Throughout the month of November, Home Staff and the Nation recognized home care and hospice aides for their dedicated service and mammoth contribution to keeping people in their homes as the age, convalesce, or prepare for end of life.

On behalf of the entire Home Staff team, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our aides that care for our many clients.

In 2012, I will celebrate my 20 year anniversary with Home Staff. People often ask why I choose to be aligned with the same organization for so many years. The answer is simple. I am extremely proud of the services we provide and especially of the skilled, compassionate, and dedicated staff that represent Home Staff. They inspire me each and every day and are the heart and soul of this agency.

We celebrate and are grateful to those who have chosen to be part of our team! Together, we will continue to assist clients and families with their missions to remain community based because there is no place like home!

One thing is for sure – use of innovative technology will be the mantra for success.

Organizations like Home Staff that stay agile and quickly adapt to the changing landscape using these innovative technologies will not only be successful but also gain significantly from these impending changes.

To win this race against time, Home Staff has initiated several projects with Cinch IT over the past three years. They have instituted a forward thinking Telephony system. They have met every mandated regulation in order to maintain the safety and privacy of their client data. The have been diligent in their efforts to continue to upgrade systems and appliances to ensure their employees always have the right tools for the job and their clients have the reliability they have come to expect. It is cutting edge culture that will set Home Staff above the rest and allow them to provide award-winning home health care. For this, we here at Cinch IT commend you!

Michael Clark
CTO
Cinch IT
www.cinchit.com

The condition could be dangerous for several reasons. A clot may block the circulation of a blood vessel, causing damage to the surrounding tissue. A portion of the clot may break off and travel to the lungs; to the heart (causing a heart attack) or to the brain (causing a stroke). Serious damage to the organ or even death may result. The most serious of complications occur from clots formed in the deep veins of the leg. Superficial veins that have blood clots do not usually cause serious health problems.

There are three factors that may result in a thrombophlebitis:

1. Decreased blood flow. The faster the blood flows, the less chance there is of a clot forming. Blood flow is slowed when pressure is placed on the vessels (like a tight band around the leg); immobility; crossing legs; certain heart conditions and medications.
2. Increased Blood Clotting: caused from dehydration; estrogen; and certain conditions that make the blood clot more quickly.
3. Injury to the blood vessel: caused by trauma; surgery; IV catheters; medications.

Those at most risk for thrombophlebitis include: the elderly, the obese, smokers, women taking estrogen, those who have varicose veins and people who have had recent surgery (especially hip); prolonged inactivity.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis (DVT) is often difficult to diagnose and many do not show any signs or symptoms until a clot moves to the lungs. Signs and symptoms include: tenderness and pain at the area of the clot; redness and swelling may occur. If the clot is in the leg, the client may experience pain or “heaviness” in the leg while walking. For a DVT it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. These clots are treated with medication that dissolves clots and surgery to remove the clot. Adequate fluid intake; increased exercise or movement; elevation of legs while sitting and the use of compression stockings all help to prevent clots from forming. For this reason we do not rub or massage legs as this may dislodge a clot and cause it to travel elsewhere and cause damage or death.

It’s all part of a branding initiative created by the Round Pond Group of Shrewsbury. Owner, marketing consultant Fern Nissim explained that through the use of social media mixed with traditional multimedia we are able to reach a broader audience. Home Staff’s fan base on Facebook is nearing 8,000 and her articles online at Fifty Plus Advocate have been read over 3,000 times. This mix along with our print ads, public relations and other outreach efforts offers the most up to date means to reach a broader market with information that is informative and educational. We are making the best use of all the new media available to us to expand and promote the Home Staff brand.

Look for more exciting news about “ Home Staff’s Senior Moment Advisor” in the coming months.

