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Choose the Best Path for Your Healthcare Journey

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DETROIT, MI 11/10/2019 – Residential Home Health and Residential Hospice has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2019 honor by The Detroit Free Press for the ninth consecutive year. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

“The Top Workplaces award is about much more than recognition and celebration,” said Eric Rubino, Chief Executive Officer of Energage. “Our research also shows that these organizations achieve higher referral rates, lower employee turnover, and double employee engagement levels. It just goes to show that being intentional about culture delivers bottom-line results.”

“We are pleased to be named a Top Workplace in Michigan once again,” said Travis Schmidt, Vice President of Operations for Residential Home Health. Wendy Bongero, Senior Vice President of Operations for Residential Hospice, added, “Treating everyone with respect and encouraging an environment where everyone’s input and views are welcomed is a key part of our core values. We couldn’t be prouder of our team.”

About Graham Healthcare Group (www.grahamhealthcaregroup.com)

As an innovator in an evolving healthcare world, Graham Healthcare Group has been designing business and technology solutions to drive better care, outcomes, and productivity within its own home health and hospice companies for over 20 years. The companies that comprise Graham Healthcare Group, a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), include Residential Healthcare Group, Allegheny Health Network-Healthcare @ Home, and Mary Free Bed at Home. Each company offers industry-leading care coordination, healthcare solutions, and clinical expertise with leading patient outcomes and satisfaction. Graham Healthcare Group is deeply committed to radically changing the home care model by putting patients and their families at the top of the paradigm, while enhancing the quality and consistency of healthcare in the most convenient and cost-effective setting possible: at home.

About Graham Holdings (www.ghco.com)

Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) is a diversified education and media company whose principal operations include educational services; television broadcasting; online, print and local TV news; home health and hospice care; and custom manufacturing. The Company owns Kaplan, a leading global provider of educational services; Graham Media Group (WDIV-Detroit, KPRC-Houston, WKMG-Orlando, KSAT-San Antonio, WJXT-Jacksonville, WCWJ-Jacksonville, WSLS-Roanoke); The Slate Group (Slate and Megaphone); and Foreign Policy. The Company also owns SocialCode, a leading social marketing solutions company; Graham Healthcare Group, home health, and hospice providers; Dekko, a manufacturer of electrical solutions for applications across three business lines: workspace power solutions, architectural lighting, and electrical components and assemblies; Hoover Treated Wood Products, a manufacturer of pressure-impregnated kiln-dried lumber and plywood products for fire retardant and preservative applications; Joyce/Dayton Corp., a manufacturer of screw jacks, linear actuators and lifting systems; Forney Corporation, a manufacturer of burners, igniters, dampers and controls for combustion processes in electric utility and industrial applications; Clyde’s Restaurant Group, which owns and operates thirteen Restaurants and entertainment venues in the Washington, DC area; and, two automotive dealerships, Honda of Tysons Corner and Lexus of Rockville.

About Energage, LLC Headquartered in Exton, Pa., Energage is a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools that help leaders to unlock potential, inspire performance, and achieve amazing results within their organizations. The research partner behind the Top Workplaces program, Energage has surveyed more than 58,000 organizations representing well over 20 million employees in the United States.

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In the realm of health care and chronic disease management, the word ‘please’ has its limits (although politeness always has its place, of course). No matter how kindly patients ask, how well they are recovering or responding to treatment takes priority over less urgent quality-of-life concerns like lost appetite, insomnia, or unpleasant side effects. What many patients coping with serious disease don’t realize, however, is that there is a magic word to get them the assistance they need, and that is ‘palliative care.’ Read on to learn how palliative care works in tandem with a patient’s existing treatment, but brings comfort and support within reach — you just need to ask.

Curative care: focus on results

A physician diagnoses an illness, and then does what is necessary to reverse its course or slow its progression. This type of patient care, known as curative care, is what we are most accustomed to: we go to the doctor with the expectation that we’ll get better. And in the case of a lesser malady, the positive outcome is enough — even if a prescription gives us nausea, we can live with it for just a few days, and be as good as new before we know it.

In cases of chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses, however, curative care alone may not address all of a patient’s challenges. This is because the focus of curative care is on helping the body to heal, or at least stop declining; symptoms such as dangerous fluid retention or insufficient oxygen intake are the most immediate concerns. Less perilous effects — for example, pain, difficulty eating, or stress — don’t necessarily take top priority, but these can nevertheless impair a patient’s energy, abilities, and outlook.

