Tag Archive for: program of all-inclusive care for the elderly

National Nurse’s Month Profile – Cheryl Coleman

May 28, 2020

Cheryl Coleman works for WelbeHealth corporate as the nurse educator for all our centers, training our nurses with the skills needed to help our seniors live more independent lives in their homes and communities. Her current role aligns with what she wanted to be when she grew up – a teacher. She also wanted to explore life in other countries and her path to becoming a nurse was influenced by this desire. “I sold medical supplies and wanted to live outside of the USA, “she stated. “My nurse customers all told me to become a nurse so that I would be marketable in other countries.” After becoming a nurse, she rose through the ranks to manage a team. “I managed a team of 15 nurses in the West Region who taught patients how to give themselves injections at home.”

Cheryl’s desire to serve and teach is what drives her. “Helping people inside and outside of the medical center is my biggest motivator. I also love to learn new things and share what I learn with others.”

Determination is the key attribute to the advice she would to her younger self. “You can be whatever you want to be, so never let anyone tell you differently. Always strive to do what you love and be your best. Therefore you will always go home feeling fulfilled.”

To learn more about the PACE services that Cheryl and other care team members compassionately provide our participants, click here.

Exercise Benefits for Seniors from the CDC

May 27, 2020

May 27th is National Senior Health & Fitness Day. We’re posting the guidelines from the CDC to help seniors understand the benefits of exercise.

Making Physical Activity a Part of an Older Adult’s Life

When it comes to getting the physical activity you need each week, it’s important to pick activities you enjoy and that match your abilities. This will help ensure that you stick with them.

Things to Keep in Mind

Physical activity has immediate health benefits including better sleep and less anxiety. It also helps reduce your risk of getting serious illnesses such as heart disease, type II diabetes, and depression.
Try to do a variety of activities. This can make physical activity more enjoyable and reduce your risk of injury.
Regular physical activity is still safe and good for you even if you have problems doing normal daily activities, such as climbing stairs or walking.
Lots of things count. And it all adds up. Find what works for you.
If you have to take a break from your regular activity routine due to an illness, be sure to start again at a lower level and slowly work back up to your usual level of activity.
To get to and stay at a healthy weight, work your way up to doing the equivalent of 150 minutes (for example, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. Keep in mind that you may need to do more activity or reduce the number of calories you eat to get to your desired weight.

Learn more about everyday activities you can do to stay active.

Multicomponent Physical Activity

As part of their weekly physical activity, older adults should do multicomponent physical activity to improve physical function and decrease the risk of falls or injury from a fall. This includes balance training, aerobic activity, and muscle-strengthening activities. An example of a multicomponent physical activity program could include walking (aerobic activity), lifting weights (muscle strengthening), and incorporating balance by walking backwards or sideways or by standing on one foot. These activities can be done at home or in a structured group setting.

Improving Your Balance

Older adults should do activities that help them with balance. Balance activities can improve the ability to resist forces within or outside of the body that cause falls. Fall prevention programs that include balance training and other exercises to improve activities of daily living can also significantly reduce the risk of injury, such as bone fractures, if a fall does occur. These activities might include backward walking, sideways walking, heel walking, toe walking, heel to toe walking, practicing standing from a sitting position, and alternating balancing on one leg and then the other with a counter or wall nearby. Strengthening muscles of the back, abdomen, and legs also improves balance.

What if you have a chronic condition?

If you have a health condition such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease, it doesn’t mean you can’t be active. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Regular physical activity can improve your quality of life and even reduce your risk of developing other conditions.

Talk with your doctor to find out if your health condition limits, in any way, your ability to be active. Then, work with your doctor to come up with a physical activity plan that matches your abilities. If your condition stops you from meeting the minimum recommended activity levels, try to do as much as you can. What’s important is that you avoid being inactive.

What if you have a disability?

If you are an older adult with a disability, regular physical activity can provide you with important health benefits, like a stronger heart, lungs, and muscles; improved brain health; and a better ability to do everyday tasks. It’s best to talk with your doctor before you begin a physical activity routine. Try to get advice from a professional with experience in physical activity and disability. They can tell you more about the amounts and types of physical activity that are appropriate for you and your abilities.

If you are looking for additional information, visit The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

When to Check with Your Doctor

Doing physical activity that requires moderate effort is safe for most people, but if you have a health condition such as heart disease, arthritis, or diabetes, be sure to talk with your doctor about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you. Also, if you have been inactive, are not too fit, or are overweight, and want to do vigorous-intensity physical activity, such as jogging, it is safest to discuss this with your doctor.

