Tag: JEVS Care at Home

By Thomas H.

Megan Miller, Area Director at our JEVS Care At Home (JCAH) Philadelphia office, shared about her role in delivering outstanding client care.  

Tell us a little bit about your professional background and how you came to work at JCAH. 

I worked in the home care field for 18 years, prior to coming to JCAH. I took a period of time in my career to explore other roles and I even changed industries for a short period of time.  I realized, however, that I was missing the healthcare field. It is where I belong professionally. I had been scrolling through LinkedIn and noticed a repost from a previous colleague who was working for JCAH. In the inquiry process, I quickly found that there were more familiar connections at JEVS. This provided comfort in applying, and I’m happy that they chose me to be part of the team.  

What are your responsibilities as an Area Director for JCAH? 

My responsibilities include partnering with all support teams to enhance and develop the operations team. One goal is to be extraordinary in everything that we do. Creating an extraordinary experience for clients creates an extraordinary work experience. 

What aspect of your work do you find most fulfilling? 

I enjoy playing a role in providing care to our client population, assisting in development of work processes, and helping to develop individuals and teams. I believe in “Being the change you want to see” and leading by example. 

How would you explain “The JCAH Difference” to a potential client or partner organization? 

We create exceptional relationships, hire quality staff, and we expect and provide a superior level of care. 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? 

I enjoy listening to music, snuggling with my senior cats and spending time with family and friends. 

If you could have one “superpower,” what would it be? 

I would like to have the superpower of telepathy. I could have a little fun with that in my personal and professional life.  

Tell us one amazing or little-known fact about yourself. 

Two of our cats have unique names: Stamps – named because my partner works for the USPS– and Mumble, who got her name because when she opens her mouth and tries to meow, she cannot. A tiny mumble sound comes out.  

Being a caregiver can be physically demanding. Whether you’re assisting a client with mobility, doing household chores, spending long hours on your feet or sitting in a chair, using proper body mechanics is important. Proper body mechanics help prevent injuries so that you can continue providing high-quality care. Here are some tips for maintaining body safety while sitting, standing, lifting, transferring clients, and performing household tasks. 

Understanding Body Mechanics 

“Body mechanics” means the way you move your body. By using correct body mechanics, you can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, which are common in caregiving. Here are some basic principles of body mechanics: 

• Maintain Neutral Spine Alignment: Keep your spine in a neutral position, with the natural curves of your neck, upper back, and lower back maintained. 

• Engage Your Core: Use the muscles in your abdomen and lower back to support your movements. 

• Use Your Legs: When lifting or lowering objects, bend your knees and use the strength of your legs rather than your back. 

• Keep Objects Close: Hold items close to your body to reduce strain on your back and arms. 

• Avoid Twisting: Turn your whole body by moving your feet instead of twisting your spine. 

Sitting and Standing for Long Periods 

Sitting or standing for extended periods can lead to discomfort and long-term issues like back pain or varicose veins. Here are some tips to stay safe: 

When Sitting: 

• Choose the Right Chair: Use a chair with good lumbar support. When you are seated, your feet should be flat on the floor, and your knees should be at a right angle. 

• Adjust Your Position: Change your sitting position every 30 minutes. Shift your weight, stand up, stretch, and take short walks if possible. 

• Use a Footrest: If your feet don’t reach the floor, use a footrest to keep your knees level with your hips. 

• Support Your Lower Back: Use a small pillow or lumbar roll to maintain the natural curve of your lower back. 

When Standing: 

• Wear Comfortable Shoes: Choose supportive, non-slip shoes to reduce foot and leg fatigue. 

• Shift Your Weight: Avoid standing in one position for too long. Shift your weight from one foot to the other or place one foot on a low stool and alternate. 

• Take Breaks: Incorporate regular breaks to sit down, stretch, and move around. 

Lifting and Transferring Clients 

Lifting and transferring clients are physically demanding tasks. Proper technique is essential to prevent injuries: 

• Plan Ahead: Assess the situation before you lift or transfer a client. Make sure you have enough space and remove any obstacles. 

• Get Close: Stand close to the client, facing them with your feet shoulder-width apart. 

