It’s Not a Laughing Matter… Or is it?

We’ve all heard laughter is the best medicine. That’s patently clear in “A Man and His Prostate,” a one-man show starring Ed Asner that chronicles the true story of a man (in this case, the playwright himself, Ed Weinberger) who has a prostate attack and emergency surgery while on vacation in Italy. Much of the humor comes from the main character’s need to pantomime his very personal symptoms to a doctor who didn’t speak English. The rest comes from Asner’s inimitable characterization of a curmudgeon who isn’t about to take this lying down.

All kidding aside, the startling reality behind the comedy is that, other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with a man dying from the disease in the U.S. every 16 minutes. While a sense of humor and positive attitude are important when facing any serious health concern, it’s even more important to be an active and informed participant in your own healthcare.

“You are your own best advocate,” says RVNAhealth Director of Nursing Services, John Apinis. “Particularly as we get older, it’s critical to pay attention to our health, have regular check-ups, and speak up when something doesn’t seem right. This is the single best thing you can do to prevent conditions from becoming too serious before they’re caught,” he adds.

While A Man and His Prostate takes a comedic approach, serious realities are woven in, including a tribute to well-known men who have suffered from the disease. The play seeks to strip away the embarrassment of talking about the issue and remind men and their loved ones that getting screened isn’t an option, it’s a necessity.

For more information or tickets, visit the Ridgefield Playhouse. 

Infections are frightening – just ask anyone with an imminent surgery, joint replacement, or hospital stay, and many will tell you their biggest concern is developing an infection while there.

And their fear is not unwarranted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 25 patients will have at least one infection following their hospital stay.  Also known as HAIs (healthcare-acquired infections), many infections are the result of germs picked up during a hospital stay, resulting in issues such as pneumonia, gastrointestinal illness, or sepsis.  The tricky part …  HAIs aren’t necessarily revealed at the hospital; they can develop as much as a week or month after going home.

Which means both you, and your home health care team, need to be especially vigilant.

RVNAhealth home health nurses, therapists, and aides — who treat patients following discharge from a hospital or facility — are highly-skilled and trained in assessing for infections and administering appropriate interventions when appropriate. They monitor patients at every visit, testing for fever, tracking wounds that aren’t healing, monitoring the warning signs, and referring patients to their physicians immediately if an infection is identified or suspected.

Common signs of infection include chills or generally feeling unwell; discharge at the wound or surgical site; increased pain/tenderness; and fever, particularly when combined with increased swelling, redness, and warmth at the site.

All RVNAhealth clinicians also practice “universal precautions” for infection control and prevention— hand washing, glove wearing, and the rigorous protocols added when treating a patient with a wound.

While most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics if identified early, it’s important to understand that, as a healthcare consumer, you must also be your own best advocate. Monitor the signs of infection; keep all follow-up appointments after returning home from the hospital; and don’t be afraid to speak up if your healthcare personnel aren’t following universal precautions when administering treatment.

Infections are frightening, but they are neither inevitable nor untreatable. Your best defense is a good offense: remember the signs, advocate for yourself and, when possible, return home from the hospital or facility as soon as possible with an excellent home health agency. One like RVNA.

If you want something done — quickly and right — go to Deb Trevelin. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to Deb.

Not only did she complete her RVNAhealth Staffer of the Week questionnaire in record time, Deb brings pragmatism, professionalism, and a clever wit to her work and life.  Plus, this Director of Finance knows how to relax and have fun.

Read on …

Where did you grow up and where do you reside now? I grew up in Seymour. I lived in Hamden and Wallingford, and now live again in Seymour.

What brought you to RVNA? I was looking for a new job and interviewed with Theresa [Santoro, President & CEO] and others.  I liked the atmosphere and felt it would be a good fit.

What is your role at RVNA? Director of Finance.

How long have you worked at RVNA? It will be 5 years in January.

What is your favorite part of your job? I like interacting with employees in all different departments and levels of the organization and functional areas. In finance we do not often see what is happening in the field… the interaction is our eyes and ears. Helps put the pieces together as we operate as a whole.

Did you ever consider being a nurse?

Yes I did ..  my Mom was a nurse and  two of my Aunts were nurses. I thought that was the direction I should go, but at the last minute I decided to go to St. Michael’s College in Vermont.  Funny thing is that I have spent my entire career in healthcare — just on the finance side.

