Office
6455 N. Union Blvd., Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: 719-533-0084
Fax: 719-533-0466
Email Us at:
"Specializing in Geriatric Home Care"
Why choose a home health care agency that focuses on geriatric care?
As an older adult, at some point in your life, you may experience one or more of these conditions:
• Age-related conditions such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, or joint replacement
Just as pediatricians are trained to care for the infant, child, or young teen, it makes sense to have an experienced physician, clinician (whether a nurse, physical/occupational therapist) or social worker respond to the older individual in a way that is not only medically appropriate, but also addresses the sensitive and intricate aspects of geriatric care.
• Decreased ability to move around (mobility)
• Depression (in addition to clinical causes, may also stem from isolation/loss)
• Failing eyesight
• Increased risk of falls
• Loss of memory/confusion
• Multiple conditions or diagnoses (known as co-morbidities)
• Multiple medications (known to as poly-pharmacy)
• Negative interactions between prescribed or over-the-counter medications
Summit Home Health Care has been serving seniors since its inception in 1997, taking into account the unique capabilities (and, at times, limitations) of this special population. Often it begins with the transition from hospital to home.
The Transition Nurse
Summit Home Health Care is pleased to have a Transition Nurse on staff that will help facilitate the adjustment from hospital to home. This transition begins with a hospital visit to current patients who find themselves back in acute care for whatever reason. Personal visits provide reassurance and continuity for the patient even before they are discharged from the hospital. Arrangements to go home are more easily made when the Transition Nurse is part of the process. New medications are often a confusing part of returning to home; the Transition Nurse assists in that process by training the patient how to take the new medications and comply with physician orders, often averting potentially dangerous drug interactions.One of the goals of the entire agency is to prevent re-hospitalization whenever possible. The Transition Nurse and other clinicians work hard to maintain communication and assist the patient in managing pain, post-op concerns, and early identification of potential complications.
Summit Home Health Care provides the following services:
SKILLED (MEDICAL) SERVICES
Summit Home Health Care (SHHC) is a Medicare/Medicaid certified home health care agency that provides clinical and non-clinical services to assist patients with their medical health care or non-medical home care companion needs in the privacy and comfort of their own home.
Skilled Nursing Services
Skilled Nursing services can be provided by a:
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) sometimes referred to as a Home Health Aide (HHA).
The level of nursing skill is determined by physician orders and the information obtained by the SHHC clinician at the time of the initial evaluation.
Skilled nursing services range from Assessment and Observation to Wound Care, and everything in between, including administering injections, catheter care, and ostomy care. Certified Nursing Assistants are experienced in providing bath/shower/personal care, as well as other responsibilities delegated by a registered nurse; they also assist in household tasks (meal preparation, grocery shopping, laundry, light housekeeping). Please refer to the Home Care Companion section, further down this page, for a list of non-medical services available.
Therapy Services
Therapy for the Geriatric Patient
Because joint replacements such as knees and hips are more common among the older patient, physical therapy parameters can be adjusted to meet their special needs. Summit therapists have many years of expertise in encouraging the senior to become a partner in their rehabilitation process, and are committed to help older adults achieve the best possible outcome post surgery. Many seniors are reluctant or unable to participate in out-patient therapy once they leave the hospital, often due to lack of transportation. Once a patient is no longer homebound (covered by Medicare A), they can opt for physical therapy in their home (covered by Medicare B). Of course, therapists are always proponents of out-patient therapy in a clinic setting if the patient requires special equipment that is not possible to set up in the home.Increasing the patient’s ability to move around, strengthening the stamina of the frail, and decreasing the risk for falls are an important part of geriatric home health care. Summit Home Health Care does it all.
Physical Therapy specialties include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following types of patients:
• Amputees
• Cardio-Pulmonary
• Geriatric
• Neurological
• Orthopedics
Speech Therapy specialties include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following types of conditions or disorders:
• Developmental Disabilities
• Dysphasia (difficulty swallowing)
• Language Disorders
• Non-oral Communication
• Voice Disorders
Occupational Therapy specialties include, but are not limited to, training in the following areas:
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL) post injury or post surgery
• Adaptive equipment for the patient (i.e., commodes, bath benches, etc.) or home (i.e., tub/shower bars, ramps)
• Energy conservation/Work simplification
• Fine Motor Coordination
• Orthotics/Splinting
Therapeutic Technology
Modern Technology, coupled with our staff's many years of clinical wisdom and experience, make for excellent patient outcomes.