• Bend Your Knees: Squat down by bending your knees, keeping your back straight, and using your core muscles. 

• Use a Gait Belt: If the client is able, use a gait belt to provide additional support and control during the transfer. 

• Lift with Your Legs: Push through your heels and use the strength of your legs to lift. Avoid using your back. 

• Communicate: Explain the process to the client and encourage them to assist as much as possible. 

• Use Assistive Devices: If the client has an order in place, you may use mechanical lift devices to assist with transfers. This reduces the physical strain on both you and the client.   

• Team Lifting: If the client is heavy or the situation is challenging, ask for help. Lifting with a partner can be safer and more effective. 

Completing Household Chores 

Household chores like cleaning and laundry can also pose physical risks. Here’s how to perform these tasks safely: 

Cleaning: 

• Avoid Overreaching: Use tools with long handles to avoid bending and stretching excessively. 

• Kneel on a Pad: When cleaning low areas, kneel on a padded surface to protect your knees. 

• Use Proper Tools: Choose lightweight, ergonomic cleaning tools that are easy to handle. 

• Maintain Neutral Spine: Keep your back straight and avoid twisting while cleaning. Move your whole body to face the task. 

Laundry: 

• Lift Properly: Use proper lifting techniques when handling laundry baskets. Bend your knees and lift with your legs. 

• Avoid Overloading: Don’t overfill laundry baskets or washing machines. Multiple trips with lighter loads are safer. 

• Use a Stool: When transferring clothes from the washer to the dryer, use a small stool to avoid bending over repeatedly. 

• Elevate the Task: If possible, raise the height of your laundry machines to reduce the need for bending. 

General Tips for Body Safety 

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your muscles and joints lubricated. 

• Stretch Regularly: Incorporate stretching exercises into your daily routine to maintain flexibility and reduce muscle tension. 

• Practice Good Posture: Whether sitting, standing, or moving, maintain good posture to prevent strain on your body. 

• Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to signs of fatigue and discomfort. Take breaks and rest when needed. 

• Seek Training: Participate in training sessions on body mechanics and safe handling techniques provided by JCAH staff. 

By following these practical tips and maintaining awareness of your body mechanics, you can significantly reduce the risk of injury. Remember, taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your clients. Stay safe and stay healthy! 

By Thomas H.

Many people think of PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as a condition that affects veterans who have been in combat. It’s true that veterans are more likely to experience PTSD, but non-veterans also get PTSD. In fact, anyone who has suffered trauma can develop PTSD. 

PTSD Facts 

As we recognize June as PTSD Awareness Month here are some essential facts about this condition. 

• PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of gender, nationality, or ethnicity. 
• A bit less than 10% of people will be diagnosed with PTSD during their lifetime  
• Most of us will have at least one traumatic event that could lead to PTSD.   
• Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men.  
• Members of certain minority groups are more likely to be affected than white males.  

SOURCE: American Psychiatric Association (https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd) 

Events that can trigger PTSD include natural disasters, serious accidents, physical or sexual abuse, and the sudden death of a loved one, to name a few.  

The good news is that many people who experience PTSD recover if they undergo treatment. Treatment can include psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication, and lifestyle changes.  

Learning to recognize the signs of PTSD is the first step towards helping yourself or a loved one. If you have had a traumatic experience and you have some of the following symptoms, you should get professional help to find out if you have PTSD. 

PTSD Symptoms 

• Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again 
• Trouble sleeping or nightmares 
• Feeling alone or detached from others 
• Losing interest in activities 
• Angry outbursts or other extreme reactions 
• Feeling worried, guilty, or sad 
• Frightening thoughts 
• Trouble concentrating 
• Physical pain like headaches or stomach aches 
• Avoidance of memories, thoughts, or feelings about a traumatic event 
• Problems remembering 
• Negative beliefs about yourself or others 
• Irritability 
• Feeling vigilant or “on edge” 
• Startling easily 

SOURCE: adapted from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder 

Get Screened 

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, your primary care doctor can do an initial screening for PTSD. Your doctor will ask you a series of questions about events you may have experienced and how you are feeling. Your doctor will discuss the results of your screening with you. If you have screened “positive” for PTSD, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional. The mental health professional will confirm your diagnosis and speak with you about treatment options.  