What do you love to do when you’re not working?

I love to golf.  I belong a national league, the LPGA Amateur Golf League (formerly EWGA).  I have golfed with the same group of women since 2005.  We have a lot of laughs both on and off the course. We don’t take ourselves too seriously; none of us are going pro anytime soon!!  I kickbox. I love the beach. There is nothing better than to spend the day at the beach.  I read, I walk, I swim … I repeat. And sometimes I just watch the sun move across the sky. I love to spend time with my sisters, nieces, and grandnephews. They can always make me smile. I also like going to concerts.  I love live music.

What is your hidden talent? I can fix anything with a zip tie and some duct tape.  My family refers to me as MacGyver…

What would you do if you won the lottery? Probably buy a house right on the water … walk down stairs to get to the beach.  Travel. Golf. Live!

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story? Watching the new building being built … we could see the progress each day… and then being able to move in.

To know Clint is to love Clint. Just ask his colleagues. Or his in-home physical therapy patients .. who are happy to recover in his capable hands, but sad when his visits end.  Indeed, tears have been shed at discharge.

Humble. Smart. Dedicated. A great listener with a nice little sense of humor.  These are just a few of the things Clint Layog’s colleagues say about him.

Clint works with skilled hands as a physical therapist, and he’s handy with his hobbies, as well.  Meet Clint …

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in the Philippines and moved to the US with the help of family and friends after college. I currently live in Danbury.

How long have you been at RVNA?
I’ve been with the organization for about 5 years.

What brought you here?
I was looking for a change and heard about what a wonderful organization RVNAhealth was. I started as part-time, but eventually transitioned to full-time.

What is your favorite part of your job?
I work with very talented co-workers who love what they do.

If you weren’t a physical therapist, what would you be?
I’d probably still work in healthcare in some way.

What do you love to do when you’re not working and what is your hidden talent?
Besides spending time with my wife and kids, I like to work with cars and do some light carpentry. That’s probably my hidden talent – being a mechanic or carpenter. But, I have an uncle who is my lifeline if I mess up a job. I hope to be able to work on my roof… one of these days!

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Hmmm…. I honestly don’t know. Maybe take it one day at a time and see how it goes.

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?
I don’t have a favorite story, but it gets me every time a client says, “thank you.”

Most of us don’t worry — or even think about — home healthcare until we or a family member needs it. Then we scramble and make the best choice we can at a critical time.

Since that’s not typically the best route to quality care, here is a brief primer on the topic.

What It Is
Home healthcare refers to the clinical care one receives at home following a stay in a hospital or facility or after an episode, illness, or injury. It is intended to aid recovery and prevent relapse. Home healthcare providers may include skilled nurses; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; and home health aides.

How It Works
Prior to discharge from a hospital or facility, or after an episode or injury, you will be prescribed Home Health services if you are temporarily homebound and require additional clinical attention. You may be referred by your physician, the hospital, or you may contact a home health agency directly to initiate services. Even if you don’t like the idea of visitors in your home, it’s wise to accept and utilize the available services. They will make a difference in your recovery.

At a hospital/facility, case managers are required to provide you with a choice of available agencies. They must not make the decision for you. You will have many agencies to choose from and it can be bewildering. That’s why it’s good to be informed in advance.

What to Look For
You will want exceptional clinical service and reliability. Medicare-certified agencies meet rigorous standards of quality. Also look for 7-day-a-week and prompt start of care, low re-hospitalization rate, and a range of services to support your evolving needs. Word-of-mouth recommendations are also meaningful. The agency you choose will determine the quality of care you receive.

With a century-old tradition of delivering exceptional care and services, RVNAhealth is an excellent home health choice. If you choose RVNA, be certain to ask for us by name.  Or better yet, call us yourself.  RVNAhealth is truly your VNA. To learn more, visit rvnahealth.org or call 203-438-5555.

There is a certain bravery to home health nurse Linda Eglit, RN, that goes hand-in-hand with her kindness and optimism.

Who makes a wholesale career change at age 40?  Linda Eglit does.
Who subsequently moves east to Connecticut and loves it?  Linda Eglit does.
Who is going downhill skiing for the first time this coming winter?  Linda Eglit will.
Who is lucky to know Linda Eglit? RVNAhealth is.

