Walking (and Rolling) to Feed Children

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fth-rollingCat Balentine is the occupational therapist at Piedmont Health SeniorCare, located in Burlington, NC. The mission of Piedmont Health SeniorCare is “…to promote and sustain the independence of seniors wishing to remain in the community.”

Recently, Feed the Hunger received a gift of over $388 from this organization to provide life-sustaining food for children and families in need. Curious about the gift, we just had to find out the motivation behind it. What we found is a remarkable idea carried out by some incredible individuals!

Here’s their story. Back in 2013, the goal was to transform the afternoon “walking group” into an opportunity for participants to give back to the community. Working as a team, the group decided to raise funds that would be donated to a designated nonprofit cause or charity selected by the participants. Balentine says, “The program not only motivates some to be more active and promotes overall wellness, but it also gives our participants the opportunity to feel part of a group and allows them to feel in a way that they may not feel anymore, like they are a contributing member of society.”

Participants have an opportunity to walk – or roll – every day. Their laps are tallied daily and totals are kept. At the end of the month, total mileage is calculated, donations are gathered, and funds are sent to the designated group(s).

Over the last two years, Team PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) has logged 1,195 miles, raising $9,157 and benefitting 24 different organizations.

So, in August of this year, Team PACE logged 75 miles, which brought in $388 for Feed the Hunger. $388 provides 1,385 meals for malnourished children here in the US as well as around the world. The diagram below may help you visualize this a little better. The money raised by Team PACE is the equivalent of providing five children a nutritious meal each and every day of the school year. What a blessing!

A group of super seniors showed me how much fun it can be to raise money for a worthwhile cause. Now it’s your turn. How can YOU creatively provide more meals to those in need? We’d love to hear your comments!

Jim Gurley
Director of Development
Feed the Hunger

(original article located at: http://www.feedthehunger.org/walking-and-rolling-to-feed-children/)

President Obama Signs PACE Innovation Act into Law

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New Law Allows for Faster Expansion and Authority to Serve New Populations

President Obama signed the PACE Innovation Act (PIA) into law last night. The new law will allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop pilot projects based on the successful PACE Model of Care.

president-obama“The President’s signature caps a more than two-year effort to provide opportunities for the PACE model to be used as a platform for innovation to serve more seniors as well as younger individuals in need of integrated care and services,” said Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of NPA. “We look forward to working with CMS to develop opportunities for PACE providers and others to develop new pilot programs that will take the lessons learned from PACE and apply them to new populations and more communities.”

The next step is for CMS to develop a process to accept, evaluate and measure proposed pilots based on the PACE model. Providers already have started to explore what changes in the model would be necessary to serve other populations that need consistent access to care and services.

“As we have worked with providers that serve younger individuals, such as those with developmental or physical disabilities, we have identified slight modifications to the PACE model that would be helpful,” Bloom said. “For example, the composition of the interdisciplinary team may need to be different, or the nature of activities at a PACE center might need to change to emphasize vocational training. The possibilities are very exciting.”

Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ-4) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) spearheaded the legislation in Congress. The Obama Administration also provided consistent support by including PACE pilot programs in its last two budget proposals and signing the legislation into law.

Dr. Jane Hollingsworth receives NC PACE merit award

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Dr-Jane-HollingsworthMedical director Dr. Jane Hollingsworth received the North Carolina PACE Association’s individual of merit award for direct care, and was honored at the conference on April 11. Hollingsworth was nominated for her longstanding dedication, compassion and quality care.

“She patiently listens to the stories of patients, their families and her colleagues and even as busy as she is, she never makes one feel rushed but always valued as an individual,” says Burlington site director Crystal Torain. “She is stoic yet responsive and exemplifies a role model for others in health care.”

A native or North Carolina, Hollingsworth received her medical degree from UNC-CH and served as primary care physician for 20 years for Piedmont Health Services Moncure Community Health Center. She pioneered Piedmont Health’s efforts in exploring the PACE model in the late 1990s. Since 2009, she has served as the medical director of PHSC.

