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Peninsula Home Care Area Director of Operations, Nancy Bagwell was excited to present Miranda Wood with her "Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year" plaque and gift. We are so grateful to have her as part of the team!
The next Delmarva Shorebirds Silver Sluggers game is April 25. Join now to get this FREE limited edition cap from Peninsula Home Care and join us for a members' reception before the game, too. We'll be at the park "Going Above and Beyond ... for YOU!"
Who's ready for some baseball??? Peninsula Home Care is proud to sponsor the Delmarva Shorbirds Silver Sluggers... the premier club on the Eastern Shore for seniors 55 and up. Win prizes, play baseball BINGO and so much more! Call 410-219-3112 today!
99% of Americans age 40 and older have had chickenpox even if they don't remember it. Here's why the CDC is recommending those age 50 and older get the new shingles vaccine - whether or not you remember those little red bumps or not.
Why You Should Get the New Shingles Vaccine
nytimes.com
People 50 and older should get the new shingles vaccine whether or not they remember having had chickenpox as a child, experts say.Terrific first Silver Sluggers game at Delmarva Shorebirds! We gave out nearly 500 hats to Silver Sluggers ticket holders and watched the 'Birds win their 7th in a row, shattering the old season start record! Still a great deal to join - get 8 games for the price of 3, claim your free hat and have a chance to win some prizes. Call 410-219-3112 for details.
Congratulations are in order for our "Outstanding OT's of the Year!"
A round of applause for Miranda Wood of the Salisbury/Ocean Pines Branch and Helen Serrano of the Peninsula Home Care Nanticoke Branch in Seaford.
A round of applause for Miranda Wood who works out of our Salisbury and Ocean Pines branch offices for being the 2018 Outstanding OT of the Year!
Here's what her coworkers had to say about her...
“Miranda is caring, reliable and has great clinical skills. She likes to collaborate and is a good communicator with her team.”
“Through creative thinking, she developed some adaptive equipment for some of her patients.”
“Miranda is always flexible with her schedule which directly benefits her patients and other clinicians.”
Happy World Health Day!
To celebrate... try these SuperFoods to keep your heart healthy and happy!
World Health Day 2018: Eat these superfoods for a healthy heart
zeenews.india.com
Who doesn't want to have a healthy heart? Well, everyone does but hearing news about people suffering from heart problems has become quite a common thing of late. It is mainly because of their sedentary lifestyle and unwanted stress. One needs to consume heart-healthy foods which can help you lead a...About a third of Medicare's 61 million subscribers opt for Medicare Advantage, which can now be used for all kinds of health-related options, including some groceries.
Medicare Advantage Plans Cleared To Go Beyond Medical Coverage — Even Groceries
khn.org
Under new federal rules unveiled this week, these privately run alternatives to traditional Medicare might provide air conditioners, rides to medical appointments and home-delivered meals.Congratulations to Helen Serrano in our Seaford branch for being recognized as the 2018 Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year!
Helen was nominated by her peers and here's what they had to say about her...
“Helen exemplifies professionalism through her clinical expertise, excellent customer service and investment in patient outcomes.”
“A great mentor, Helen is kind, approachable, a team player and dedicated to occupational therapy.”
We've all had cuts and scrapes that we can take care of at home. But what about more serious wounds — the kind that involve stitches or a hospital stay?
A process called "Negative Pressure Wound Care" can help heal those wounds much faster than your traditional wound care dressings.
Peninsula Home Care is the first home care agency to bring this type of care into the home.
Learn more from our latest Delmarva Life segment...
A new Medicare Card may be coming your way! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing new cards that do not include social security numbers to protect seniors from identity theft. A unique, randomly-assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), will replace the Social Security # on the card.
What better time to sign up to be a Silver Slugger than Opening Day! Check out all of the perks that come along with being a part of the club! Get in the game... sign up today!
Hot off the press... the Spring issue of Peninsula Home Care's newsletter!
Read all about it!
• How PHC is treating wounds to heal faster
• "Get in the game" with the Delmarva Shorebirds
• Upcoming events you won't want to miss!
www.peninsulahomecare.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PHC-newsletter-Spring-2018.pdf
Today at 5pm on Delmarva Life find out how Peninsula Home Care is using negative pressure to promote positive healing for wound care patients.