Hospice care: exclusively comforting

The support offered by hospice care is becoming widely recognized, but this level of care is specific to end-of-life, and its aim is to provide patients and loved ones with comfort, dignity, and companionship during that difficult time. In fact, there are strict requirements that must be met to qualify for hospice care. Managing pain and other immediate symptoms becomes the primary clinical focus, as the care team works with the patient and caregivers to make emotional and practical preparations for the end of life. If hospice care sounds right for you or your loved one, call 866-902-4000.

Palliative care: filling the gaps

For patients looking to add comfort measures to their curative regimen, adding palliative care to their existing treatment program can bridge the two approaches. This level of care can be undertaken right alongside curative treatment, helping patients to actively treat their illnesses, but with added support intended to address their immediate symptoms and day-to-day concerns. Palliative care takes a holistic approach to improving quality of life, which can include managing pain, combating side effects, assessing and amending the patient’s environment, and offering emotional support and caregiver education. Patients receiving this level of care can just ask, and will find their palliative clinicians are ready and receptive to their needs. What’s more, these services are covered 100% by Medicare for qualified patients.

More and more hospitals are establishing dedicated palliative care teams. However, some in-home programs, such as Comfort Path by Residential Home Health, bring the benefits of palliative care into the patient’s home. But anywhere a patient is living with a serious illness, if they have pain or other troubling symptoms, it helps to know they can receive the attention and personalized care needed to maximize their comfort. It all starts with the magic word: ‘palliative care.’ Call (888)930-WELL (9355) if you are interested in Residential Home Health’s palliative program, Comfort Path, or to learn about home health care services that can help in your specific situation.

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Most falls can be prevented, and there are many things you can do to reduce your fall risk. Yet prevention is not an iron-clad guarantee: just like with fire, it’s important to recognize that a fall can still happen, and to be ready just in case. Read on to learn about the complete picture of preparedness — which includes not only fall prevention, but also planning what to do in case of a fall.

An Ounce of Prevention

Without question, when it comes to falls, preventive actions should be the first line of defense. The possibilities for substantial risk reduction are plentiful, extending to every room in the home and including your own health and balance. The following is just an overview of the many useful tips available.

• Ready yourself. Regular physical activity and exercise strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility and stability. Have your hearing and vision checked, as changes in either can cause a fall. Be mindful when drinking alcohol, and be sure you are getting enough sleep. Additionally, some medications (or combinations of medications) can cause side effects that might impair your sense of balance; ask your doctor if you have questions.
• Steady yourself. Rise slowly upon standing, to keep your blood pressure stable and avoid feeling woozy. Rather than moving around the house while wearing socks or smooth slippers, choose stable, low-heeled footwear with non-skid soles. If you use a walker or cane, ensure that your pathways are sufficiently wide and free of clutter, so that you can bring your walking aid with you everywhere.
• Improve your surroundings. Inspect your home to make sure that all pathways are completely free of clutter, cords, and other tripping hazards — including unsecured floor mats or rugs. Add easily accessible lamps, light fixtures, and/or night lights to provide adequate light and safe passage at all hours. In case of icy winter weather, have salt or sand on hand to spread on outdoor walking surfaces.

Be Prepared

As with any emergency, it’s better to prepare for something that never happens than to be unprepared in the moment. Moreover, because the fear of falling actually increases the risk of falling, any step that an individual can take to lessen such fears also provides confidence that can alleviate the risk. This is why preparing for a possible fall is a crucial step in fall prevention.

• Learn to safely get up and recover after a fall. Getting up too quickly or in the wrong way could cause or worsen an injury, so research and learn the details of each phase of getting up (in short: rest, assess for damage, roll onto your side, rise to hands and knees, crawl to a sturdy chair or step, use this for support while rising to a crouch, and slowly turn and sit for a few minutes at least). With each stage, take time to get your bearings, and use caution and deliberation — most importantly, if you are hurt, stay put.
• Have an alert system at hand. As a supplement to the above measures and preparations, a mobile personal emergency response system (PERS) offers the greatest security with respect to a possible fall. Such devices, worn around your neck or clipped to your clothing, can connect you with emergency personnel from anywhere in your home or coverage area, in case you’re unable to get up or get help. Some systems (including the Residential Nurse Alert mobile system, exclusive to Residential Home Health) can provide the added assurance of automated fall detection, which can trigger an alarm even if the wearer is unable or unconscious.

