Health Care Training Center Granted License from Florida Board Of Education

Sarasota, July 14, 2010 RIGHT ACCORD TRAINING CENTER a division of RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care has met substantially all the standards for licensure. The Florida Board of Education -  Commission for Independent Education has voted to grant the license.

RIGHT ACCORD TRAINING CENTER is a health care training institute dedicated to shaping excellent health care providers. The training center offers Home Health Aide (HHA) 40 and 75 hour Courses, Certified Nursing Assistant (C N A) Course and Certified Companion Aide (CCA) Course. The training center also offers CPR / First Aid Training and Continuing Education Courses to meet state licensure annual mandatory requirements for health care professionals.

To work in a licensed-only agency the home health aide must complete at least 40 hours of training or successfully complete a competency test given by the home health agency.  Some home health agencies require additional training above these minimum hours.

To work for a Medicare or Medicaid home health agency, a home health aide must complete at least 75 hours of training and/or successfully complete a competency evaluation given by the home health agency.

To work as a home health aide in home care, a home health aide must provide documentation of successful completion of at least 40 hours of home health aide training by a public vocational technical school or a private career education school licensed by the Florida Department of Education.

RIGHT ACCORD TRAINING CENTER engages, equips, and empowers students to fulfill their ambitions and to serve the society. Believing that each person possesses natural strengths and developing abilities which can lead to a full and satisfying life, RIGHT ACCORD TRAINING CENTER educates students who represent a wide range of ages, achievements, and expectations. Committed to the development of the whole person- mind, body and spirit – and to preparing students for responsible citizenship in their communities and in a diverse changing world.

To inquire or register for a course, please visit www.RightAccordTrainingCenter.com

The Company can be reached at (941)366-0801.

For further information contact:
Rosemarie Tamunday-Casanova, Administrator
(941) 366-0801
Email: rose@rightaccordhealth.com
www.RightAccordHealth.com

July 19, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Good Deed to Benefit Local Organization

Sarasota, June 23, 2010 RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care

Kathryn Larkin, Client Relations & HR Manager of RIGHT ACCORD Private- Duty Home Health Care, participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) by being “locked-up in jail” in order to raise bail to benefit children with MDA. Larkin raised $230 and the funds will be able to help a child with one group session and one physical, occupational or respiratory therapy consultation.

The organization can be reached at www.mda.org

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care provides an affordable solution for older individuals or couples capable of managing their physical needs or personal care, but who require non-medical assistance, light housework, meal preparation and/or companionship in order to remain at home. Right Accord provides services in Sarasota, Bradenton, Longboat Key, Venice, Siesta Key, Casey Key, North Port and neighboring towns.

RIGHT ACCORD services can be arranged for as little as three hours, or for as many as 24 hours, a day. Short term assistance or longer term care is available seven days a week, including holidays.

When a potential client contacts the company, RIGHT ACCORD will arrange a meeting with the client and his or her families to discuss what services are needed. “Cost is on an hourly basis, “Tamunday-Casanova said, “so hours can be decreased or increased based on changing needs.”

The company’s Caregivers are carefully selected individuals who are thoroughly screened, bonded and insured. “Special attention is given to matching Caregivers with clients to achieve the utmost compatibility, “Tamunday – Casanova said.

The Company can be reached at (941)366-0801.

May 12, 2010

(941)366-0801

www.RightAccordHealth.com

Local Critical Care Nurse Recognized for Career Milestone

Rosemarie Tamunday-Casanova, Administrator of Right Accord Private Duty-Home Health Care, a licensed Home Health Agency providing in-home care assistance to seniors  in Sarasota, Florida received notional recognition for reaching a significant milestone in the nursing profession: Since 1990 she has consistently maintained CCRN^R Certification offered through AACN Certification Corporation. Rosemarie is one of 1,432 CCRNs being honored this year by the corporation and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for 20 years of continuous certification.