“. . . as busy as she is, she never makes one feel rushed but always valued as an individual.”
~ Crystal Torain, Burlington site director

Hollingsworth also has served as a clinical instructor at UNC School of Medicine since 1987. She has incorporated medical student education and resident training at PACE. Her steadfast commitment to teaching has allowed PHSC to serve as a hub for developing and implementing health care innovations.

“Dr. Hollingsworth has dedicated her entire career to serving the health needs of frail seniors in her community,” says Executive Director Marianne Ratcliffe. “She is a role model for all of us in delivering compassionate, high quality care, as well as professionalism, human kindness, consensus building and leadership.”

PACE participant Foust overcame polio, enjoyed career in business for 24 years

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Joanna-FoustJoanna Foust joined the Pittsboro PACE program at Burlington in September of 2012. The native North Carolinian is the oldest of seven children, born in Roxboro in 1952. Foust suffered from polio as an infant and was in quarantine for a year. She has memories of her loving parents and family helping her through school and her father carrying her into church. Being limited in her mobility, Foust turned to books at a young age and would stay up late at night reading. After many surgeries, Foust was finally able to walk. She was 12 years old. A few years later, she fulfilled her mother’s dream and walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma from Cummings High School and then attended Alamance Community College in Business Administration. Foust became the first African-American manager for Pic & Pay Shoes in Burlington and was employed there for 24 years, setting up stores in Durham, Greensboro and Raleigh.

In 2012, Foust lost both her legs to amputation, but she says she never threw herself a pity party. The mother and grandmother says “I am proud of my achievements.” Foust enjoys collecting and preserving four-leaf clovers and watching TV game shows.

Alzheimer’s series co-hosted by PACE

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Alzheimers-Series-CoHosted-by-PacePiedmont Health SeniorCare, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern North Carolina Chapter, will be holding a series of educational events starting this month. The events are free and open to the public and will be held at the Pittsboro site. Contact Karin Wannaker, 919-545-7337 for more information. Join us on the following dates:

Thursday, April 30, 5:30-6:30pm
The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are not a normal part of aging. This workshop is for anyone who would like to know more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Thursday, May 14, 5:30-6:30pm
Dementia Conversations
This workshop will offer tips on how to have honest and caring conversations with family members about deciding when to stop driving, going to the doctor and making legal and final decisions

Thursday, May 28, 5:30-6:30pm
Effective Communication Strategies
Join us to explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s. Learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

Thursday, June 11, 5:30-6:30pm
Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior
Behavior is one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language is lost. However, some behaviors can present challenges for caregivers to manage. Join us to learn to decode behaviors, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 

OTs help participants maintain quality of life

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Cat-Balentine-and-Susan-MisciagnoApril is National Occupational Therapy month; PACE occupational therapists Cat Balentine and Susan Misciagno go above and beyond to encourage our seniors to be active members in their treatment plans and in their community. For example, each OT leads exercise groups to facilitate healthy lifestyles.

Cat Balentine in Burlington leads a Walk and Roll program each day where participants can either walk or roll around the day center for exercise. Staff members sponsor laps around the center and donate at the end of each month depending on the total laps completed by the participants. Each month the participants donate the proceeds to a chosen nonprofit organization.

Susan Misciagno is the OT at the Pittsboro location and also leads an exercise group for the participants to encourage group participation and social interaction. Occupational therapy uses assessment and treatment to develop, recover or maintain the daily living and work skills of people with a physical, mental or cognitive disorder. OTs also focus much of their work on identifying and eliminating environmental barriers to independence and participation in daily activities.

Occupational therapy is a client-centered practice that places emphasis on progressing toward the client’s goals. Occupational therapy interventions focus on adapting the environment, modifying the task, teaching the skill and educating the client and family to increase participation in and performance of daily activities, particularly those that are meaningful to the client. Occupational therapists often work closely with professionals in physical therapy, speech therapy, nursing, social work and the community. PACE would not be the same without these therapists. They help seniors maintain the highest level of functional ability, as well as maintain optimal safety in the home, helping to reach the overall goal of the PACE program.