If you are concerned about symptoms you are having but cannot see your doctor right away, The National Center for PTSD at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (The VA) offers an online “self-screen.” (https://www.ptsd.va.gov/screen/) This screen can help you find out if your symptoms may be related to PTSD. Keep in mind that only a trained health professional can diagnose PTSD accurately. 

The most important thing to remember is this: people who get PTSD can recover with treatment. June 27, 2024 is National PTSD Screening Day. There is no better time to find out if you are suffering from PTSD and take steps towards recovery. 

Home care  from JEVS Care at Home helps adults with disabilities, senior citizens, and others lead full and independent lives. For more information, contact us today: https://www.jevshumanservices.org/jevs-care-at-home-form/   

By Thomas H. 

JCAH was excited to host Dr. Rida Fatima, who is part of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s professional exchange program. In this program, “emerging leaders” from around the world visit Philadelphia each year to learn from local businesses and organizations and share their experiences. Dr. Fatima is from Karachi, Pakistan, where she works in the civil service. She helps local government work with regional and national authorities and oversees certain programs and services. She also writes reports that help shape policies and improve processes. Dr. Fatima is very interested in education and health. At JCAH, Nurse Kim St. Peter hosted her, arranged meetings with the JCAH team, and showed her the training provided to caregivers. Dr. Fatima kindly shared her experiences with us.

What influenced your decision to spend your time with JEVS Care at Home? 

Actually, the program selected JEVS Care at Home for me. This was the first time I had applied for the program, and, thankfully, I was selected. I am a doctor; I am an Assistant Director in my work. I have my masters, and I am doing another master’s in public health. So, based on these things the program chose JEVS Care at Home, because it would be relatable. 

Tell us a bit about your work.  

Back in Pakistan. I am currently working in the civil service. I am Assistant Director in local government in Karachi, where I am supervising Union Committees, which are the basic unit of any local government. I currently supervise 43 Union Committees in the East District of Karachi. 

I coordinate communication and collaboration between the union committees, other government authorities, and elected officials. Sometimes I am asked to supervise, to see if the union committees are operating as they should. We also have what are called TMCs, Town Municipal Corporations. They can collect taxes for example. I don’t directly supervise TMCs, but my superiors can assign me tasks that are related to them.  Just before coming to the US, for example, I completed a taxation proposal based on a visit to 5 TMCs. The population served by a TMC might be 50,000 or sometimes 80,000, or more. I looked at how taxes are collected, listened to ideas for improving tax collection, and incorporated the TMCs’s suggestions into a proposal I submitted to my superiors.  

How does your work relate to public health?  

Broadly speaking there are issues that are related to public health. For instance, a recent task was to inspect some schools and dispensaries. What is the condition? What is the enrollment? Is there clean drinking water? Are they planning any immunizations? How many children or newborn babies are coming? So, these are some things that I might do that are related to public health. We are trying our best so that we can make improvements.

You’ve had a chance during your time with us to learn about home care and how home care is provided. Are things similar or different in Pakistan? 

Our two societies are totally different. A lot of people in Pakistan who are aging are aging in a family home. That is generally the case in Karachi. As someone ages they are likely to live with a daughter or son, or granddaughter or grandson and receive support through the family. 

This kind of support is very strong in Karachi and in the in whole of Pakistan. But there are certain exceptions, for example, if a person has no children and they are unable to take care of themselves, then there are homes for the aged. What JEVS Care at Home does is not common in Pakistan. 

Tell me about some of the things you’ve learned since you’ve been here. 

I have learned so many things. The first thing is that the working environment is not so formal here. And that is a good thing. I was very relaxed, and people are people are welcoming and receptive. Whenever I asked for help, people have been more than willing. More specifically, I met with Tony [Marinello], and he showed me some basics of financial management. Earlier I met with Ryan Loesser [VP of Home Care]. And he is exceptional in data analytics. I love the software you are using. I was very impressed that you can enter data and it immediately becomes a graph.  

I have learned much about communication in an office such as yours, and also how you must coordinate with private companies. This is very different from Pakistan.  