Falling in the home can be a frightening prospect. But rather than ignore the potential risk until something goes wrong, try treating fall prevention like fire safety: take all necessary precautions, prepare yourself fully, and then hope nothing ever comes of it. By adding preparatory steps to your arsenal, as well as preventive measures, you’ll have done all you can to proactively make yourself safer at home.

Residential Nurse Alert is an exclusive mobile alert system that can be used for any reason, day or night:

• Emergency situations
• Questions regarding hospital discharge instructions or medications
• Help with scheduling physician appointments
• Assistance with transportation
• Questions for your primary care physician
• Health concerns or any other reason

For Residential Home Health patients, Residential Nurse Alert provides Anytime-Anywhere-Anything access to their care team. Non-patients can also use the service to connect with Residential’s clinical team. In 2014, more than 300 probable hospital admissions were avoided with this system.

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Healthy eating has its foundations in moderation and balance: not too much of this, equal amounts of those. Managing some diseases effectively means being extra vigilant about certain calorie types or nutrients, such as carbohydrate consumption (diabetes) or sodium intake (cardiac disease). In the game of meal planning and tracking, it’s nice to have a secret weapon: a recipe that’s a hearty meal all by itself.

Packed with rustic Italian flavor, this chicken and pasta entree is quick to whip up and easy to prepare — it can all be done on a cooktop with minimal tools. Yet it’s no slouch in terms of nutrients. The dish is low in fat, thanks to sparing use of olive oil (a healthier fat). Cannellini beans pump up the dietary fiber, and chicken breast makes

it a fine source of protein. And the carbohydrate content falls right in line with the general guidelines of the American Diabetes Association.

Chicken Penne Toscana

Servings: 6 | Time: less than 1 hour

Ingredients

6 oz penne pasta
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
3 cups cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup diced shallots
12 cups fresh spinach
Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Using a pot or saucepan, cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain, and set aside.

1. In a separate skillet, heat about half the oil on medium-high heat. Lightly season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
2. Add the remaining oil, rosemary, garlic, spinach, pepper, shallots, and beans to the skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the spinach wilts.
3. Slice the chicken, then combine the pasta, chicken, and bean mixture.
4. Divide into portions; sprinkle a spoonful of parmesan cheese before serving.

Nutritional Facts (per serving)

Calories: 400; Fat: 7 g; Saturated fat: 2 g; Cholesterol: 73 mg; Sodium: 570 mg; Carbohydrates: 45 g; Total sugars: 3 g; Dietary fiber: 9 g; Protein: 40 g.

Tips

• See these step-by-step instructions for searing chicken breasts. If they are especially thick, you can pound them to a more uniform thinness (in that case, reduce cooking time to 3 to 4 minutes per side).
• If sodium is a concern, skip the salt on the chicken, rinse the beans well, and consider omitting the cheese.
• Experiment with substitutions, like replacing the shallots with onion. However, beware of changing the nutritional content: for example, using olives would raise the sodium and fat amounts.
• If you’re saving some to eat as leftovers, wait to add the parmesan.

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For caregivers looking to improve the safety of a loved one’s home, the bathroom is a smart place to start. Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control once named the shower as the number-one location of home injuries. Fortunately, a wide spectrum of improvements can increase accessibility in of one of the most hazardous areas of the home. Read on to learn about DIY options for a range of skill levels.

Quick fixes

Long-term ease of use doesn’t necessarily require a complete remodel. Even a few mild tweaks can render a shower markedly safer.

• Replace a fixed shower head with a hand-held model. Adding a hand-held shower head on a hose means less bending and awkward positioning for the bather. A shower head with adjustable height lends further flexibility, making it possible to reach the handle from a seated position.
• Add a reliable shower seat Some are wall-mounted for durability, some fold down to save space, some are incredibly adjustable. The right choice will be a comfortable height and not only provide adequate support during use, but also permit the bather to easily sit down on/stand up from the seat.
• Ensure traction with non-slip safeguards on all floors. In the shower or tub itself, resilient non-slip mats or strips are a simple addition. If shifting mats are a concern or total coverage is desired, there are kits that add a non-slip film to slick surfaces; look for them at hardware stores. Outside the shower, bathroom rugs should be rubber-backed or held in place with two-sided carpet tape.
• Upgrade shower door thresholds. Showers with full-length doors (not tubs) are often paired with metal barriers that prevent water from seeping out; however, the requirement to step over may prohibit bathers with limited mobility. A collapsible water retainer (or “shower dam”) performs the same function, but is designed to crumple or fold, allowing wheelchairs easy passage.

