Keeping families in communication regarding their loved one is a challenge, especially when separated by many miles and even time zones. Because Villa Home Care offers SOLUTIONS, we are very excited to announce the addition of a Family Portal to our services.

Families are now able to log into their secure on-line account and share information with other family members, with their Care Manager, view the caregiver schedule, the Care Manager assessments and even access and print medication lists. Peace of mind can be at your fingertips.

Our investment in this technology is another demonstration of our commitment to provide you with the tools you need to keep your loved one living independently for as along as possible. We feel this is so vitally important to our families that we are offering this valuable feature at no cost to our clients.

For more information on our family portal, please contact us at Villa Home Care at 602-957-9300 or 1-888-880-6588 or contact@villahomecare.com.
Karen Jeselun, RN, CEO, CCM

1. CHANGE IS HARD! Making recommendations to older adults who may have lived with safety hazards their whole life is not always well received. My parents are a perfect example. Recovering from hip surgery at age 89, my Mom’s Physical Therapist had suggested that the scatter rugs be removed from her pathways so that she could navigate safety with her walker. Of course, that could not be done because “those rugs have been there for 64 years”.

2. COMPROMISE MIGHT BE THE ANSWER! The rugs had to stay, but we were able to place double-sided sticky tape underneath to secure them to the floor. Think creatively!

3. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO FAIL! OF course, we never want them to fail by getting injured. There really is a fine balance here. Allowing an older adult to make their own decisions, even those decisions we may not fully agree with, may be the only way to go. Time and time again, I have found that they will eventually arrive at that same conclusion we did– only this time it is their idea.

Recommendations:
Be patient.
Be innovative.
Be understanding.
Be there for them.

1. CHANGE IS HARD! Making recommendations to older adults who may have lived with safety hazards their whole life is not always well received. My parents are a perfect example. Recovering from hip surgery at age 89, my Mom’s Physical Therapist had suggested that the scatter rugs be removed from her pathways so that she could navigate safety with her walker. Of course, that could not be done because “those rugs have been there for 64 years”.

2. COMPROMISE MIGHT BE THE ANSWER! The rugs had to stay, but we were able to place double-sided sticky tape underneath to secure them to the floor. Think creatively!

3. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO FAIL! OF course, we never want them to fail by getting injured. There really is a fine balance here. Allowing an older adult to make their own decisions, even those decisions we may not fully agree with, may be the only way to go. Time and time again, I have found that they will eventually arrive at that same conclusion we did– only this time it is their idea.

Recommendations:

Be patient.
Be innovative.
Be understanding.
Be there for them.

This next statement may surprise you, especially coming from the owner of a homecare company with a large staff of caregivers. Families who call us for help may not always need caregivers. In fact, often, families call looking for professional expertise to help manage a situation in which they have no experience.

We have positioned Villa Home Care to be that expert – to partner with our family members and their loved ones – and walk alongside of them through the continuum of the aging process.

Initially that older adult may only need bimonthly visits from the Geriatric Manager with ongoing communication through our secure on-line family portal. These visits may or may not include medication management, accompanying the individual to physician appointments or other necessary activities.

As the continuum moves along, the GCM’s ongoing assessments may pick up on a decline in the functional abilities of the client, perhaps physical or mental abilities. In these situations, the GCM would be in a position to recommend the implementation of technology or some assistive devices. Perhaps a few hours of caregiving might be appropriate at this stage.

Lastly, as the client’s deficits increase, outside resources may be utilized such as hospice, home health or alternate care settings, such as assisted living facilities or group homes.

We are finding that this approach helps to conserve precious financial resources and yet meets the need for independence and dignity for our older clients.

For more information on our continuum of care, call Villa Home Care at 602-957-9300 or 888-880-6588. Email us at contact@villahomecare.com.

Villa Home Care just sponsored a contest where we asked our Caregiving staff why they do what they do. Caregiving can be a very tough profession. It continually poses physical, emotional, and mental challenges. The patience, kindness, and love that is shown each and every day is incredible, so we wanted to celebrate and thank our staff. I wanted to share excerpts of the responses with you.
“Villa Home Care takes pride in searching for only the best caregivers to meet their clients’ needs, which is why I take pride knowing I work for the best company!”
“It makes me extremely happy when all my clients tell me how they always look forward to seeing me every time I am scheduled.”
“To me, caregiving is more than a business type relationship – the people at Villa Home Care have a unique caring way that makes our clients feel like we are all one family, and I love it so much!”
“It makes me proud to see how Villa Home Care cares and communicates with the clients.”
“I love being able to keep the client at home and not alone.”
“Working for Villa has given me the opportunity to meet people like Mrs. K. who has introduced me to learning German. Through her guidance, I have learned to say simple phrases and introductions.”
“I have learned what it means to be part of something special. To meet people and share a part of their lives is something that constantly inspires me.”
“Working for Villa amazes me; here is a company that truly cares about me, what I want to be, and how they can help me along that path”.
45% of our past client either return to us at some point or refer a friend to Villa for services. Our Caregivers are, without a doubt, why this happens!!
To experience the quality of our staff for you or your loved one, please contact us at 602-957-9300, 1-888-880-6588 or contact@villahomecare.com.
Respectfully,
Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM, CEO

AI would venture to say that many of us are aware of older adults who could benefit by some assistance at home but refuse. The reasons given vary. “I don’t want a stranger in my home.” “It costs too much.” And the most frequent reason – “I don’t need any help!” As adult children of aging parents and as professional Geriatric Care Managers, we would like to provide an easy answer to this dilemma, however there isn’t one. Often what must happen is that the older person has to fail living at home independently. That sounds a bit harsh, and we don’t want them to fail by getting injured or harmed. But they have to come to the realization themselves that in order to remain in their own home, they must have assistance. Sometimes that assistance can be as little as one hour once or twice daily, or six hours once a week. Once a “foot in the door” is accomplished, trust is established, and a positive relationship begins with the Caregiver, services can be enhanced to better meet the needs of the individual and achieve their goal of staying at home!

Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM, CEO