Now, more than ever, care at home is being looked at as not only a viable solution to help an older loved one remain in a familiar setting, but also as a way to ensure the health and safety of a population that is at heightened risk for complications from COVID-19. Understanding the important role of home care during … Read More
Home Health Care Options: Why Home Is One of the Safest Options for Seniors During the Pandemic
As we learn to navigate life during the coronavirus pandemic, you may be wondering how home health care options have been impacted. Are you a family caregiver who has utilized or is considering using in-home care? Are you considering moving your parents out of a senior living facility into your own home, but know you will still need caregiving … Read More
Innovative Technology Helps Maintain Senior Independence and Privacy
The idea of having some type of monitoring system in the home of older adults has been around for decades. And while there are options available, many bring with them privacy concerns, as well as resistance from seniors both in feeling they are “being watched” and hesitancy to wear any type of monitor. Understanding these hurdles, John Robertson, founder and … Read More
Nutritional Meals For Improved Senior Health and Wellbeing
Ellie Hollander is the President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America and has been a long-time advocate for the health and wellness of vulnerable seniors throughout her career. One of the most fundamental needs is helping to ensure seniors receive proper nutrition. According to Hollander, research has shown that people who are malnourished age 14 years more than their … Read More
Focus On Living Through Palliative Care
Many physicians face a conundrum. While their extensive years of schooling and training emphasize providing care, treatments, and intervention in order to maintain life, the truth is, death is inevitable and a reality we all must face. According to Dr. Timothy Ihrig, a palliative care specialist and chief medical officer at Crossroads Hospice, because the medical field is constructed around … Read More
End of Life Care: Education Can Ease the Transition from Life to Death
Although death is an experience that we all share, it is a topic that is largely taboo, and for which people are often wholly unprepared. Barbara Karnes, RN, an award-winning end of life educator and author, is working to change that taboo. According to Karnes, 90% of end of life care work is education. From educating the doctors and nurses … Read More
Innovative, Comprehensive Care Model Allows Seniors to Remain At Home
As those in the home healthcare industry know, the elder population is growing exponentially, as is their need for care. One of the more innovative programs available to help seniors age in place, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, has actually been around for more than 50 years. Shawn Bloom, President and CEO of the national PACE Association, talks … Read More
Live Life to the Fullest, No Matter Your Age
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