CCRN certification is an expert credential reserved for those who meet rigorous practice, continuing education and testing requirements in their specialty; it is not the same as an RN license, which assures the public that a nurse has the required entry-level knowledge and skills to care for patients. Certification has been linked to fewer medical errors and increased job satisfaction and confidence. Hospitals that encourage and support their nurses in becoming certified demonstrate to their patients a high level of commitment to creating an exceptional care environment and, to their nurses, a culture of professionalism and retention imperative in today’s healthcare environment.

For more information, contact Right Accord at 366-0801 or visit www.RightAccordHealth.com.

^RThe American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world representing the interests of more than 50,000 critical care nurses. Its international headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, California. Founded in 1969, the association has more than 240 chapters worldwide and is working toward a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families, where critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. Complete information about AACN is available on the Internet at www.aacn.org.

AACN Certification Corporation provides comprehensive credentialing for nurses who establish and maintain standards of excellence in acute and critical care nursing and who contribute to the achievement of optimal health outcomes for persons experiencing acute and life-threatening illness. The corporation certifies more than 59,000 nurses in the areas of acute and critical care nursing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Selecting a Partner in Home Care for the Elderly

With 80 percent of middle aged couples having at least one living parent, many people are learning to adjust to the reversing roles of child and parent by confronting the demands of caring for those who once took care of them.

Adult daughters typically assume the major responsibilities for parent care giving. For most women, these duties are added to an already full roster, at home, at the office, or both.

Women frequently report that they sacrifice their personal time, privacy, peace of mind, freedom and personal plans to assist her and/or his elderly parents. Some people assume the responsibility because they feel able and willing. Others feel bound by duty

It’s estimated that up to seven million women are unpaid caregivers to the elderly. They struggle to cope with the exhaustion, loneliness, mental and physical demands, and heartbreak of watching a loved one grow weaker. They need help desperately!

Seniors and families seeking for outside help rely on professionals for in-home care assistance. Unfortunately, many families don’t know how to “shop” for home care. The only question they know how to ask is ‘What do you charge?”

One of the most difficult challenges you face when caring for an aging parent is finding good, quality home care company. Whether you need full time care or just a little extra help to fill in the gaps, when you can’t be there, you are making a serious decision.

Today many companies that provide caregivers do so with the bare minimum standards of screening and selection. Most companies offer criminal background checks, certification checks and reference checks. Some companies also use drug screenings and/or an elder abuse check. Unfortunately, these minimum standards only screen out applicants who are “caught in the act” of doing wrong. A small handful companies are raising the bar on these standards and RIGHT ACCORD is implementing a system called Caregiver Quality Assurance (CQA) to raise that bar.

The Caregiver Quality Assurance (CQA) program is designed to identify home care companies and companion care companies that go above and beyond the norm when selecting quality caregivers. Home care companies like RIGHT ACCORD implementing Home Care Caregiver Selection System are using the latest technology to assure that the people caring for your loved one are trustworthy, dependable, and have the attitude and personality skills needed to provide top quality care. Virtually nothing is more important than selecting the right people to care for your loved ones. Whether you need homemaker services, in-home personal care or companion care, identifying companies that provide only quality caregivers can be a difficult challenge.

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care provides an affordable solution for older individuals or couples capable of managing their physical needs, but who require non-medical assistance, personal care assistance, light housework, meal preparation and/or companionship in order to remain at home in Sarasota and Manatee Counties in Florida.

According to Tamunday-Casanova, RIGHT ACCORD services can be arranged for as little as three hours, or for as many as 24 hours, a day. Short term assistance or longer term care is available seven days a week, including holidays.

When a potential client contacts the company, Tamunday-Casanova will arrange a meeting with the client and his or her families to discuss what services are needed. “Cost is on an hourly basis, “Tamunday-Casanova said, “ so hours can be decreased or increased based on changing needs.”

The company’s Caregivers are carefully selected individuals who are thoroughly screened, employed, bonded and insured. “Special attention is given to matching Caregivers with clients to achieve the utmost compatibility, “Tamunday-Casanova said.