Skilled handiwork

However much we reduce the risk of slipping, there’s no way to eliminate it altogether. This is why grab bars are a bather’s best friend — no other modification so plainly addresses the very real possibility that he or she might slip and need immediate stabilization. Experienced home improvers shouldn’t be put off by the project’s degree of difficulty; for beginners, online tutorials and videos are plentiful.

• Durability is king. Although the two may look similar, a towel bar doesn’t have the durability of a true grab bar, and could pull out of the wall when it’s needed most. When shopping, look for bars that are compliant with the specifications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Check with the experts. The ADA also gives specific directives for grab bar placement in different applications. Placement may be tailored to the individual for personal use, but familiarity with the prescribed instructions may help avoid some treacherous trial and error.
• Follow through. When it comes to fall prevention, ‘good enough’ is no good. To be sturdy enough to support a bather’s weight, grab bars must be securely fastened to wall studs or proper mounting flanges; in some cases, a wall may need additional reinforcement. Look to the internet for resources, such as this wikiHow guide, if you have a specific issue you need to troubleshoot.

Major modifications

Although smaller changes might be enough for right now or the near future, at some point, the entire shower may need an overhaul. But before taking on a project of this magnitude, put down the sledgehammer and think the job through.

• How big is big enough? An optimally accessible shower may require a substantially larger footprint than the unit it’s replacing. Ideally, a barrier-free (sometimes called “curbless”) shower should have dimensions of at least 3’x4’. If the bather will require assistance, plan for at least a 5’x5’ space.
• Replace or remodel? Because of the unique drainage considerations of a barrier-free shower, the project may call for substantial changes to the subflooring and/or drain. Other plumbing demands may also arise, such as moving faucet controls to a height and location where they can be comfortably reached by the bather from outside the shower.
• What’s missing? Whether there’s insufficient chair-height shelf space or a small obstruction to a swinging glass door, there are few disappointments greater than finishing a demanding home improvement project and finding something wrong, out of place, or purely unanticipated. When it comes down to it, an expertly accessible home shower makeover may be best left to an expert, such as a contractor with experience in accessible home construction and/or specific training in ADA compliance.

No matter whether it’s time to pull out the stud finder and drill, or simply buy a better bath mat, it is never too soon to take some action toward a safer shower. With a little foresight, being proactive in the home may help you or your loved one remain happy and secure in the months and years to come.

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• Managing Diabetes — Eating Tips for a Sweet Holiday
  
• How to Differentiate between Natural Aging and Dementia
• Life after Joint Replacement and In-Home Therapy

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The New York Times reports physical, occupational and neurological therapists are looking into Wii Golf as a means of helping their patients, due to some of the easy movements that can make a big difference.

“It really is helpful as an adjunct to what we do in physical therapy,” Dean Beasley, the director of inpatient rehabilitation at Doctors Hospital, told the news provider. “It allows the patient to put into practical application what they’ve done in therapy and, in some cases, it helps them know if they could still play golf.”

The article suggests that patients could practice their balance while playing the game, as it causes them took at the screen while using the wand.

Balance is important, particularly for seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of seniors experience a fall each year. Improving their balance could help lessen these instances.

Residential Home Health is a leading provider of in-home nursing and therapy care throughout Michigan and Illinois. In addition to home health care, Residential’s continuum of care includes Residential Hospice and Healthy Living Medical Supply. If you are interested in learning more about the home care services Residential provides, please call 866-902-4000 or visit www.residentialhomehealth.com.

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Sometimes life leads us through dark and desolate places, without promise of resolution. It can feel as though our trials are unending, piling one on the other, while we’re expected to shoulder the whole, growing burden. And when we find ourselves at the center of such a storm, it can be impossible to envision a way out.

When we meet others who are paralyzed by such circumstances, our best hope is to show them by our actions that they are not alone, and help shine a light on the path to healing. Read on to discover how Kaye, a Medical Social Worker and Residential Home Health Therapy Preceptor, helped a grief-stricken patient and her family find peace and uncover resources to make the journey ahead less painful.

Challenges and loss

Kaye’s patient, a married woman in her 20s with two children, had recently suffered a difficult pregnancy and stillborn delivery. During her pregnancy, the patient experienced severe fatigue and uncontrollable muscle activity, and when the symptoms remained after pregnancy, further testing led to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Such a difficult diagnosis would have a significant toll for any individual, and indeed, the patient felt lost and uninformed about her condition and the resources available to her. Added personal strains only increased the patient’s struggle to cope. Because her condition did not permit her to work or continue with schooling, the family’s finances were stretched thin, and the money raised to help with funeral costs was instead needed to pay the mortgage. Without a funeral service, the stillborn baby’s ashes were not laid to rest, and the patient and family were unable to sufficiently grieve.

