CarePlus

Tag: caregiver

  • Home Healthcare and Nursing

    Home Healthcare and Nursing

    May 6-12 is National Nurse’s Week. Nurses across the country are recognized for their extraordinary skills and care as they support patients and their families. At CarePlus Home Health, we salute these valuable members of our home healthcare team. 

    Nurses, Our Frontline Workers 

    Nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system and can be found in medical offices, hospitals, assisted care communities and private homes. Regularly tending to the health and wellness of their patients, nurses understand the unique needs of the individuals and families they serve. Nurses provide expertise with compassion and care. As a part of the home care team, nurses provide a range of different services from medication management to hygiene to wound management depending on the need of the patient. 

    Creative, Collaborative, and Caring

    Providing in home care requires flexibility, skill and expertise. Home healthcare nurses are trained to adapt to developing situations and use resources accordingly. Their experience guides families as families decide how best to set up the home for optimum safety and wellness. Home health nurses understand the importance the home environment and work hard to maintain that comfort.

    A Critical Part of the Team 

    A person living at home with health challenges needs the support of a team to be able to maintain comfort and independence. Doctors, family, friends, and other professionals work together with the patient to ensure that their care and comfort are planned for and executed in a way that maintains the dignity of the patient. Home healthcare nurses are a critical part of this team.

    Thank A Nurse

    Take time to appreciate and recognize nurses for their hard work and dedication. Patients and family can express their appreciation with a card of thanks, a testimonial, an online review, a letter to a supervisor or a referral. 

    CarePlus Home Health has many experienced nurses who understand the special needs of in-home healthcare. Contact us today to learn more. 

  • Parkinson’s Awareness Month

    Parkinson’s Awareness Month

    April 2021 is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month. At CarePlus Home Health, we have a particular focus on the care and wellbeing of people living with Parkinson’s Disease. In honor of the month, and as part of our Better Care – Better Health Series, CarePlus has undertaken some exciting activities to raise awareness and deepen our own understanding of Parkinson’s.

    #KnowMorePD

    Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease that is estimated to affect approximately one million people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Parkinson’s is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. The Parkinson’s Foundation theme for 2021 Parkinson’s Awareness Month is #KnowMorePD. “The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, the Parkinson’s Foundation and all of our available resources that help make lives better for people with Parkinson’s.” 

    A Conversation about Speech and Swallowing

     

    Andrew Ryan, Executive Director of CarePlus, had a conversation with Susan I. Wranik, a board-certified speech language pathologist and LSVT LOUD Certified Clinician, specializing in the treatment of neurogenic speech, language/memory, and swallowing issues in adults with Parkinson’s. Together, they had a wide-ranging discussion that provided some important information, guidance and resources. In particular, they discussed the LSVT LOUD treatment protocol, which was designed to help people with Parkinson’s to speak in a normal tone of voice. 

    Accessing Local Resources and Education

     

    Another important conversation occurred between Andrew Ryan and Jared D. Cohen, MBA, President & CEO of the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA). Located in Montgomery County, PFNCA is a wonderful resource for people suffering from Parkinson’s as well as their families. They provide many programs, including virtual wellness activities and dozens of local support groups. The PFNCA Medical Advisory Board has organized the 2021 PFNCA Symposium, featuring over 40 sessions by 37 physicians, and some question-and-answer sessions. In their discussion, Andrew and Jared went into detail about the Symposium and the many educational topics being addressed by experts. 

     

    CarePlus Provides

    Our Parkinson’s team begins with a nurse assessment who helps put together a customized plan based on individual needs. We then step in to provide a range of assistance that can be medically related (doctor’s appointments, medication reminders), activities of daily living, self-care or other support like walking and meal prep. No person is alike, and our care plans are unique and capable of evolving as the needs of the individual change with the onset of the disease. 

    To get started, call us today at 301-740-8870 or email us at info@careplusinc.com to discuss your needs.

  • Spring Cleaning for Seniors

    Spring Cleaning for Seniors

    The change of seasons isn’t just a change of the weather, but chances for us to make some changes to our homes and lives. Spring cleaning, organizing and getting a fresh start is a great way to start the season anew. We have all been stuck indoors from the cold weather and now we can get a jump start on the tasks we have let go over the winter season. Here are five simple spring-cleaning tips for seniors:

    Tip #1: Plan & Prioritize

    Spring cleaning doesn’t need to be overwhelming! Make a list of items that need to be cleaned or organized and prioritize which are the most important. Don’t forget to call on family members to come over and assist. This will not only complete the list faster but will make for some fun as well!

    Tip #2: Don’t be afraid to de-clutter. 

    Over the years, there are many items in our homes we have stopped using and suddenly there is a lot of clutter! Donate or throw away unused items that have collected to make room for tidiness and order in your home. Clutter can cause a heightened risk of falls for seniors, so this is an important place to start during spring cleaning.

    Tip #3: Do a little at a time. 

    During the planning process, you may realize you have more to do than you initially thought. Everything doesn’t need to be done in just a few days, especially if alone, do a little each day. Use your prioritization list and tackle a few items off the list per week if there is time and relax in between.

    Tip #4: Check expiration dates. 

    Go through medicine cabinets, pantries and any other areas with perishable items. Having expired medication or food around can be dangerous so remembering to throw away and replace expired items is important.

    Tip #5: Check your battery powered safety devices.

    Smoke detectors, carbon dioxide detectors and fire extinguishers are all crucial to a safe home and need to be working properly. Now is the time to make sure you have fresh batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors and that they are properly functioning. Fire extinguishers expire, so be sure to check the date.