]]> http://rightaccordhealth.com/selecting-a-partner-in-home-care-for-the-elderly/feed 0 http://rightaccordhealth.com/dignified-transportation-available-for-seniors-in-sarasota http://rightaccordhealth.com/dignified-transportation-available-for-seniors-in-sarasota#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:13:44 +0000 admin http://rightaccordhealth.com/?p=528 Senior mobility is an issue that affects everyone particularly at the age when decline in physical functions start to appear.

According to local statistics, Sarasota County has the largest percentage of older adults in the nation. It is the third largest county in the United States  with older adults.

More than 30 percent of the population  in Sarasota is over 65 years old and over 45 percent of all household include someone over 65 years of age.

According to National statistics conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10,000 Americans will turn 65 each day by 2012, and by 2030 our overall senior population will reach nearly 71 million.

There are more than 30 million senior drivers aged 65 or older who are on the road today (NHTSA).

Seniors in Sarasota County will experience difficulty with transportation sometime in their life.

ITN Sarasota, Inc. is a non-profit organization that in organized in providing safe, dignified rides in private cars for seniors and adults with vision impairments.  The mission of ITNSarasota is to provide a community-supported, consumer-oriented, economically sustainable transportation service to seniors and adults with visual impairments who want to preserve their mobility and independence.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and rides are available within the service area for any purpose. Rides are provided in private automobiles by trained trained volunteer and paid drivers. People 60 years and older and adults with visual impairments are eligible to ride. Door to door service with assistance is also provided for those who require help with folding walkers or carrying packages.

For more information on this program, call ITN Sarasota at (941)364-7530 or visit their website at www.itnsarasota.org

Right Accord Private Duty-Home Health Care also provides in-home care  services to seniors who want to maintain their lifestyle and independence by arranging caregivers who can provide assistance in their physical mobility including errands and  transportation.  Sarasota care providers are available to become senior helpers as needed for as little as 4 hours to 24 hours.

A little help at home is sometimes all what you need to give you and your family peace of mind. Home health aides, companions and certified nursing assistants are certified to provide care.

For free care consultation and free assessment from a registered nurse, please call our toll free number 1-877-685-3889.

Studies have shown that the more medications people take, the more they take medications they don’t need. It is important to be aware of the medications being prescribed to you by your doctors and to be proactive in maintaining and managing your medications.

As elderly have more chronic conditions, the more medications will be prescribed by their physicians. It is therefore important to know each drug, its’ effect and side effects, drug interactions aside from its benefits.

At Right Accord, we developed a Health Care Passport for our seniors to assist with medication management at home. The friendly packet notebook is designed to encourage our seniors in Sarasota to become proactive with medication management.

The Right Accord Healthcare Passport contains information relating to medication management. In the medication record, it includes:

1. Name of Medication
2. Dosage and preparation
3. What is intended for
4. Name of doctor who prescribed the medication and when
5. How and when to take the medication
6. Color and shape
7. Possible side effects and warnings

We recommend that all medications including over the counter pills, herbal preparations, vitamins, etc. are listed on the passport.

The Right Accord Healthcare Passport is a great tool to take to your doctor’s appointment to show your physician the medications you are currently taking. Review with your physician the list and ask questions regarding the medications you have on the list.

Questions we encourage to ask your doctor on your next visit:

• Why do I take this medication? Is it for short term or long term use?
• How do I take the medications, how often, with or without food, etc?
• What are the side effects and what should I do if it occurs?
• Can I substitute for an alternative or generic?
• Does it duplicate with any of the medications I am taking?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• If I cut the pill in half, can it be as effective?
• Does it interact with other prescriptions that I have?
• How important are these prescription given my finances and overall health?
• Does my health or age make this drug unsafe for me?

Keeping and storage of your medication:

• Keeping your medicine in plain sight, in a cool, dry place like a kitchen countertop or desktop
• Do not place your medications in the refrigerator unless instructed by your pharmacist or indicated in the bottle
• Do not store your medicine in the bathroom where it can get damaged due to steam from shower or moisture.
• Set timers, reminders or alarms. You may set cell phones for alarm when traveling.
• When traveling or flying, take your medicines with you. Do not packed them with your checked in luggage.
• Avoid making last minute re-fills.