Growing a support network

Once Kaye was involved, she immediately contacted the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to register the patient for emergency monetary funds and obtain additional resources and information; she also reached out to a local agency for continued support. Next, Kaye turned to the Veterans Association, requesting funding for which the patient was eligible based on her past military experience and honorable discharge. In time, these efforts helped easy the family’s financial burden, one step toward focusing back on the patient’s care and health.

Emotional healing

Kaye also wanted to address the patient’s fractured emotional state after such a shattering recent loss, and do everything she could to help facilitate the healing process. First, she began a conversation about holding a funeral for the stillborn child; the patient was receptive and expressed her hope to keep the service small. She also stated a wish to have a tree or plant at home as a living memorial. During their discussion, Kaye suggested that the patient write a letter, expressing the anticipation, hope, and love the family had felt for this child — ultimately, this letter was laid to rest with the baby’s ashes. Finally, Kaye found a local nursery willing to donate a flowering tree to the patient and family; with a helping hand from a colleague, she personally delivered this heartfelt memorial to the patient’s home.

Although this patient’s health challenges may continue, Kaye’s compassionate actions helped to lessen the family’s unbearable practical and emotional stresses. With the grieving process moving forward and critical resources and support in place, this patient and her family are better equipped to face whatever successes and setbacks lie ahead.

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In your home, there may be opportunities to improve your lighting set-up that could translate to major visibility gains, allowing everyone in the household to move safely about and complete daily tasks with ease and efficiency. Read on to explore some key factors of better visibility and discover how an in-home occupational therapist can help you update your home lighting for safety.

Add more light, everywhere

Most of us grossly underestimate the optimal amount of light needed to perform household tasks. In rooms lit by a single overhead source, you can supplement the ceiling fixture with task-specific lighting, such as table lamps or accent lights, to better light areas where you perform essential daily activities. Increasing the lighting level in the home has been proven to increase both reading rate and acuity in individuals with low vision, so a chair commonly used while reading should have a strong light source aimed at the page. In the kitchen or bath, attaching low-voltage lights to the underside of cabinets can shed new light on countertop organization and meal preparation.

Importantly, for individuals with low vision, shadows or blind spots in a room increase the risk of injury. If your room lighting is too strong in one area over another, or doesn’t take nearby furniture or walls into account, it may create shadows. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate each room’s lighting for even coverage and adequate spacing, and add or adjust lights to achieve uniform illumination. An in-home occupational therapist can also help you identify problem areas and easily correct them.

Abolish glare

Glare is taxing on your eyes, and can also exacerbate eye strain and lead to further impairment over time. To minimize daytime glare, you can add or update window treatments to block direct sunlight at peak exposure. For indoor light sources, take care to avoid fixtures that directly expose the eye to light bulbs. Using proper lamp shades and adjusting the placement and/or aim of existing fixtures can help repair many glare hazards.

Manage nighttime risks

Navigating a home in the middle of the night can be dangerous for a person with low vision, as it increases the probability that tripping hazards or other dangers will not be seen. The following improvements can lessen the risks associated with moving around the house at night.

• Nightlights. Use plug-in lights to illuminate pathways commonly used at night, like the one between the bed and the bathroom.
• Glow switches. Install glow-in-the-dark light switches to take the guess work out of locating and operating a switch in the dark.
• Flashlights. Place flashlights in easy-to-remember locations throughout the home, including near the bed.
• Motion-activated lights. Consider fixtures that detect your movement and automatically turn on the light; they are excellent options when a switch is difficult to access, or requires you to cross a dark room to reach it.

Seek out expert help

Utilizing the assistance of an occupational therapist can drastically simplify the process of improving your home lighting. Occupational therapists review lighting as part of their standard home environment assessments, and as trained professionals, they have the skills and experience needed to identify problem lighting and make helpful suggestions and adjustments. Because every home is unique, and so is every individual, this kind of hands-on help can be the ideal way to attain a safe environment that is properly lit to meet your specific needs.

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Additional Resources

• Finding In-Home Health Care for Seniors in Michigan and Illinois
• Securing Home Care before Discharge from the Hospital
• Home Alteration Projects Help Keep Mom Safe

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