Blood pressure, oxygen saturation and weight are all very important measurements for individuals with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Peninsula Home Care at Nanticoke's branch director Beverly White and account manager Andrew Wile had an opportunity to educate attendants at the Nanticoke Health Fair about the importance of self-monitoring measurements to detect CHF, a common chronic disease.
Congratulations to our partner, Steven Rose, RN; MN, and President and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services, on being named among the Top 50 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know. We're certainly glad we know him!
ROSE AMONG TOP 50 RURAL HOSPITAL CEO’S TO KNOW FOR 5th TIME | Nanticoke Health Services
nanticoke.org
Becker’s Hospital Review has named Steven Rose, RN, MN, President and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services, to its list of “50 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know.” This is the 5th consecutive year Mr. Rose…Continue Reading ››It may officially be Spring but "Baby it's cold outside!"
PRMC's Chris Hall and Roger Follebout are prepared for Mother Nature and what she plans on bringing to the Peninsula.
Check out the limited edition baseball hat you get when you become a Delmarva Shorebird Silver Slugger! If you are a senior 55+ and up, become a member and you'll get tickets to nine Shorebirds games, exclusive opportunities to win signed memorabilia during the season and you can play Baseball Bingo and win prizes. They even host a kick off party for club members and give you a chance to throw out the first pitch! Don't wait... sign up today!
For more information about the Silver Sluggers program, contact the Shorebirds' front office at 410-219-3112.
Busy morning at Peninsula Home Care! Shooting our next Delmarva Life segment on a type of wound care that is helping patients heal faster and more comfortably. Stand by for the air date!
We wanted to share this post with our followers on what your pharmacist CAN'T tell you. Take a look!
A recent article in the New York Times explains how pharmacists are being controlled to "stay quiet" even when they know how to help customers save money on their medications.
There is real demand for CNAs and GNAs - and these jobs can lead to others. If you are considering a career change, this program may be for you.Mark your calendar or share with someone you know! Financial assistance and scholarships are available!
We are always looking to learn new things and share with our team. Our MD & DE staff enjoyed speaker Charles Marshall's humor and listening to him talk about the importance of customer service.
We're a sponsor of this great deal - will we see you at the ballpark? Nine games for $20 or $25 TOTAL per person for the season!Silver Sluggers is the premier club on the Eastern Shore for seniors 55+. Membership includes tickets to seven Wednesday Shorebirds games (excluding July 4th), an afternoon game on Mon, May 28th and an evening game on Tues, June 26th. Members receive a FREE limited edition Shorebirds Hat and exclusive opportunities to win signed memorabilia during the season. Each Silver Sluggers game features Baseball Bingo. The Silver Sluggers program is made possible by Peninsula Home Care in Maryland and at Nanticoke - home health care that goes "Above and Beyond for You!"
Buy now: bit.ly/2AocbBO
Our senior staff wants to remind you as "Heart Month" ends that your focus on heart health should never stop! Here are 5 things to do daily:
1) Eat healthy fats, not trans fats (read processed food packs)
2) Brush and floss daily to ward off bacteria in gums
3) Get 7-8 hours of sleep
4) Move hourly, especially if you're seated for work
5) Avoid second hand smoke (and quit if you're a smoker)
Hands to heart, these can make a difference!
If you live or work in Somerset County and are looking for a way to make a difference in your community, this might be your opportunity.Looking for a way to give back to the community, help others and make new friends? McCready's Volunteer Program continues to grow, and is currently accepting new volunteers.
Retired professionals such as teachers, nurses and physical therapists, McCready volunteers serve in various positions throughout McCready Hospital, Alice B. Tawes Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Chesapeake Cove Assisted Living. They read books to and play cards and board games with residents as part of the Activities Program, welcome patients and assist visitors at the welcome desk in our main lobby, help staff with administrative tasks and special projects, transport patients and residents throughout the facility, and more.