    These spring-cleaning tips for seniors help to promote and maintain independence and quality of life, either in their home or in community settings

    CarePlus Home Health provides in-home care including: assisted daily living, flex care, skilled nursing and 24-hour care. Our mission is to give professional and compassionate care to individuals. Need support for day-to-day activities?  Please call us at 301-740-8870 or visit our website to learn more.

  • Caring for Our Caregivers

    Caring for Our Caregivers

    Caregivers are on the front lines providing safe and compassionate care each and every day.  Caregivers at CarePlus are essential workers for in-home care. Friday, February 19th was a special day for our caregiving team – National Caregiver Day! Our team came together to honor caregivers across the country and all over the world for helping our adults aging in our communities.

    We are fortunate to have the best caregivers working with our clients! Our team of talented and compassionate caregivers is very important to us. It is our commitment to hiring the best caregivers to support our clients. Our caregivers are qualified, vetted and passionate about helping others.

    As part of our hiring process, each caregiver is credentialed by the Maryland Board of Nursing, undergoes extensive background checks, reference checks, CPR certification, screenings and immunizations. This year, we have put in place routine COVID tests to ensure that our clients and caregivers stay safe. We are also in the process of having our entire team vaccinated. We are ready to support you or your loved one in a variety of situations: emergency, hospital transition and/or for a few hours a day. In addition, you can team up with neighbors and participate in our flex care program.

    Education is a very important part of excellence in care. Our caregivers continue their education by participating in our classroom, hands-on learning labs, and on-the-job training programs with our Director of Nursing. This ensures the quality of care and current best practices. 

    Thank you again to all of our caregivers. Your dedication and positive attitude, on a daily basis, is commendable. You are the reason why we are able to provide excellent in-home care for the aging adults in our community.

    CarePlus Home Health provides in-home care including: assisted daily living, flex care, skilled nursing and 24-hour care. Our mission is to give professional and compassionate care to individuals, while helping them maintain their independence and quality of life, either in their home or in community settings. Please call us at 301-740-8870 or visit our website to learn more.

  • Caregiving & Staying Connected: During COVID-19

    Caregiving & Staying Connected: During COVID-19

    There are many resources in our community during COVID-19. Our list is comprised of the “Care” industry, testing sites and updates, supporting our local small businesses and staying connected to loved ones.

    In-Home Care

    CarePlus Home Health, Inc. is open and available to support you for care, medication reminders, doctors’ appointments, cooking meals, laundry and housekeeping. If you need anything, we are here to help. We will be following the CDC guidelines and taking precautions to keep both our families and caregivers safe. For additional information visit our COVID-19 Resource Page.

    Local COVID-19 Resources

    Local Testing Sites in Montgomery County, Maryland

    You still need an appointment and provider order to get a test at a VEIP location. Here is what is recommended.

    Location: White Oak VEIP (Montgomery County) 2121 Industrial Parkway Silver Spring, MD

    Needed:

    1. Call your health care provider or the local health department if you do not have a provider. If you qualify for a test, your provider will order a test online through CRISP, the regional HIE, which serves Maryland and the District of Columbia.
    2. Once your provider submits your order, you will receive an email with your Order Confirmation Code and a link to the self-scheduling site. The number of appointment slots at each location is dependent on the number of supplies available.

    Other testing sites are listed below.

    Kaiser Permanente has testing sites for its members in Gaithersburg.

    Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center has coronavirus testing only for critically ill patients who are likely to need hospitalization. 

    Some MedStar Health Centers, with multiple locations in the region, are testing for the virus. Patients are asked to call the clinic or hospital first. 

    Holy Cross Hospitals, in Silver Spring and Germantown, have tents to triage patients with influenza-like illnesses, including the novel coronavirus. 

    Please note, this information is constantly changing so here are links to check for updates.

    Maryland Department of Health Testing Information

    Maryland Department of Health: Frequently Asked Questions: Maryland Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) COVID-19 Testing Sites Updated April 23, 2020

    National Resources

    CDC

    NIH

    AARP

    Online Groceries, Food & Household Needs

    Here are a few companies to get you started but there may be delays so give yourself some time in advance. As always, we are here if you need us.

    Instacart: offers groceries from many chain stores and markets

    Whole Foods: offers delivery and pick-up

    Peapod: offers delivery and pick-up from Giant

    Shipt: offers delivery and pick up from a variety of stores groceries and household needs

    There are local delivery services that deliver food from restaurants: Grub Hub, UberEats and others local restaurants that are doing their own deliveries.

    Need Assistance with Food

    The Montgomery County Food Council has important information on available food assistance resources, as well as opportunities for individuals and organizations to support community needs. 

    Many organizations, including Manna Food Center, the Capital Area Food Bank and  Meals on Wheels also have information about food assistance programs.  

    Staying Connected

    There are ways to stay connected with friends and family during these uncertain times.If you have an iPhone or iPad you can use FaceTime.

    Here are some tips:

    Make sure FaceTime is set up properly

    Dial the person you want to call (or use contact menu) and push the video FaceTime button below. Remember, the other person needs to have an “apple product” or it will not work.

    You find FaceTime on the main menu, middle button on the 2nd row.

     Here is a link to Apple Support if needed.

    Other technology options to connect for video conferencing are: 

    Skype

    Zoom

    Google Hangouts

    WhatsApp

    Try a few and see what works easiest for you. If you need help there is some support online, Generations on Line has a free app Easy Tablet Help for Seniors that may be helpful.

    CarePlus Home Health, Inc is here to help. If you have trouble getting groceries, medication delivered or any other needs, call us at 301-740-8870.