If you or your loved one is having difficulty managing medications at home or place of residence, Right Accord Private Duty-Home Health Care provides assistance with medications by certified caregivers trained by assisting elderly who prefers to stay at home instead with medication management. Free in-home care consultation for seniors in Sarasota and Manatee Counties who are looking for medication assistance or help at home with medication.

In people and elderly with diabetes, this process doesn’t work properly. Food is changed into glucose, but a problem with the insulin prevents glucose from entering the cells. Glucose begins to collect in the blood.

The 2 main types of diabetes are Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes – means the body makes little or no insulin

Type 2 Diabetes – means the body still makes some insulin, but the cells can’t use it effectively. Over 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes if left untreated can cause serious problems, including blindness, heart disease and kidney disease. There’s no cure for diabetes but diabetes can be controlled through diet, exercise and medication.

Good food is the key to controlling your diabetes and to good health. Proper diet can reduce the risk of long-term health problems.

Eating right helps control blood glucose levels. Many people with Type 2 Diabetes can manage their condition with proper diet and exercise.

Try to maintain a healthy weight. This helps your body make and use insulin more effectively.  Here’s a few general guidelines:

1. Limit protein to 10-20% of daily calories
2. Limit fat to 30% of calories or less (less than 10% from saturated fat and no more than 10% from polyunsaturated fat).
3. Limit cholesterol to 300mg or less per day.
4. Eat more fiber – 20-35 g per day
5. Limit sodium to 2,400 – 3,000 mg per day
6. Be careful with alcohol – it can lower your your blood glucose level dangerously

Plan your meals  using the exchange system. It can help you control your blood sugar and lose weight.

The exchange system groups similar foods are foods in an exchange group that have about the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories.  It’s important to eat a variety of foods from each group. Foods in the same group can be swapped. For example, you can exchange 1/3 cups rice or 1/2 cup mashed potatoes for a slice of bread.

Eat the right amount. Eat the recommended amount of food each day – not too little or too much. Measure portions carefully until you can estimate accurately. Check your estimates every 6 months to make sure portions are not growing. Record what you eat. A journal or diary can help you keep track on how many exchanges you’ve eaten.

Meet with a dietitian. Work with your dietitian. Ask for other foods and recipes and ask your dietitian to help determine the exchanges. A dietitian can help you design a meal plan that’s right for you. Review your meal plan regularly. Changes in your weight and health can mean changes in your diet.

Here’s a few guidelines for managing diabetes with diet and nutrition:

• Eat regularly. Try to eat meals about the same time each day. The type and amount of food eaten for each meal should be about the same from one day to the next.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight makes it hard for your body to use insulin effectively.  If you need to lose weight, work with your health care provider or dietitian to develop a weight-loss program based on your sex, height, weight and activity level
• Lose weight slowly. Aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week. Eat at least 1,200 calories a day to make sure you get all the nutrients your body needs.
• Plan for sick days. Being sick makes diabetes harder to control. Keep regular soft drinks, sweetened gelatin, sherbet and fruit juices on hand for days when you can’t eat solid foods. Drink plenty of fluids.

Good Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. Consider the following:

1. Talk to your health care provider. Exercise can help lower blood glucose levels. Bu there may be risks for some people with diabetes. Work with your health care provider to develop an exercise plan that’s right for you.
2. Start slowly. Start with moderate activities such as walking or easy biking. Be active for at least 30 minutes on most, preferably all days of the week. Gradually, you can include more vigorous exercise such as jogging, running or rowing. Aim to do vigorous exercises for 20-60 minutes, 3-5 times a week.
3. Balance exercise with diet. In general, it’s best to exercise 1-2 hours after meals, when blood glucose levels are the highest. Eat a snack before exercising, if appropriate.
4. Take special care of your feet. Foot problems are a common complication of diabetes, so take care. Wear supportive shoes that fit properly. Wear clean socks.