Also, I have spent much of my time with Nurse Kim [St. Peter], and I told her that I was interested in learning CPR. I am a doctor, but I have not learned this yet in my training, so Nurse Kim has arranged to teach me.

I have learned so much. The environment [of the JCAH office] is very new for me. I have been very impressed by how well organized you are and how smoothly things operate as you serve more than 800 clients. Also, I’m impressed how you prioritize employee well-being. Oh, and  I have also learned how to make coffee with the Keurig! Your kitchen is so good. I liked it very much! [Laughs]  

How will you use the things that you’ve learned here at JCAH in your work back home? 

My experience has confirmed my interest in education and health. I received some great advice about communication and collaboration, and I have seen how different software can make some tasks so much easier. I have learned many things here that will help me improve my personal and professional skills. 

By Thomas H

Cataracts: what aging adults and caregivers need to know  

Changes in vision can make life more challenging, especially for aging adults. If you are caring for a loved one, it’s important to ask them about any changes in their vision and make sure they see an ophthalmologist for regular check-ups. It’s also important to know about some basic steps that everyone can take to protect their eyes as they age.  

Cataracts: 

Cataracts is one of the most common medical disorders that affect our eyes. With cataracts, the lens of the eye gets cloudy, causing blurred vision. Imagine trying to look through frosted glass instead of a clear, clean windowpane.  Cataracts typically happen to older adults. In the US, Roughly 24 million people over the age of 40 have cataracts. According to the National Eye Institute, by age 80, most people either have cataracts or have had cataract surgery. Surgery for cataracts is common and highly effective. Still, cataracts is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. 

Cataract Risk Factors: 

In addition to age, there are several risk factors for cataracts. They can be hereditary. Also, people with diabetes are more likely to get cataracts. Here are some other factors that can elevate our risk for cataracts:  

• Exposure to UV rays 

• Inflamed eye(s) 

• Injured eyes 

• Drinking too much alcohol 

• Taking steroid medications 

Symptoms of Cataracts:

Cataract symptoms can take years to develop, or they make come on relatively quickly once a cataract develops. Every person is different.  

According to the Mayo Clinic the following are common signs of cataracts: 

• Clouded, blurred or dim vision. 

• Trouble seeing at night. 

• Sensitivity to light and glare. 

• Need for brighter light for reading and other activities. 

• Seeing “halos” around lights. 

• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription. 

• Fading or yellowing of colors. 

• Double vision in one eye. 

SOURCE: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353790  

There can be other reasons for these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of them see a board-certified ophthalmologist to find out if you have cataracts or need to be screened for another medical condition. 

Tips for Protecting Your Eyes: 

Get in the habit of protecting your eyes from injury and risk factors related to cataracts. Here are some tips from JCAH’s Nurse Kim: 

• Wear sunglasses and/or a hat while in the sun to protect your eyes against heat and UV rays. 

• See your ophthalmologist right away if you have been experiencing puffy, itching or burning eyes. 

• Wear protective eye coverings whenever there is a risk of “getting something in your eye” or injuring your eye.  

Cataracts Treatment: 

Currently, surgery is the only effective way to treat cataracts. According to The National Eye Institute, cataract surgery is very safe and it improves the vision of 9 out of 10 people. During the surgery, “the doctor removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a new, artificial lens (also called an intraocular lens, or IOL).” SOURCE: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts The surgery is done as an outpatient procedure. It can take as little as 10 or 15 minutes. After surgery there can be minor side effects. According to The Cleveland Clinic, it’s normal to experience blurry vision for several days or longer, but this will gradually go away as you recover. Redness, watery eyes, and eyes that feel “gritty” are other common, temporary side effects.    

 

Remember: be good to your eyes and get in the habit of protecting them from possible harm. And if you or someone you care for are having any problems with your vision, see an ophthalmologist right away! 

JCAH provides award-winning home care to seniors and adults with disabilities. Our services are available at no-cost to eligible veterans and qualified Medicaid recipients. For more information, get in touch today:  https://www.jevshumanservices.org/jevs-care-at-home-form/  

 

 

 

Thomas H. and Nurse Kim