• Anodyne Therapy is used to increase circulation to tissues and nerves, decrease pain, reduce edema, decrease inflammation, increase range of motion, and can improve blood pressure. It is frequently used with soft tissue injuries and lesions, painful joint conditions, and peripheral neuropathy.
• Electrical Stimulation is used in the treatment of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems, such as reduction of edema/pain, neuromuscular re-education, and facilitation of voluntary motor function by both motor and sensory stimulation.
• Ultrasound is a deep-heating agent that, used as a therapeutic modality, increases collagen tissue extensibility, increases blood flow to promote healing, and decreases pain.
Diagnostic Technology
• Professional Pro-Time Microcoagulation System is a simple, easy-to-use device to measure the blood's clotting capabilities. It is quick and convenient, and eliminates the need for unnecessary physician office visits beyond regular check-ups.
• The Mini Dopplex® is a hand-held Doppler that utilizes ultrasound waves to examine blood flow. It is conveniently portable, provides all the standard features of a traditional Doppler and provides the same level of quality, reliability and performance.
In-Home Medical Technology
• Telemonitoring is available via a compact home monitor that features easy-to-use voice prompts to assist the user in determining daily weight, heart rate and oxygen saturation, blood pressure and temperature, all in the comfort of the home. Data is transmitted via the patient's telephone line to Summit Home Health Care for monitoring and, if necessary, early intervention.
Clinical Social Services
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) are an important part of SHHC's services. When necessary, the LCSW can provide the following:
• Assessment of social/emotional factors
• Community resource planning/referrals
• Short-term therapy
NON-MEDICAL SERVICES
(A two-hour minimum is required)
Many families often find themselves providing so much assistance to loved ones that they begin to experience their own health issues, including a condition known as burnout. Home Care Companions help with the myriad of non-medical needs that occur throughout the day, providing peace of mind for the client and offering a cost-effective respite opportunity for the family.
Personal Care Workers (PCWs) can:
• Observe and assist with certain home environmental factors to assure safety and security
• Assist with household chores, including cooking and meal preparation, light house cleaning and laundry (this does not include heavy housecleaning or household maintenance)
• Assist with shopping, appointments and errands outside the home; PCWs are able to drive clients in the client's car as long as proof of insurance is shown
• Provide companionship to the client (social interaction, conversation, emotional reassurance, encourage reading, writing and activities that stimulate the mind
• Assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and personal care (including limited assistance with skin care, ambulation, bathing, dressing, exercise, feeding, hair care, mouth care, nail care, positioning, shaving, toileting and transfers)
• Provide medication reminders, protective oversight and respite care
Home Care Companions (HCCs) can:
• Accompany the client to the doctor's office or other medical appointments
• Accompany the client on walks
• Assist with putting away items, stocking pantry, organizing linen closet, kitchen shelves, bookcases, etc.
• Provide companionship to the client (for example, reading, games, cards, movies/TV)
• Errands (picking up mail/prescriptions; grocery shopping)
• Light housekeeping*
• Light meal preparation
• Medication reminders
• Pet walking/feeding; minimal clean-up after animals
• Stand-by assistance with bathing/showering/shaving/personal hygiene/grooming
• Stay with ill client when family cannot be available
• Transportation (using client's car, with proof of insurance)
*A list of light housekeeping services can be provided. Home Care Companions are not maids or housecleaners. Heavy housecleaning or household maintenance tasks should be addressed by engaging a professional cleaning or maintenance service.
Veterans Administration Aid and Attendant Program Summit Home Health Care participates in the Veterans Administration program which allows eligible veterans or surviving spouses with non-service connected disabilities to use a specially designated Aid and Attendant pension benefit to purchase homecare services. • Bathing Please contact Joe Farr at Summit Home Health Care (719-533-0084) for additional information and to arrange a referral for services.
Eligibility requirements include: 1) the veteran must have served 90 days or more on active duty with one day beginning or ending during a period of war, 2) need for services must be due to a non-service medical related condition; 3) income and asset maximums.
Assistance available under this VA program includes:
• Dressing
• Getting out of bed
• Meal preparation
• Laundry
• Light housekeeping
• Shopping
• Assistance getting to physician appointments
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