To learn more about services such as exercise programs that are part of the PACE program, click here.

National Nurse’s Month Profile – Ashley Boyden

May 26, 2020

Ashley Boyden was featured recently in our dog rescue video displaying the WelbeHealth values, specifically showcasing her pioneering spirit. Ashley comes to the WelbeHealth family after working in skilled nursing as well as performing case management for workman’s comp. She now works as an LVN – Care Coordinator, in our Stockton PACE center, helping provide comprehensive care to seniors so they can continue to live more independently in their homes and communities.

Ashley always wanted to be a nurse, crediting her inspiration from her grandmother. “My grandmother was a nurse in the same hospital for 45 years,“ she stated. “As a child I used to go with her when she was on call and wait in the nurse’s lounge.” Given her determination to go above and beyond to help serve her senior participants, it’s no surprise that making a difference in her patient’s lives was her motivation for joining the WelbeHealth. “I love being a part of the difference. Knowing that what we at WelbeHealth do each day changes lives is inspiring,” she added. Her determination and desire to make a difference is reinforced in her advice to her younger self: “Stay the course. Don’t get discouraged. You WILL make a difference!”

To learn more about the PACE services that Ashley helps provide to help seniors live more independently in their homes and communities, click here.

Memorial Day 2020 Park Safety Tips

May 22, 2020

Memorial Day 2020 will be very unique this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which should be no surprise to anyone. Various local governments are opening up parks and recreational facilities to varying degrees and many seniors will be out and about enjoying the holiday. The CDC has provided guidelines for attending parks and recreational facilities. To help our seniors continue to safely live more independent lives in their homes and communities and as a resource to combat senior isolation, we are providing those guidelines here.

Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities

Protect Yourself and Others from COVID-19

Know before you go: While these facilities and areas can offer health benefits, it is important that you follow the steps below to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Visit parks that are close to your home
Prepare before you visit
Stay at least 6 feet away from others (“social distancing”) and take other steps to prevent COVID-19
Play it safe around and in swimming pools. Keep space between yourself and others

DON’T

Visit parks if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19
Visit crowded parks
Use playgrounds
Participate in organized activities or sports

To learn about the services our PACE program provides, click here.

National Nurse’s Month Profile – D’juana Hale

May 21, 2020

D’juana Hale always wanted to be a doctor growing up, saying that her pediatrician was her inspiration. Today, she is in the medical field working as an LVN/Nightly Navigator for our Stockton PACE location, helping support our senior participants as they strive to live more independent lives in their homes and communities. She says the secret for delivering compassionate, comprehensive care to the elderly is easy, “I just love what I do, so it makes it easy!”. D’juana has a simple, but inspiring message she would tell her younger self, “Continue striving for greatness!”. That’s a message that we can all get behind.

For more information about the PACE services D’juana helps support, click here.

Senior Isolation – Interview with Debbie Sanchez

May 21, 2020

Radio Centro America conducted an interview with our own Debbie Sanchez, an Outreach Specialist for our Pacific PACE program in Pasadena. She discussed the challenges of senior isolation during this global coronavirus pandemic and how WelbeHealth and Pacific PACE have made changes to safely deliver the health and wellness senior care to frail elderly in our service areas, allowing them to continue living more independent lives in their homes and communities. Click here to watch the interview in Spanish.

For more about the services that PACE provides to help promote senior independence, click here.

WelbeHealth Expands PACE into Long Beach and Fresno

May 13, 2020

WelbeHealth, operator of PACE programs across California, announced the enrollment of its first participants at LA Coast PACE in Long Beach and the upcoming launch of its fourth program, Sequoia PACE, in Fresno. The company has rapidly shifted to a remote home care model to serve seniors safely during the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to enroll new participants in its service areas across California.

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a longstanding Medicare and Medicaid program that provides comprehensive medical and social services enabling older adults to live in the community instead of a nursing home or other care facility. The program has a long track record of positive outcomes, including longer life expectancy (by more than one year), improved quality of life, reduced rates of depression and dementia, and enhanced personal empowerment for seniors. PACE services are available at no cost to most participants as part of their Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits.

“In our HomePACE model of remote care, we help seniors stay healthy and thriving while avoiding nursing facilities, which have tragically become hotbeds for the spread of coronavirus,” said Si France, MD, Founder and CEO of WelbeHealth. “We’re excited to expand our all-inclusive model of care into the greater Long Beach and Fresno regions to serve more vulnerable seniors when they need it most.”

