Spring has Sprung!

Springtime means warmer days, blooming flowers and some serious cases of cabin fever. No one wants to be stuck indoors on the pleasant first days of spring. Remember that homebound seniors crave the sunshine too! Here are a couple of hints to ensure that your springtime activities with seniors are safe and beneficial.

Make sure that your senior is safe to participate in the outdoor activity. Remember that most seniors don't function at the same high level that their children and grandchildren do.

If you are going on a walk, encourage them to use their walker, cane or assistive device. If they have any balance problems, gait irregularities or lack the strength to safely get around their home, they are likely candidates for Home Health Physical Therapy.

If you are taking a drive, be sure to bring enough oxygen, medication, etc to get through the drive and remember to wear your seat belt! A drive to a remote location may be picturesque, but it may also pose problems for seniors. Plan a drive that will have ample places to stop and use the restroom as needed.

Spring is great time to investigate the offerings of neighborhood senior centers. Salt Lake County has 18 Senior Centers that offer classes, provide social activities and a place to meet like minded people. Each center provides transportation and a full lunch for a $2.50 donation. For more information, contact Salt Lake County Ageing Services at 801.468.2764.


Remember, even short periods of activity can have a profound effect on health and happiness! If your loved one is too uncomfortable or unsafe to participate in activities outside of the home, they may be a great candidate for Home Health Services. If you have any questions, please visit Millcreekhomehealth.com and use our "Ask an Expert" feature.

What is Congestive Heart Failure?

Elizabeth Taylor, one of my favorite classic movie stars passed away last week due to Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). You probably hear about CHF all the time, but do you know what it is and what can be done to treat it? Here's the deal on CHF:

CHF isn't curable, but it is treatable and there is a lot that can be done to promote comfort and increase life expectancy.

CHF means that the heart can no longer pump enough blood to supply the body's needs, typically due to heart attack, congenital defect or heart disease. Because the heart cannot pump as it normally would, blood can build up in areas where it typically doesn't. This fluid build up on the lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and the arms and legs translates to a lack of oxygen and nutrition to organs, which damages them and reduces their ability to work properly. It also can be quite uncomfortable, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing and fluid overload in the arms and legs. 

Millcreek Home Health and Hospice cares for many, many seniors with CHF for both home health and hospice. For details on how we provide stellar care for CHF patients on Home Health check out our past post here.  If CHF progresses untreated, it can be a terminal disease and patients may require hospice care. Because hospice focuses on making people as comfortable as possible, Millcreek offers the following care protocol:

·        Frequent Nursing visits to monitor for increased pain, discomfort & any change in condition.

·    All medications related to heart failure and all medical equipment are provided free of charge.

·        Management of fluid overload to promote maximum comfort

·        Massage Therapy

·        Volunteer Services to provide companionship & respite for caregivers

If you have concerns about a family member with CHF or have any questions, feel free to call Millcreek Home Health and Hospice and a Nurse will help you.

Millcreek's Newest Quality Care Innitiative

Nurse Practitioner House Calls

Millcreek Home Health and Hospice offers hospice patients the services of our nurse practitioner, Laura Chamberlain, APRN. Under Utah’s Nursing Advanced Practice Act, a Nurse Practitioner may provide the following services:

• Maintenance and promotion of health and prevention of disease.
• Diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and referral for common health problems
• Prescription or administration of prescription drugs or devices.

In concert with the patient’s Physician, Nurse Chamberlain, APRN, can provide timely evaluation of any pain or condition change and can make on the spot medication adjustments to promote patient comfort.

What are the Benefits of a Nurse Practitioner in Hospice?

Quick response to patient needs Ÿ High Availability Ÿ Trained to deal with complicated family situations Ÿ Able to adjust medications on the spot Ÿ Able to change the hospice diagnosis Ÿ May attend death if needed

Introducing Laura Chamberlain, APRN

Millcreek Home Health and Hospice is pleased to welcome Nurse Practitioner Laura Chamberlain to our Hospice Leadership Team. In partnership with each patient’s hospice physician, Laura provides the highest quality end of life care with a focus on maintaining patient comfort and dignity.  With over 10 years experience in the health care field, her experience includes serving as the charge nurse in Intensive Care Units and working as a Nurse Case manager in hospice. These experiences offered unique and valuable perspectives on patient family dynamics, the issues inherent to hospice care settings and the ability to provide high quality medical care.

Laura graduated Cum Laude from the University of Utah, earning a Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree in 2005. She went on to earn a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2010, where she graduated at the top of her class with a 4.0 grade point average.

Laura seeks to improve care to seniors by:

·         Providing attentive, timely, high quality medical care.

·         Involving patients and their family members in the plan of care and attending to their physical, mental and spiritual needs.

·         Using therapeutic communication skills throughout the management of care to build trusting relationships with patients and their families.

·         Empowering patients, caregivers and family members through simple and clear education, through demonstrations, visual handouts, and written instructions.

Laura Chamberlain’s exceptional clinical skills and finely tuned understanding of patient’s needs make her a rich resource for Millcreek’s hospice leadership team. We look forward to working with her now and in the future to achieve excellence in hospice care.



What is Palliative Care and When is it Appropriate?

Patients who have an advanced progressive disease, but are not appropriate for hospice care may choose to receive palliative care while on home health. Patients undergoing palliative care may still pursue aggressive treatment, but receive care that focuses on pain and symptom management.

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine produced this video to introduce people to what palliative care is and what a Palliative Care Physician can do.

Any Physician can provide palliative care & Millcreek Home Health and Hospice works with numerous physicians to provide palliative care in the home.

Continuum of Care

Millcreek maintains an integrated home health and hospice team, which means that if at any point a patient decides to elect hospice care, they keep the same care nurse, aide and social worker. If a hospice patient recovers, they can easily transition from hospice and begin a home health episode with the same care team.

Common Diagnoses for Palliative Care

Cancer Ÿ Congestive Heart Failure ŸChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Kidney Failure Ÿ Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Ÿ Any Eligible Hospice Diagnosis

If you have any questions about palliative care, please contact Millcreek at 801.463.2478

The goal of palliative care is to support comfort and quality of life.