Welcome to the premier issue of
@home - the Amazing Grace PNC,
Inc. Newsletter! It's been a long
process pulling this together, but we
hope that this will be a great resource
for our Clients, Caregivers and
friends. Within the pages of this and
future issues, we hope to create a
forum for dispensing information:
from home safety tips to Caregiver
appreciation to notices of upcoming
special events.
The past year has been one of rapid
growth for Amazing Grace. Since
joining the team full time in
September of last year I have seen
changes in nearly every facet of the
business - from recruiting and hiring
to marketing and development. For
example - we have abandoned the
old standby of newspaper advertising
for new employees. Instead, we
utilize direct mail to recruit qualified
individuals who live in the same
areas as our Clients. In doing so, we
minimize travel time for our
employees, reduce instances of late
calls due to traffic or getting lost and
increase employee availability.
Additionally, we feel strongly that
employees will feel a stronger
connection to Clients who live in the
communities that they grew up in.
The bond that forms between
Caregiver and Client is a special one
- one that breeds trust, compassion,
respect and, ultimately, exceptional
care.
In the coming weeks and months, we
will be rolling out even more new
programs, introducing some new
features to our website and letting you
know about some of the resources
that we have available to our Clients
and Caregivers.
Please feel free to give me a call any
time with any questions, comments
or concerns - in the meantime, keep
your eye on @home!
~ EJZuber, Director of Operations
@home - the Amazing Grace PNC,
Inc. Newsletter! It's been a long
process pulling this together, but we
hope that this will be a great resource
for our Clients, Caregivers and
friends. Within the pages of this and
future issues, we hope to create a
forum for dispensing information:
from home safety tips to Caregiver
appreciation to notices of upcoming
special events.
The past year has been one of rapid
growth for Amazing Grace. Since
joining the team full time in
September of last year I have seen
changes in nearly every facet of the
business - from recruiting and hiring
to marketing and development. For
example - we have abandoned the
old standby of newspaper advertising
for new employees. Instead, we
utilize direct mail to recruit qualified
individuals who live in the same
areas as our Clients. In doing so, we
minimize travel time for our
employees, reduce instances of late
calls due to traffic or getting lost and
increase employee availability.
Additionally, we feel strongly that
employees will feel a stronger
connection to Clients who live in the
communities that they grew up in.
The bond that forms between
Caregiver and Client is a special one
- one that breeds trust, compassion,
respect and, ultimately, exceptional
care.
In the coming weeks and months, we
will be rolling out even more new
programs, introducing some new
features to our website and letting you
know about some of the resources
that we have available to our Clients
and Caregivers.
Please feel free to give me a call any
time with any questions, comments
or concerns - in the meantime, keep
your eye on @home!
~ EJZuber, Director of Operations
One of the questions we are most often asked as
Caregivers is how to ensure that a Client will be safe
once they arrive home from a hospital stay. Certainly we
all hope to find a way to keep our loved ones - especially
the elderly and infirm - safe, healthy and free from injury
for as long as possible. Unfortunately, there are no "sure
things" when it comes to home safety and fall
prevention. There are, however, steps that can be
taken to make the home environment more user-friendly
to the elderly or disabled individual.
Caregivers is how to ensure that a Client will be safe
once they arrive home from a hospital stay. Certainly we
all hope to find a way to keep our loved ones - especially
the elderly and infirm - safe, healthy and free from injury
for as long as possible. Unfortunately, there are no "sure
things" when it comes to home safety and fall
prevention. There are, however, steps that can be
taken to make the home environment more user-friendly
to the elderly or disabled individual.
| A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR |
| ISSUE NO.1 AUGUST 2006 |
| STAYING HOME SAFELY |
The first step is to request that
the facility preparing to
discharge your loved one
arrange for a Home Evaluation
through their Rehabilitation
Department. The clinicians
who complete this
assessment should be able to
provide you with a detailed list
of recommendations and
equipment which will help your
loved one transition smoothly
from facility to home.
If safety remains a concern,
Amazing Grace now provides a
Home Safety Profile which may
identify further areas of risk and
provide resources to resolve
them.
One of the cornerstones of
Falls Prevention in the elderly
is that "falls happen."
Regardless of the safety
(continued on page 3)
the facility preparing to
discharge your loved one
arrange for a Home Evaluation
through their Rehabilitation
Department. The clinicians
who complete this
assessment should be able to
provide you with a detailed list
of recommendations and
equipment which will help your
loved one transition smoothly
from facility to home.
If safety remains a concern,
Amazing Grace now provides a
Home Safety Profile which may
identify further areas of risk and
provide resources to resolve
them.
One of the cornerstones of
Falls Prevention in the elderly
is that "falls happen."
Regardless of the safety
(continued on page 3)
| 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY |
TO MAKE YOUR HOME
A SAFER PLACE
A SAFER PLACE
Nightlights placed in halls, along
walkways, stairs and counters will
improve safety during late-night
bathroom or kitchen trips.
Check smoke & fire detectors
regularly.
Switch to cordless phones which
can be kept on hand at all times.
Paint or tape a white strip along
the edges of stairs to increase
visual contrast.
In kitchens and bathrooms, move
commonly used items from
highest and lowest shelves to
more accessible areas.
walkways, stairs and counters will
improve safety during late-night
bathroom or kitchen trips.
Check smoke & fire detectors
regularly.
Switch to cordless phones which
can be kept on hand at all times.
Paint or tape a white strip along
the edges of stairs to increase
visual contrast.
In kitchens and bathrooms, move
commonly used items from
highest and lowest shelves to
more accessible areas.
Remove scatter rugs or tape/
tack down edges.
Make sure that walkways are
clear of clutter, and that furniture
placement allows adequate room
for wheelchair or walker use.
Commonly used areas and
walkways should be brightly lit.
Place an emergency phone lists
(you'll find one in the front of our
Case Record) in visible locations
near telephones.
Use clear celophane packing
tape to tape down exposed cords
or wires that could be tripped on.
tack down edges.
Make sure that walkways are
clear of clutter, and that furniture
placement allows adequate room
for wheelchair or walker use.
Commonly used areas and
walkways should be brightly lit.
Place an emergency phone lists
(you'll find one in the front of our
Case Record) in visible locations
near telephones.
Use clear celophane packing
tape to tape down exposed cords
or wires that could be tripped on.