They understand the importance of the work they perform, and they know they can make a difference that can last a lifetime or longer. “Fun fact I’m dually licensed in the state of Virginia which I am proud to have accomplished and was able to do so with support of my family and friends while raising two children,” mentions Jessica.

This is what defines the caretakers at Care Advantage, Inc. Each one of our caregivers has the dream of building a career in home care. For many caregivers, nurses and therapists, working in home care or home health is a calling. This is just one of the reasons they put their heart and soul into providing the support their clients or patients need, and why they deserve to be celebrated during the month of November.

Jessica comments,

Yes it can be exhausting and there have been some frustrations along the way, but I like to think I’ve made a difference in a lot of lives and situations with goals being set and working together as a team! To me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping overcome obstacles, assisting with managing medical issues and patients remaining at home as we age in place.

CELEBRATING ALL HOME CARE AND HOSPICE WORKERS

As the rest of the world steps back, our health care workers are rushing forward to dedicate their time to working with others. In a time of uncertainty, they remain strong. In a time of concern, they put others before themselves. Let us celebrate the effort they put into making our loved ones more comfortable while improving the quality of their lives by helping them regain their dignity and sense of well-being.

All of this and so much more is what turns home care and hospice workers into the unsung heroes that fill our communities with love and empathy, especially during these troubling times. The time has come to celebrate this noblest profession by recognizing the love and effort they put into making not only their patients’ lives better but also the lives of the families that have to live the experience at a more personal level.

To all of the home care and hospice workers sacrificing so much to save so many, words do not do enough justice – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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My key objective as an occupational therapist is to work with our clients and families towards achieving their personalized recovery and health goals; maximizing their independence and improving their safety and happiness during their daily living.

 Previously, I was working in a facility as an occupational therapist, however I felt as though I did not have a good work-life balance and decided to move care environments. Working with All About Care in the home health setting has allowed me the freedom to spend time with my family and also provide high quality care for my clients. We are allowed the freedom and flexibility to create our own schedules with our clients which is so important for that balance in life.

 This degree of flexibility is equally beneficial for our clients.  Every client has different needs and preferences, and our approach ensures their care is tailored to suit their needs. Some clients prefer to perform their ADL tasks in the morning, some the afternoon, for example. Clients also have physician appointments, dialysis, and other activities or tasks, so having that flexibility means we can accommodate their schedules.

 I also love the skilled home health setting because we really get to see the results of our hard work almost on a daily basis. Forming a strong bond and a mutual understanding with a patient in the early stages of a care plan is key. Regardless of the diagnosis, I always try to take the “we’re in this together mentality” from the get-go and that plays a big role in their recovery. The combination of our knowledge and expertise coupled with the patient’s dedication and hard work is what leads to positive outcomes.  

 If we have clients who have experienced frequent falls in the shower or during bed mobility, we are able to conduct very detailed and specific in-home assessments. The collection of this detailed information means that we can rollout individualized training programs that take the actual home layout and the patients habits into consideration. When you really start to think about it, it is amazing how “particular” we are from morning till night. For example, do you realize how many preferences you have in your typical day? How do you like to perform your bathing? In the tub or shower?  Do you prefer facing the water or facing away? sitting or standing? do you use one extremity to balance or steady yourself while performing bathing tasks with the other? The list can grow pretty quickly, but that is where we can help simplify the process and help the client and get them on a road to recovery that they are comfortable with.

 I started working at All About Care after I had my first child. He was born prematurely and had an extended Neonatal Intensive Care stay. A few months ago, I just had my second child who was born 10 weeks early, he also had an extended Neonatal Intensive Care stay. He has now a full team of physicians, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, and nurses working as a team providing his medical care. Again, the support from our leadership combined with the flexibility of working in an in-home care environment provides me and my family with an invaluable work-life balance.

 My advice for fellow mothers and fellow clinicians is to find a company that encourages doing what you love and spending time with your clients as well as spending time with your family. Having a balanced work-life schedule is imperative and being able to perform to the best of your ability when it comes to providing for our clients and providing for our families. I’m happy that I work for a company that allows time for our families as well as time to provide great treatment to our patients.

September is National Falls Prevention Month. The statistics regarding falls in those over the age of 65 are scary. Falls can often be responsible for the dreaded downhill spiral in the aging population, preventing many seniors from returning to Independent Living. Check out these Fall Prevention Tips so that the loved ones in your life can remain aging safely in the comfort of their care environment.

Regular Exercise to improve Strength and Balance – Use it or Lose it! Now more then ever we need to get our seniors moving again since our pandemic. This is a great time to reach out to your doctor for a refresher or start of Skilled Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy intervention.

• Regular Medication Review – by your Physician, Nurse Practitioner or Pharmacist. Medications can contribute to falls in adults and regular review and communication with your health care provider is essential. Older adults may also need assist taking their medications correctly due to memory and cognitive deficits.

• Home Safety Evaluations – thorough evaluation by experts, usually PT’s or OT’s, that go into your home to assess for modifications and equipment needs to enhance safety and reduce fall risk so that seniors can continue to age in place.

• Hire a Geriatric Care Manager – care managers provide valuable guidance and resources to help with the care of a loved one that can lead to decreased falls and decline. They are able to identify if a loved one can remain aging safely in place or may be better suited for a senior community and then assist with that transition.

• ‍Recruit Help – This can be from a family member, close friend or hired help in the home or a combination. They can provide assist to help with daily household tasks that present a fall risk, offer protection during transfers, ambulation, activities of daily living, can provide safety reminders, ensure proper medication management and can help a loved one attend regular physician appointments.

Jamie Vela is an experienced physical therapist and Home Care Specialist with our Capital City Nurses team. She has over 18 years of insight as a physical therapist in both facility and home healthcare landscapes. Jamie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Virginia Teach and a Master’s Degree is Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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