By Fern Nissim, Principal, Round Pond Group, LLC

9/22 – Nurses Appreciation Night, from 6PM to 9PM at the DCU in Worcester

9/25 – Central Mass Walk to End Alzheimer’s, events begin at 9:30 AM thru early afternoon, the actual walk starts at 10:30AM being held at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester

9/27 – Back to Business Expo & Networking Event, from 3:30PM until 7:30 PM, being held at Highfields Golf and Country Club in Grafton

10/5 – Massachusetts Councils on Aging Conference, from 8AM to 5:00PM at the Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge

10/18 – Western Mass 2011 Business Expo from 9:00AM until 4:00PM at the MassMutual Center in Springfield

10/19 – Spencer Council on Aging Health Fair from 10:00AM until 2:00PM being held at the Spencer Knights of Columbus on Meadow Road in Spencer

10/20 – Senior Spectacular from 10:00AM until 3:00PM at the DCU Center in Worcester

10/21 – Silver Sneakers Health Fair from 9:00AM until 1:00PM at the Burroughs branch of the “Y” in Westboro

10/21 – 5P to 9P Healthy Living Expo at the DCU

10/22 – 10A to 6P Healthy Living Expo at the DCU

10/23 – 11A to 5P Healthy Living Expo at the DCU

11/1 – Senior Spectacular at the Basketball Hall of Fame

11/5 – Catholic Women’s Conference Worcester’s DCU

11/10 – Alzheimer’s Awareness Symposium, 10AM to 2PM at the Beechwood Hotel

Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs or inflammation of the lung tissue. It is caused by bacteria, viruses or a fungus. It was the leading cause of death before 1930; before antibiotics came into use. Although there are the antibiotics, approximately 60,000 people die from pneumonia in the US every year. It is the 8th leading cause of death along with influenza.

Pneumonia often follows a respiratory infection (cold/flu). Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type and it is more common than viral pneumonia. Aspiration may also result in pneumonia. Mild cases of pneumonia may be treated at home, while more severe cases may require hospitalization. Symptoms of pneumonia include: cough, fever, chills, sharp chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. Bacterial pneumonia usually comes on suddenly and severely, while viral pneumonia may be less severe and develops more slowly.

Antibiotics are the main treatment for bacterial pneumonia but not for viral and/or fungal pneumonia. Anti-fungal or anti-viral medication may be ordered for these types.

It is important to keep the person with pneumonia well-oxygenated. If shortness of breath occurs, then activity should be kept to a minimum when the illness is acute. Position should be changed often to promote good lung function. Good nutrition with adequate calorie intake helps to speed recovery. It is important to keep well hydrated. Frequent hand washing is important not only for the caregiver but for the patient also.

There is a vaccine for those over 65 and under 5 years of age. For the remainder of the population it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle including: good hand washing; avoid smoking; get the flu vaccine. Often complications of the flu result in pneumonia. Calling your primary care physician at the first signs of “not feeling well” may lessen the severity of the disease.

Angela Rocheleau, CEO Home Staff

Home Staff is gearing up to celebrate its 35 year anniversary and we are very excited to head into this new chapter of our history. As with any organization, to maintain longevity you also need to be able to be flexible and transition with the changes in the industry, communities you service and also the method that you deliver services.

At Home Staff this anniversary reminds us that we cannot become complacent. As a company we are making a recommitment to providing the best quality home care services. We are examining all facets of our organization with the hope of continued improvement. We are seeking feedback from our contracting agencies, staff, and potential referral sources. Our team is dedicated to making the adjustments we will need to carry us through our next thirty five years.

We are fortunate to have a team in the field nearing 500 strong that are trained, skilled, and dedicated to the clients they serve. We are equally lucky to have a very hard working office team; some with many years of expertise and others who have joined Home Staff with new skills and a fresh perspective. Additionally, we are thankful for the support of our joint owners Fallon Community Health Plan and VNA Care Network and Hospice as we continue facing new opportunities and challenges.

Recently, we were able to have Theresa Eckstrom join our family as Operations Manager. Theresa and I have been colleagues in the industry for many years and I greatly respect her talents and her understanding of the Home Care Industry. Theresa’s experience and knowledge will be a great asset to our team, field staff, contracting agencies and ultimately to the clients we serve. Her tenure here thus far feels like finding that last missing piece to a very large puzzle. I look forward to working closely with Theresa and the rest of our management team to meet our goals in the future.

As we continue to grow, we are now more than ever focused on Customer Service. This effort will include additional office staff, technological upgrades, service area expansion, emphasis on training, and improved communication and service to our Contracting Agencies and our clients. We look forward to this next chapter and hope that you will continue to follow us on Home Staff’s journey to provide unsurpassed quality home care.