According to Betty Greaver, RN, LMT, it’s a common myth that aging means a person gains weight, has chronic pain and can’t continue living a productive life. Rather, Greaver says, and research shows, there are simple lifestyle changes that people can make in order to remain active and have the capacity to enjoy life to its fullest, no matter what … Read More
Home Care Changes and Opportunities for Industry Growth
Paul Kusserow, President and Chief Executive Officer for Amedisys, the largest independent provider of home health, hospice and personal care services in the United States, recognizes the growing pains and opportunities for industry growth associated with home care changes. In this Help Choose Home podcast, Kusserow highlights two changes in the home health industry: one, the introduction of patient data … Read More
The Role of Home Health Care in the Continuum of Care
It’s an ongoing struggle for those in the home care industry–how do we better communicate the value and benefits of health care at home? In this episode of Help Choose Home, we’ll hear from Tim Rogers, who serves as President and CEO for both the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina and the South Carolina Home Care … Read More
Hospice Care Helps Individuals Meet End-of-Life Goals
In this episode of Help Choose Home, we’ll hear from Tarrah Lowry, president and CEO of Sangre de Cristo Hospice and Palliative Care in Pueblo, Colorado. Lowry emphasizes the importance of reaching out to hospice early and discussing goals of care during each health care interaction – from home health and palliative care to hospice care. The goals at each … Read More
Home Care And Successful Care Transitions
In this episode of Help Choose Home, we’ll hear from Jamie Summerfelt, M.Ed, MSPT, president and CEO of Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) in Omaha, Nebraska. With more than 28 years of healthcare at home experience, Summerfelt is passionate about home care. Harnessing the power of community relationships is something that he sees as integral to the success of extending the capacity … Read More
A Longitudinal Approach to Care at Home for Seniors
If there is one thing Joel Theisen, BSN, RN is passionate about, it’s developing proactive, preventative long-term care for older adults. Theisen is chief executive officer and founder of Lifesprk, an innovative home care company based in Minnesota that is focused on bringing Theisen’s passion to life. According to Theisen, home care and health care in general have traditionally been … Read More
Data As A Predictor For Effective Home Health Care
Luke James is the chief strategy officer of home health and hospice at Encompass Health. With more than 15 years in the home care industry, James has seen the financial benefits of delivering quality heath care at home, and today, he notes the tremendous benefits home care and health care data have in helping improve the delivery of care and … Read More
Home Is the Setting for Health Delivery of the Future
With more than 20 years of experience in the home care industry, Wanda Coley has combined her deep knowledge of finance, business development, payor contracting and post-acute strategies to become a highly-regarded expert in the field. In this episode of Help Choose Home, Coley explains why she believes that nothing is more beneficial for clients than having the opportunity to … Read More
How Do Care Managers Assist In Home Care?
In this episode of Help Choose Home, Taney Hammill, CEO of the Aging Life Care Association and the National Academy of Certified Care Managers, explains what it is that geriatric care managers, or life care professionals, do and offers advice about at what point in the process an aging life care professional should be contacted. Listen to the full interview … Read More
Utilizing Big Data to Improve Home Health Care Patient Outcomes
Every day, companies and organizations generate copious amounts of data. “Big data” though isn’t so much about the amount of data generated, but rather, what a company or organization does with the data. In analyzing data, businesses can use those insights to save money, to target marketing and advertising dollars, or, in the case of home health care, to better … Read More
Improving Communication in Home Care Transitions
In the health care industry, communication is vitally important, not only in providing specifics about a patient’s condition, but also in detailing the type of care needed after a stay in the hospital. In this episode of Help Choose Home, Dr. Christine D. Jones, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver and the Director of Care … Read More
The Growing Impact and Value of Home Care
Like many people in the field of home health, Peter Ross had a personal experience that piqued his interest and moved him into the industry. In 2002 Senior Helpers was born out of Ross’ experience with his mother. Combining his personal experience with his professional sales and marketing background, Ross has built a home care business that is focused on … Read More
Start the Conversation About End of Life Care
Hospice and palliative care can be care services that even those in the medical community are not fully comfortable talking about. Holly Chaffee, RN, BSN, MSN, President and CEO of VNA Care, hopes that the work she does serving more than 50,000 patients a year in Massachusetts with home health, palliative and hospice services, can move to change that reality. … Read More
Using Research And Data In Home Health Care
It’s no secret that research drives innovation and change. While the home health care industry has been somewhat lacking in having solid, grounded research, Jennifer Schiller, Director of Policy, Communications and Research, and others at the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation (AHHQI) have set out to increase the amount of research that informs the industry by becoming … Read More
Education and Advocacy for Home Healthcare
Educating referral sources and payers on the benefits of home healthcare is an ongoing task. While there is broad awareness about home health generally, the industry is constantly evolving to meet the needs of clients, utilizing new technologies and techniques to deliver more specialized care in the home. For people like Joanne Cunningham, executive director of the Partnership for … Read More
Help at Home Is a Viable Solution to Hospital Readmission and ED Visit Reduction
If there were a way to reduce re-hospitalizations for seniors and cut down on emergency department (ED) visits by people with chronic health conditions, would you want to know what it is? According to Tracy Clark, chief operating officer at Interim Healthcare, the answer is professional help at home. By engaging home care and educating the medical industry about … Read More
Educating Home Care Referral Sources About Home Care Options
From tips on how to plan ahead to help seniors age in place, to the ways in which technology is impacting the home care industry, season one of the Help Choose Home podcast series covered a diverse set of topics all aimed at helping to educate and promote the value of aging in place. To kick off season two, … Read More
Using Time During the Holidays to Evaluate the Need for Home Care
As we enter the holiday season, families will have the opportunity to spend concentrated time visiting aging loved ones. While of course providing the backdrop for quality time together, the holidays also are the prime time to assess how seniors are doing and to evaluate the need for home care. In this Help Choose Home podcast, Merrily Orsini, home … Read More
Celebrating Home Care & Hospice Month
November is Home Care & Hospice Month In the home care community, November is dedicated to honoring those professionals that provide senior care assistance. These nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers take active roles in making a difference for those they care for and the families around them. “Home care and hospice nurses, therapists, aides, and other providers … Read More