March is National Nutrition Month

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nutrition-chart
Rather than focusing on foods to eliminate from your diet, focus on what you can ADD to your plate to enhance flavor and nutrition. Here are some tips for healthier eating not just this month, but year round.

Quick Tips for Success

  • Eat a variety of food from each food group
  • Use the plate method to control portions
  • Have everything in moderation
  • Balance your healthy diet with plenty of physical activity
  • Stay well hydrated

Hydration

Keep hydrated by sipping on water, milk and some juices throughout the day. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages like coffee and soda.

Fruit

Instead of drowning your breakfast in sugary syrup, try topping your morning pancakes, French toast or waffles with fresh or canned fruit and yogurt.

Protein

Protein doesn’t have to be meat. Try adding these protein sources:

  • Peanut Butter. Make a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Spread on waffles, English muffins, toast or granola bars. Stir into hot oatmeal. Use as a dip with fruit or crackers.
  • Drain and rinse canned beans and put them on top of salads and add to soups and stews.

Vegetables

Canned and frozen veggies are OK when fresh are not available. Just remember to drain and rinse canned veggies. Look for low sodium, microwavable, frozen varieties of vegetables like Bird’s Eye.

Whole Grains

Try whole wheat bread instead of white for sandwiches and toast. Oatmeal and popcorn are also whole grains that everyone enjoys.

Dairy

Have Greek yogurt or cottage as an easy-to-prepare snack. Top it with nuts, fruit and granola for a delicious parfait,

Advance directives: Make wishes known

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advanced-directives

What does “quality of life mean to you”? The medical care you choose to receive during a crisis is a personal choice that will be honored by PACE SeniorCare.

The North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services defines advance health-care planning as “deciding the kind of care you want at the end of life. While alert competent adults are able to exercise their rights to make health care and financial decisions, problems arise when an individual becomes unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to communicate or make such decisions. Advance health care directives are the legal documents in which you give written instructions about your choices limited, aggressive or palliative care if, in the future, you cannot speak for yourself.”

It is our policy to discuss with you and your family, before you get too sick, what kinds of care you want provided. There are two documents PHSC would like to encourage participants to complete within three months of enrollment in the program. Below are different ways you can declare your wishes.

The MOST and HCPOA forms allow you to convey and document how you want medical decisions to be made in case you cannot speak for yourself.

  • Who you want to make health care decisions for you when you can’t make them.
  • The kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want.
  • What you want your loved ones to know.

Medical Orders For Scope of Treatment (MOST)

The MOST form is a document that discusses more then the resuscitation status. It also covers feeding tubes, antibiotics and comfort measures. This is obtained and signed by your provider, signed by the participant or caregiver and renewed yearly.

Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA)

 You may ask someone else to decide your care for you. This is called “health care power of attorney.” The HCPOA request must be in writing. Physicians and family members cannot predict what you will want. It is a good idea to put these wishes in writing and designate a power of attorney to promote them.

Please see your provider, social worker or any SeniorCare staff with questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look for Health Outcomes Survey in early April

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checklistBy the end of this month, PACE participants should receive a pre-notification mailing about the annual Health Outcomes Survey. The first questionnaire mailings will be sent out to PACE participants the week of April 6.

The Health Outcomes Survey-Modified (HOS-M) is a survey that measures the health status of individuals participating in programs such as PACE. The Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services has implemented a Medicare payment approach for organizations like PACE. The payment method takes the frailty of the enrollees into account. The health status information collected via the survey will support this payment approach, so it’s important that the surveys are completed.

A family member or caregiver may assist the PACE beneficiary at anytime, if they wish. A PACE employee may also assist with the survey if asked by the participant or a family member or caregiver, but staff are not required to assist participants with the survey.

Please know there will be a DataStat 1-800 number printed on the survey to call for specific questions.

Pittsboro-social-work-group

Social workers critical to achieving PACE goals

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This month, Piedmont Health SeniorCare spotlights its team of social workers to mark National Professional Social Work Month. PACE social workers provide ongoing assistance to improve the lives of seniors and their families. They help people manage their daily lives, cope with issues and navigate relationships. They also help address socio-economic challenges such as poverty and access to resources.

Read more