Right Accord is dedicated in keeping you at home with certified home health aides, certified nursing assistants, homemakers and companions who can assist elderly with activities of daily living including meal preparation. Caregivers are trained to prepare special diet prescribed for the elderly. Please call for a free care assessment by a registered nurse at (941) 366-0801.

We provide services in Sarasota and Manatee Counties including neighboring areas such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Nokomis, Osprey, Venice and Bird Key.

When we talk about caregivers, we talk about the people we see around us everyday. We see them in stores, churches, banks, shopping malls, our neighborhood or among our own circle of friends. We see them as a person caring for an aging or frail parent or spouse.

It is estimated that there are approximately 22 million American caregivers. They typically are  caring for an aging parent or elderly wife of an elderly husband and vice versa.

Caring for  a disabled loved one or aging parent is  overwhelming and a life changing experience for many.  An example  is when a parent or loved one falls, family members are usually in panic or in crisis.

Here’s a few step by step process to take you through some challenges of caregiving:

1. Identify the needs of your family member who needs the care
2. Getting everyone involved in the decision making
3. Develop an action plan and calling to action your family members and your loved one to get through difficult times
4. Gather information necessary to effectively meet the needs of your loved one
5. Recognize that there are community resources available to meet the needs of your loved ones such as in-home care assistance like Right Accord who can provide help at home.

Marilyn Tait, RN  is the author of ‘The Happy Caregiver”, a new book written for caregivers. She is  an educator and facilitator of the Parkinson Wellness Club and Caregiver Connection given by Sarasota Memorial Hospital conducted every month at the Institute for Advanced Medicine located at 5880 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, FL.  Community Calendar available at www.smh.com

The book  is dedicated to her parents but based on her personal experience as caregiver to her husband and her father. It is simple, fun, easy to read and jam packed with basic caregivers skills that you may implement instantly. This is a great gift for anyone who is doing caregiving for a loved one. This little book is huge and overflowing with fun, fast and easy ways to be a happy caregiver.

Marilyn Tait is having a book signing event on March 9, 2010 Tuesday at 2pm at Savannah Grand of Sarasota Assisted Living located at 7130 Beneva Road, Sarasota, Florida.

To order her book,  you can reach her directly at (941) 321-8700 or email her at marilyntait@comcast.net

Getting older does not necessarily mean a person’s driving days are over. But it is important to plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safety of your loved ones on the road. NHTSA offers free materials to help you learn more about how to recognize and discuss changes in your older loved one’s driving.

If you think you need to have a conversation with an older driver about his or her driving abilities, remember that many older drivers look at driving as a form of independence. Bringing up the subject of their driving abilities can make some drivers defensive. So, be prepared with your observations and questions, and – if necessary – provide possible transportation alternatives.

Answering the following questions may help you decide if you need to initiate a conversation with an older driver about driving safely:

- Getting lost on routes that should be familiar?
- Noticing new dents or scratches to the vehicle?
- Receiving a ticket for a driving violation?
- Experiencing a near miss or crash recently?
- Being advised to limit/stop driving due to a health reason?
- Overwhelmed by road signs and markings while driving?
- Taking any medication that might affect driving safely?
- Speeding or driving too slowly for no reason?
- Suffering of any illnesses that may affect driving skills?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might need to talk with an older driver about safe driving.

This article is courtesy of The National Highway and Traffic Administration. For more information visit their website at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

In Sarasota, there’s a Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education Program given by Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Designed to evaluate and improve driver safety, the Sarasota Memorial Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education program is coordinated by occupational therapists certified in driver evaluation and rehabilitation.

The program includes:
• Assessment of vision, thinking, visual perceptual, physical skills and reaction time
• Behind-the-wheel exercises in a customized driving program car, beginning in a parking lot and then advancing into more complex traffic. Behind-the-wheel assessments are performed in your community where the area is familiar.