McCready volunteers who met for a recent meeting include (from left to right) Randy Demers (Resident Transporter), Laura Beveridge (Activities Program and Physical Therapy), Alicia Hoover (Medical Records), Bev Amir (Medical-Surgical Unit), Bunny Lokey (Welcome Desk), Rev. Christine Mottl (Chaplain) and Marguerite Robinson (Welcome Desk). Volunteers Ann Renois (Timekeeper), Sue Lehman (Welcome Desk), Lorna Graham (Activities) and Donna Clark (Medical Records) were unavailable for the photo.
To learn more about volunteering at McCready Health, visit mccreadyhealth.org or call (410) 968-1200 and ask for Suzanne Tyler or Margie Morgan.
This exercise crew at MAC Inc wants you to KNOW YOUR NUMBERS so you can identify if you are in a healthy or unhealthy blood pressure range.
Here's the breakdown for blood pressure categories:
Normal - Less than 120 over Less than 80
Elevated - 120-129 over Less than 80
High Blood Pressure Stage 1 - 130-139 (upper #) or 80-89 (lower #)
High Blood Pressure Stage 2 - 140 or Higher or 90 or Higher
Hypertensive Crisis - Higher than 180 and/or Higher than 120
A stressful day in the office can boost the heart rate of the Procino-Wells & Woodland team in Seaford. How do you know your own heart rate? It takes 2 simple steps:
Take your pulse on the inside of your wrist, on the thumb side.
Use the tips of your first two fingers (not your thumb) and press lightly over the artery.
Count your pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 to find your beats per minute.
Check out this website so you know what your target heart rate should be... healthyforgood.heart.org/move-more/articles/target-heart-rates
The team at Nanticoke Health Services wants to help you be in the zone of your target heart rate.
First you should know more about your resting heart rate.
Your resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re at rest. A good time to check it is in the morning after you’ve had a good night’s sleep, before you get out of bed or grab that first cup of coffee.
For most of us, between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) is normal. The rate can be affected by factors like stress, anxiety, hormones, medication, and how physically active you are.
When it comes to resting heart rate, lower is better. It usually means your heart muscle is in better condition and doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a steady beat.
Pictured L-R: Lilia Kulmaczewski, RN, MHA, CPHQ, Chief Compliance Officer; Lori Lee, Lori Lee, RN, BSN, AVP of Nursing; Tres Pelot, RRT, AVP of Clinical Services; Penny Short, RN, BSN
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Nursing Officer; Tom Brown, Senior VP & President of Nanticoke Physician Network
Lynn Harman, Executive Director of the Western Sussex Chamber of Commerce reminds us to tell you that Peninsula offers free blood pressure screenings in Maryland and Delaware each month. Check the calendar on our website for more: www.peninsulahomecare.com/community-calendar/
Sherman the Shorebird of the Delmarva Shorebirds knows that heart disease is "fowl" play as do team GM Chris Bitters and Assistant GM Jimmy Sweet! They know too much salt can "foul" healthy dishes because when you eat too much salt, the extra water stored in your body raises your blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the greater the strain on your heart, arteries and kidneys which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. Foods with less than 120 mg sodium per 100 grams are considered low in salt.
Even as busy as Seaford Mayor David Genshaw gets... he knows the better night’s sleep you get, the healthier your heart will be!
Here are some tips for falling asleep earlier and staying asleep longer:
• Exercise: Try getting adequate exercise. According to the American Heart Association, it is important to schedule in 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise at least three to four times per week.
• Avoid excess stimulants, such as caffeine, especially before bed.
• Establish an evening routine: Have an evening routine of preparing for bed that includes turning off electronic devices and having soothing activities such as a hot shower or bath, drinking chamomile or herbal tea, reading or meditating.
• Stay away from sleep medication. Medicated sleep aids may help in the short term, but recent studies have shown drugs to have adverse effects on users.
• Make sure you work with your doctor to determine why you aren’t sleeping.
Is it really anxiety - or could it be a silent heart attack?
Maybe something you would see an interview on with Jimmy Hoppa and Lisa Bryant on WBOC's Delmarva Life.
Here’s what you should know about silent heart attacks to protect yourself…
• A silent heart attack happens when the flow of blood is blocked in the coronary arteries by a build-up of plaque.
• Some studies suggest that silent heart attacks are more common in women than in men. Women may also be more likely to chalk up symptoms of a silent heart attack to anxiety and dismiss them.
