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| Comprehensive Care Management |
The Senior Connection, Inc.
believes in treating each client as the special individual that they
are. By thoroughly assessing each individual and their specific needs,
we are able to set up a Care Plan that will address their immediate
needs and evolve as those needs change. By utilizing a well trained
Certified Staff, we are able to coordinate client care and needs while
supervising the General Care Providers on an individual and
case-by-case basis.
We also believe in the
continuing education of not only our Care Providers, but the client
and their families as well. By knowing and understanding the elements
of the overall aging process, we are able to better anticipate changes
that will arise in the short and long term.
All care provided is
documented in a professional manner and maintained in the Client
chart. This assures that a history of condition and changes will be
recorded for possible future use.
| Bathing and Personal Care |
Safety in the home is our
biggest challenge and concern. As accidents that occur in the bathroom
can become life altering for any senior, this service provides the
safety that many seniors need.
By using the assistance of a
Certified Home Health Aide, the client can feel safe and secure while
bathing, thereby assuring that they will bathe on a regular basis. We
are also watching for other signs and symptoms of things that may
affect the well being of the client, such as skin integrity and fall
risk.
We are able to assess, and in
most cases provide, the safety tools needed to assure that the client
will have the safest bathing experience possible. There are many
devices such shower chairs/ benches, hand held nozzles, grab bars, and
mats that will assure the utmost in bathing safety. These products are
available, on loan, to any client in need.
When a family member or friend
is providing care for a loved one on a regular basis, that person
needs to realize that they too, need a break. We believe in providing
care for the regular Care Giver as well as the client. Therefore, we
offer hourly or shift care to allow that person some time to address
their own personal needs.
A
Rested Care Giver Is A Better Care Giver. We encourage them
to let us know that we might do to assist them in catching up on
household chores such as dishes, laundry, and light housekeeping while
we are there caring for the client. This assures that the family Care
Giver has a change to recharge their own battery which will lead to
improved Care Giver skills and prevent Care Giver Burnout.
| Medication/Physician Appointment Management |
We are able to provide
Medication Management services to clients not able to take their
medications in a correct and/or timely manner. In a time when so many
seniors are on so many medications, it is good to know that this
LVN provided service is available.
This service provides
research, set up, recording and follow-up with the clients medication
needs, thereby increasing the ability of the client to take their
medications properly and safely.
We also offer Physician
Appointment Management assuring that the client issues are not
lost in a quick visit to the Physician. We address the concerns of the
client, family, Care Provider, and LVN in a comprehensive form that is
reviews at the time of the visit with the Physician. This helps to
assure that all issues will be addressed, including conditions,
changes, reactions, and drug issues.
We then follow-up with a
written treatment plan directly from the Physician to assure that any
issues are monitored and records maintained to support progress and
changes.
So many times, clients return
from the hospital with Skilled Care to assist them in regaining the
ground lost while hospitalized. A wonderful plan of Physical Therapy
is enacted, and for a couple of weeks, this exercise plan is
applied. When Physical Therapy leaves the client, a lapse usually
occurs and the client returns to the pre-Physical Therapy state. Since
independence is vital to assuring a client can remain at home, keeping
them moving and in good physical condition is essential.
By working with Physical
Therapy in a pre-approved exercise program, we offer customized
exercise visits to assure tat the client will continue to progress and
remain strong and mobile within the boundaries of their condition. The
clients enjoy the program and we have found it most useful in keeping
them mobile and mentally more in tune.
This program can be
implemented independently of Physical Therapy follow-up at the request
of any client and can be added to the Care Plan one or more per week.
| Meal Planning and Preparation |
With the guidelines of our
Care Plan, our clients can utilize their Care Provider in preparing
home cooked meals vs. having to eat pre-packaged meals.
With so many senior suffering
with heart related issues and diabetes, these pre-packaged meals can
be harmful to their health. Laden with sodium and other unhealthy
components, prolonged use of these foods can sometimes drive the
senior to eat less and less, thereby compromising their overall
health.
We an help them plan, shop,
and prepare meals for immediate consumption or to freeze for future
use. They can utilize their own favorite recipes, thereby assuring
that they are eating foods that are balanced, within their dietary
guidelines, that they are used to, and just simply like better.