Results of your assessment are sent to your referring physician for follow-up and referrals for further services if needed.

Re-Education & Training
The training and re-education program consists of in-vehicle education and practice in challenging situations, correction of unsafe habits and, if necessary, use of adaptive equipment to facilitate safer driving habits.

Referral
A physician referral requesting a driving assessment and listing a medical diagnosis is required for participation.

Information
We are unable to evaluate and treat people who are obtaining their license for the first time or who must drive while seated in a wheelchair. Individuals must be able to get into and out of a vehicle independently to participate in the program. For information, please call (941) 917-2183.

Functional Capacity Evaluations
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) safely and objectively measures:
• Repetitive lifting capacity at various levels
• Repetitive push, pull, and carrying capacities
• Hand grip strength
• Tolerance for elevated work
• Prolonged trunk flexion in sitting and standing
• Prolonged trunk rotation in sitting and standing
• Prolonged crawl, knee and sustained crouch positions
• Repetitive squat
• Tolerance for prolonged sitting and standing
• Maximum walking, stairs and stepladder capacity
• Balance
• Hand coordination

Results and recommendations are discussed with the patient and the referring physician before a program of rehabilitation is designed.

For more information, please call (941) 917-1385 or visit www.smh.com

If you or your loved one is experiencing difficulty with transportation, our caregivers are able to provide companionship, in-home care assistance and incidental transportation services to keep you or your loved ones at home as long as they possibly can. Transportation to doctor’s appointments, errands, social and personal appointments are travel -assisted by our qualified care providers such as certified nursing asssitants, home health aides or companions.

We provide services in Sarasota, Manatee and its’ neighboring towns such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Nokomis, Venice, and Osprey.

Consider the following questions and see which statements express how you think you’d feel if you were near death.

It’s important to me to:

• “Die without pain and suffering”
• “be able to make my own decisions”
• “leave my family with good memories”
• “not burden my family with difficult decisions”
• “act according to my religious beliefs”
• “be with my loved ones at death”

Consider the medical possibilities. Imagine yourself in a coma or unconscious condition, with permanent brain damage or terminally ill.

Then ask yourself which of these statements best describe your feelings:

1. “It is important to me to prolong life, regardless of pain, chances for recovery and cost.”
2. “I prefer to avoid life-prolonging measures if the chance for recovery are not good.”

Discuss your responses with your family and friends, physician, religious leader and your lawyer. Check with your State laws regarding living wills and durable power of attorney for health care. It is always a good idea to have both.

Don’t forget to put your wishes in writing and be specific as possible. Make sure you sign and have them witnessed and notarized. Keep a record in your wallet stating that you have advance directives and where it is located. Give your physician a copy to be kept as part of your medical records. if you use a durable power of attorney for health care, be sure to give a copy to your proxy. Discuss your advance directives with your family, friends, physician and proxy. give copies to a relative or friend who is likely to be notified in the event of an emergency. Inform your physician or proxy if you update or make any changes in your advance directives.

Some common question about advance directives are:

Q. What if i change my mind after I fill out my advance directives?

A. If you are a competent adult, you can always change or cancel your advance directives. In some cases, you may even cancel it verbally.

Q. My relatives has a valid advance directives, can I prevent it from taking effect?

A. No, unless you can prove that the relative is not thinking clearly when he or she created the advance directives.

If you need more information or help in preparing advance directives, you may contact us to refer you to local resources that can assist you.These can include elder attorneys, hospital personnel, hospice, long-term care facilities or home health agencies.

You may also visit www.partnershipforcaring.org or call 1-800-989-9455 for more information about advance directives.

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care will be happy to assist you with any questions about advance directives. RNs are available to answer questions and free in-home care assessment should you require more information on how to stay at home with your wishes. Home care services are available to help you at home with assistance from certified caregivers. We provide services in Sarasota, Manatee and neighboring areas such as Venice, Osprey, Nokomis, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Lakewood Ranch, and Casey Key.

For more information about maintaining your lifestyle right at home, call (941) 366-0801.