• The risk factors for a silent heart attack are the same as those for a recognized heart attack, and include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, family history of heart disease, obesity and age.
• A silent heart attack can be just as dangerous as its more obvious counterpart because the event often leaves scarring and damage to the heart, it puts the person at greater risk of other heart problems.
What to do during a silent heart attack - Advocate for yourself!
If you do notice symptoms of a silent heart attack, try to stay calm and call 911 immediately. When you get to the hospital, make it clear that you think you may be having a heart attack and not an anxiety attack.
How to prevent a silent heart attack
In addition to knowing the risk factors - listen to your body, and if something isn’t right, talk to a doctor.
These brave Peninsula Home Care at Nanticoke souls took the Polar Bear Plunge earlier this frigid February in support of Special Olympics of Delaware.
Air temperature = 41 degrees
Water temperature = 31 degrees
Plungers included Cassidy White, Bev White, Patti Jo Harding and Valerie Roth
Team support for pictures, towels and cheerleading provided by Edee Elliott.
It's all in the numbers says Salisbury Mayor Jake Day.
Cholesterol levels and blood pressure are important when considering heart health. Here's a breakdown of what factors can increase the risk for heart disease:
High LDL "bad" cholesterol (greater than 100 mg/dL)
High triglycerides (greater than 150 mg/dL)
Low HDL "good" cholesterol (less than 60 mg/dL)
High blood pressure (greater than 120/80)
This February do something good for your heart! Come to one of our free blood pressure screenings. They are open to the public in a town near you!
peninsulahomecare.com
SALISBURY, MD – What better gift this Valentine’s Day than a lifetime of heart health. Throughout the month of February Peninsula Home Care is helping by offering free blood pressure screenings in recognition of National Heart Month. High blood pressure often shows no signs or symptoms, whic.....We are so happy our team could help Wendell get back to doing the things he loves. Thank you Wendell for sharing your story!
Bull, our downtown Salisbury Bike Cop wants to remind you to exercise to keep your heart healthy!
Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure and improve your breathing.
Running, jogging, and biking are some examples. You're moving fast enough to raise your heart rate and breathe harder, but you should still be able to talk to someone while you're doing it.
Can better prepping of seniors who need surgery lead to less hospital time, fewer readmissions and better outcomes? Research shows there are benefits. If you are planning a surgery, read about how you might prep before; then consider our locally owned, award-winning service to help you recover after as quickly as possible.
A Push To Get Older Adults In Better Shape For Surgery
khn.org
Some hospitals now focus on preparing seniors for the risks and realities of surgical care.We're seeing red! Today kicks off Heart Health Month. Celebrating with us are Brenda Givens, Fran Todd and Bobbi Jo Tice from Nanticoke Senior Center. They're wearing their bright red Peninsula Home Care at Nanticoke gloves to remind folks to take care of their hearts because heart disease is the #1 cause of death for men and women in the United States. We will be offering tips for keeping your heart healthy all month.
Jolted awake at night from leg cramps? This article has useful info (70% of people don't get enough magnesium; who knew?) - but check with your doctor before adding supplements to your diet. If your cramping is accompanied by balance issues, our Otago Fall Prevention program may be able to help stabilize your balance and strengthen your legs. Call us at 410-543-7550 - no obligation.
Here's Why Your Legs Always Cramp At Night—And How To Make The Pain Go Away
prevention.com
Leg cramps are common, but getting rid of them can be tricky.You have spent a lifetime acquiring, managing and protecting credit. Equifax has expanded its free "freeze" program (which was triggered by the data breach) by six months. Here are details, including how to check and freeze your credit if you want to. Just remember: save that 10 digit pin somewhere safe!
How to Freeze Your Credit With Equifax - NerdWallet
nerdwallet.com
If you’re looking to keep your credit data from being accessed, the best way to protect it is a credit freeze, also known as a security freeze. Credit monitoring, another…Peninsula Home Care Named “Agency of the Month” by the
Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign
SALISBURY, MD – Home care professionals are often the first line of defense in preventing hospital readmissions because they see first-hand what a patient deals with in the home setting during the recovery period. Peninsula Home Care, is being recognized on a national stage for qualifying as “Agency of the Month” by the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) Network. They are being recognized for their efforts in reducing hospital readmissions and oral medication management. Peninsula Home Care ranked in the 20% in Acute-Care Hospitalization (ACH) and the 80% in Oral Medication Management rates.