We do provide a light
housekeeping service. However, if heavy or deep cleaning is required,
we can refer a client to a professional Housekeeping Service.
The scope of light
housekeeping includes: Changing linen, laundry, dishes, vacuuming,
dusting, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, mopping and/or sweeping
the floors. This maintenance type assistance can be incorporated into
the Care Plan.
However, we do not wash
windows, clean decks or rain gutters, driveways, shovel snow, etc. but
we can refer to an outside service for these heavier tasks.
Care Plans are set up in
various different ways, depending on the needs of the client. The only
rule that we have when it comes to planning care is that we do have a
two hour minimum.
As there is very little that
can really be accomplished in any less time, every Care Plan begins
with a Two Hour Visit (except for Intermittent Bath/Personal care
visits). There is a pre-approved rate for each type of visit which is
discussed within the Evaluation Process. This hourly rate is assessed
up to 12 hour visits at which time a shift rate is assessed. All time
is rounded to the half hour so we encourage all clients to use that
time wisely.
| 12 and 24 Hour Shift Care |
As hourly care can become
expensive over the long term, any client requiring Shift Care will
receive that care on a reduced for flat rate basis. This difference
will be discussed at the time of evaluation and is provided on
different levels from low to high, again, customized to meet the
individual need of the client.
Our Care Providers are more
than willing to assist with shopping needs and other local errands. We
can pick up and/or drop off the mail and pick up prescriptions. We can
assure that our clients are able to attend Senior functions in the
community (when allowed) such as the bi-monthly Senior Lunch. This is
sponsored by the county and is free to all seniors. It is an enjoyable
for all.
We are not a Transportation
company. But we can assist in finding transportation via SCAN or other
means.
Although companionship is an
important aspect of our care program, we believe that because of the
sometimes financial challenge of affording professional care, that
this is only a fraction of the bigger picture.
We also believe that in order
to provide a more effective means of care, we must keep a professional
distance with our clients, thereby assuring that we do not cross a
professional line that could render our care less effective.
This is not to say that we do
not value an aspect of companionship as important to our Care Plan,
but rather to assure that the necessary duties of the Care Provider
are accomplished while providing a friendly attitude towards the
client and family members. We would prefer to assure that our Care
Providers are accomplishing duties pertinent to the well being of the
client thereby assuring that our clients can remain safely and
successful in their own homes.
| Skilled Home Health & Hospice Related
Supportive Care |
There comes a time in the Care
Plans of some clients that the need for Skilled Home Health Care or
Hospice Care may be needed.
Our Care Plans can be adjusted
to work in conjunction with these organizations to assure full and
comprehensive care. We work with a variety of different agencies in
our area to assure that all areas of care are met.
We are able to assist and
coordinate care with different agencies and assure that a complete
line of reporting of necessary information is completed.
We are always happy to assist
our clients and their families with any information that they might
require to assure that the client is getting the best care possible in
all areas of need.
| Referral and Informational Services |
We are always happy to assist
anyone inquiring about senior related services and/or programs. We can
help to explain the different levels of care, provide you with
reference numbers, and refer individuals to the right sources of
information. We can assist in information pertinent to our specific
and specialized area of services.
We maintain a full range of
services files linked to a multitude of agencies in the San Bernardino
area. You may click on our link located here on the home page to see
some of the sources that we work with.
If we don't have it on hand,
we will be happy to find it for you!
| Education and Support Group Function |
We can assist your group in
gaining information for specialized information and support. We can
formulate a support group or education course customized to meet your
needs. We can help your group to get the information that you need to
assist in continuing education.
We are also available for
presentations for senior related needs for any organization.
| Billing and Payment Procedures |
All charges are billed on a
bi-weekly basis and an itemized statement will be provided along with
a copy of the Contract/Fee Schedule signed at the time of
Evaluation. All charges are due within 9 days of the statement date
and must be paid, unless pre-arranged with the office, within that 9
day period, in order for services to continue.
All evaluations are included
in service charges unless services are not set up within a two week
period. You will then be billed an Evaluation charge of $40.00 which
will be due and payable with 9 days of the statement date.
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