LA Coast PACE’s first participants will enroll with the program on June 1, receiving comprehensive home-based medical care, dental care, physical and occupational therapy, and personal care such as assistance with bathing and meals. The program serves nursing home-eligible seniors across the South Bay and Westside region, including in Long Beach, Artesia, Cerritos, Carson, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Culver City, and other nearby communities.

Sequoia PACE, WelbeHealth’s fourth PACE program, will open later this year to serve seniors in Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties, including in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Hanford, Tulare, and surrounding cities.

“There has never been a stronger imperative to keep frail seniors living more independently in their homes and communities,” said Sophia Guel-Valenzuela, Regional Vice President & Executive Director of LA Coast PACE. “We’re eager to help more seniors reach their full potential and live with confidence, purpose, and joy.”

WelbeHealth has rapidly adapted to serve seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic, shifting to a remote home-based model to continue providing care while enabling participants to stay physically distanced to reduce the spread of the virus. The company’s PACE programs provide 4G LTE “WelbeLink” tablets to each senior, enabling regular video communications to manage medical and social needs. When in-person care is required, it’s performed by a single caregiver in the home whenever possible. The programs have even continued many of their usual games and recreational activities remotely, combatting the dangerous social isolation affecting many seniors today.

Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at particularly high risk during the coronavirus pandemic, underscoring the benefits of a home-based care model. According to the National PACE Association, the average PACE participant in the U.S. is 77 years old with 8 medical conditions, many of which are chronic conditions such as diabetes, dementia, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease. PACE serves as an alternative to nursing homes as reports emerge that nearly 40 percent of California’s coronavirus deaths have occurred in the facilities.

In addition to LA Coast PACE and Sequoia PACE, WelbeHealth also operates Stockton PACE in the Stockton-Modesto region and Pacific PACE, which serves Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, North Hollywood, and surrounding areas. The company continues to hire new team members at each of its programs across clinical and home health roles to meet community health needs.

For more about the seniorcare services that our PACE program provides, click here.

National Nurse’s Month Profile – Ivette Zoltzman

May 12, 2020

Ivette Zoltzman comes to the WelbeHealth family from UCLA, where she worked in the outpatient clinic working on wound care patients, a job she loved. She now works as a Home Care RN, working for our Pacific PACE center in Pasadena. She joined the WelbeHealth team because she really wanted to make a difference in her patients’ lives. “Even if I made one person happy or touched their lives one way or another, I know I did my job right. As a nurse, I have the privilege of helping others when they are the most vulnerable,” she added.

Ivette had not originally planned on becoming a nurse but was persuaded by some sage advice from her father. Growing up, she wanted to be a homicide detective because she loved to investigate clues, crimes and assessments, but her father told her no. “My father said to me you can do anything homicide related through nursing,” she explained. “Become a Registered Nurse and you will have so many opportunities open up for you. Even though I did not become a Forensic Nurse, I am glad I took my father’s advice.”

Her advice to her ten-year old self – “Start your nursing career as soon as you graduate from high school. You will be able to travel the world.”

To learn more about the PACE services Ivette and our other nurses help provide, click here.

National Women’s Health Week

May 11, 2020

It’s National Women’s Health Week!

We encourage all women to take charge of their health so they can live long, independent lives in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

Per CDC Guidelines, you can learn steps for better health.

To improve your physical and mental health, you can:

Visit a doctor or nurse for a well-woman visit (checkup) and preventive screenings.
Get active.
Eat healthy.
Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress. Learn about depression among women.
Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, texting while driving, and not wearing a a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

To learn what services we provide to improve our senior’s health, click here.

Updated Symptoms for COVID-19 from the CDC

May 7, 2020

The Center for Disease Control has updated the symptoms related to COVID-19. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

People with at least one of these symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell

If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, please contact your physician as soon as possible.

As a reminder:

The CDC has advised that older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions stay at home as much as possible. In addition, you should avoid participating in the following activities: traveling by airplane, going to theaters, attending family events, shopping and going to religious ceremonies. If you are enrolled in PACE, you fall into this category and are extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus, so you should please follow the CDC’s advice and remain sheltered at home and avoid leaving except for essential needs.
In the event that you need to go out in public, the CDC and Public Health recommend that the general public wear non-medical face coverings (e.g. cloth masks) when out in common spaces.

We know that there are a lot of news outlets that are providing conflicting information during this time. Our physicians are monitoring all of the guidance on an ongoing basis and are committed to ensuring that you all get the right information. PACE participants can have any specific questions at any time answered by contacting us via the WelbeLinks!

For more information on PACE services, click here.