We are honored to be acknowledged by HHQI as it has created a collaborative effort among healthcare providers to create evidence based best practices to help reduce the number of readmissions associated with medication management,” said Nancy Bagwell, are director of operations, Peninsula Home Care. “We will continue to work diligently to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in our community.”
Peninsula Home Care took into account all risk levels from insufficient funds for medication and lack of transportation and missed follow up doctor appointments to fall risks and other chronic disease symptoms. Peninsula Home Care was recognized for initiating the following Best Practices in efforts to reduce hospital readmissions:
1) Screening patients upon admission for high risk of re-hospitalization and tailoring care to meet the individual needs of the patient
2) Establishing communication along the continuum of care for the patient (i.e. our team with primary care physician, surgeon, specialist, etc.) as needed and appropriate
3) Planning in the transition of care from hospital to home
4) Ensuring the patient, family, and caregivers are participating in the plan of care for recovery and using methods such as "teach back" to educate the patient, family and/or caregiver
5) Medication reconciliation completed within 48 hours of discharge / Medication Management
6) Notifying physicians if a patient is identified as "high risk for readmission"
7) Assisting the patient with establishing and preparing for follow-up appointments
8) Using interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care
9) Implementation of telehealth to assist patients in learning signs and symptoms of exacerbation and maintenance of disease process to increase patient accountability
10) Making patients aware that PHC is available 24/7 and to reach out before going to the ER
11) Comprehensive discharge planning (i.e. facilitating discharges to rehab facility such as Genesis or nursing homes with detailed instructions and partnership or referral to other community healthcare providers.
“It starts with our very first visit to a patient’s home,” added Bagwell. “Medication management can be confusing especially to the many home care patients that are on complicated drug regimes. Our team is dedicated to assessing both the patient and caregiver’s ability to administer medications, perform a medication reconciliation, and seek to identify risk of nonadherence.
By tracking patients, the PHC team was able to proactively intervene, communicate challenges to doctors and other healthcare providers and develop a plan for the coordination of care that would best fit the patients’ needs at home.
Maybe you shake hands as a symbol of sharing peace with those around you at your church. Some churches have decided to exclude this part of the service to protect you from the flu.
Flu outbreak prompts precautions including at some churches
abcnews.go.com
Flu epidemic alters Masses at Catholic churches in Buffalo as bishop suspends sipping wine from communion cups and shaking hands as a sign of peacePeninsula Home Care's next television commercial is in production! Stay tuned for the debut later this month!
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma typically results from abnormally high pressure inside your eye. The good news - If it’s caught early, you can prevent additional vision loss.
The best way to catch any type of glaucoma early is through annual preventive eye care appointments. Simple tests performed during these routine eye checks may be able to detect damage from glaucoma before it advances and begins causing vision loss.
The winter weather has made it tough getting out of the house lately. When you aren't soaking in the sunshine it could mean you are lacking vitamin D which puts you at a greater risk for catching a cold.
To help, make sure you maintain a balanced diet with foods that are rich in vitamin D. This includes beef, fish, milk, yogurt and breakfast staples such as OJ, eggs, oatmeal and cereal. Consider pudding made with milk for dessert!
We've been sharing safe snow shoveling tips with you this week and these next two may be some of the most important ones to keep in mind.
Take rest breaks and be sure to stay hydrated
You may not realize how much you are actually exerting when you shovel snow. Drink before you get thirsty to avoid dehydration and rest to stay strong and refreshed.
Delegate
Delegate shoveling if you have a cardiac history, lower back problems, or are suffering from a shoulder or knee injury.
For the full list of tips go to: bit.ly/2lYJbXo
peninsulahomecare.com
Snow can be pretty heavy, especially the wet stuff. So if you haven’t been working out regularly or maybe never really thought about the “safe” way to shovel snow, you may end up hurting yourself. Here are some tips to help you prevent waking up with those aches and pains after a full day .....
