Aging and Disability Network February Meeting Minutes 2/8/16

Aging and Disability Network Meeting 2/9/16 Minutes:

Attendees: Caitlyn Morton (Shelters of Saratoga), Kim Swire (Retired Geriatric Care Manager), JoAnn Zales (National Grid), Lori Pitcheralle (Saratoga County Public Health), Elise Miczek (Home Helath Care Partners), Drue Barton (Guild Care), Reed Lehan (Saratoga County DSS), Sharon Emerson (CHOICES), Carolyn Crawmer (NYS Statewide and National Church Residences), Ben Nichols (Saratoga County OFA), Mary Rickard (Saratoga County OFA), Frank McClement (Saratoga County Veterans), Donna Rudzinski (Shenendehowa Village), Connie Weaver (Saratoga County OFA), Ardis Armer (Saratoga County OFA), Carol Reardon (Saratoga County OFA), Patrick Harrington (Saratoga County OFA), Jennifer Baldwin (Saratoga Hospital), Diana Martin (Evergreen ADS), Christy Durant (The Summit at Saratoga), Karen Laing (Health Literacy For All),  Rachael Pflieger (SAIL), Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga ), Maria Geizer (Home Instead).

Attendees introduced themselves.

Cindy Harrington announced that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday March 8^th from 2-330 at the Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Drive, Malta. Debi Buzanowski from the Eddy Alzheimer’s Services will be presenting a program on “A Person’s Living Space and how it affects a Person with Memory Loss”

Today’s Topics and Presenters: Caitlin St. George, the Eddy Visiting Nurses Association and Katiria Romero of CHOICE Health Plans, Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Caitlin presented an overview of The Eddy Visiting Nurse Association’s comprehensive services to seniors in the Capital Region:

Home Care/Visiting Nurses

Eddy Visiting Nurse Association provides comprehensive healthcare services to help individuals remain independent and in their own homes.

Services offered:

• visiting nurses
• physical, occupational and speech therapists
• certified home health aides and personal care aides
• medical social workers
• nutritionists

Home Visiting Physicians

With recent advances in technology, The Eddy team of doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners provide the same primary medical care in home that a patient would receive in a traditional doctor’s office.

Short-term or Long-term Services

Services can be used for just a few months to help a patient back on track if s/he has been in the emergency department/hospital frequently.

Or, if s/he regularly require in-home services or have a physical condition which makes it difficult for to leave the home, s/he may qualify to receive services on an ongoing basis.

Counties Served

·         Albany

·         Rensselaer

·         Saratoga

The Eddy also provides diabetes education, provided by a specially trained nurse. Services include assessment and teaching, including insulin pumps, blood and glucose meters and other specialized equipment; medication monitoring; dietary instruction; referral to community resources.

Palliative Home Care:

This program enables patients to remain in the comfort of home while supporting the highest quality of life possible for both patients and families. An interdisciplinary team includes palliative care nurses trained in end of life care, RNs, social workers and palliative care physicians.

Telehomecare Program

Telehomecare is an innovative way to provide care, monitor a patient and provide education using the latest in telecommunication technology. Each monitoring unit provides the nurse with vital data, including:

• Blood pressure
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Pulse oximetry
• Heart rate
• Weight

Katiria presented Visiting Nurse Service of New York CHOICE Health Plans. CHOICE Managed Long Term Care is a health plan designed for people who need help with day to day activities but want to remain in their homes. Services include:

Care Management

Nursing Care

24/7 Nurse Support Line

Home health care – including nursing, home health aides, social work

Rehabilitation therapies

Medication management

Personal care

Chore service and housekeeping

Personal Emergency Response Systems

Transportation

Private Duty Nursing

Home-delivered meals

Nutritional counseling

Adult day health care

Social day care

Medical equipment and supplies

Respiratory therapy, oxygen

Prosthetics/Orthotics

Dental care

Vision care

Hearing care

CDPAP

Nursing home care

In this region services areas include Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Warren and Washington Counties.

VSNY CHOICE partnered with The Eddy VNA to offer these services in this region. For more information on the CHOICE Health Plan and if an individual may qualify, call 855-282-4642. For information on The Eddy VNA services described above call 274-6200.