Read on and meet the talented, the positive . .  Linda Eglit.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Danbury almost 2 years ago.

How long have you been at RVNA?
It will be 2 years this December.

What brought you here?
My family lives here in Ridgefield and I wanted to be closer to them.

When did you decide you wanted to be a nurse?
My father became terminally ill and I was his caregiver for approximately 4 months until he passed away. During this time, I wanted to understand ” the why” behind his illness. The nurses who cared for my dad where amazing at helping me and my brother get through this difficult time and that’s when I caught ” the bug” of healthcare. I decided to return back to school at the age of 40 and graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science degree.  Just prior to moving to Connecticut, I was living in Florida and working at Florida Hospital Orlando on the oncology-medical surgery unit.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Making a difference in a person’s life and improving their quality of life is rewarding. Whether its helping them recooperate from surgery, or teaching the person and the family about their condition, or sometimes it’s to be a great listener. It’s an honor to be a nurse and help people get through a trying time in their life.

If you weren’t a nurse, what would you be?
I love sweets, so I would have to say a pastry chef.

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I love spending time with my niece and nephew. They are trying to get me to go skiing this winter for the first time. They are the joys of my life. And treating myself to a spa treatment.

What is your hidden talent?
When I’m feeling inspired, I write poetry.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Pay off my student loans and then I would take care of my family. Purchase a luxurious yacht and travel around the world. Italy is at the top of my bucket list! And then I would donate to my favorite charity, the American Cancer Society.

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?
Being a nurse, it’s hard to pick just one moment as there are so many. One particular moment that comes to mind, I had cared for this man for over a year. One day out of the blue, he said he wanted me to call him by a different name. I went along with it and asked him, “What name would you like me to call you”?  He said Irving.  This put a huge smile on my face  because this happened to be my Dad’s name.  So as an ongoing joke for weeks, everytime I saw him, I called him ‘Irv’ and we would get a chuckle from our joke.

By now you may have met Hospice by RVNA nurse, Betty Avery (pictured at left).  And by now, you may know that Betty often has a story up her sleeve.  All of which remarkably .. are true.

What you may not know is that Betty is also a Supreme Problem Solver.  Or at least that’s the title that one of her patients — a Wilton resident who Betty has cared for since mid-July — assigned Betty late last week.

Here’s why:  upon starting care, it didn’t take long for Betty to realize that he needed help getting around. Even short walks – partly across the room, to the door – left him breathless and uncomfortable. And in Betty’s mind, immobility was not an acceptable option. It wasn’t fair to either him or his wife.

But what to do?  Electric wheelchairs were an option, but prohibitively expensive. Betty did track down a company that partners with prisoners to refurbish plain wheelchairs, making some electric, and donates them to people in need. But getting the wheelchair to Wilton was beyond complicated. And electric wheelchairs can be potentially unwieldy within a home.

So Betty put her thinking cap on. A scooter would be a better option.

And in this big world of ours, Betty was certain that there was an unused scooter that needed a home. It was just a matter of finding it. So Betty started talking to people she knows. And it didn’t take long to find a match. With Mary Foley at Meadow Ridge Senior Living in Redding, CT.

Mary, Resident Service Coordinator at Meadow Ridge, knew the daughter of a resident was looking to give away a scooter. Her mother had passed away and she knew the scooter needed a new home.

So Betty gracefully accepted it, and she and Mary pushed that scooter into the back of Betty’s car and Betty drove it over to Wilton.  En route, recognizing that getting the scooter up to the second floor residence was going to pose an issue for her, Betty called the Wilton Police Department and asked for help.  (Not while driving, mind you.)  The Wilton PD was happy to oblige and Officer Sean came to the scene.  Betty and Officer Sean worked together to wheel in and present the treasure.

Imagine that. Imagine the surprise and delight of Betty’s patient and his wife.  To know that the love of their nurse could and would profoundly change their lives.

‘It Takes a Village’ is a lovely but often over-used phrase, but with this story, that phrase rings abundantly true.

Thank you to everyone in our Village who made this story come true: Mary Foley, our scooter donator, the Wilton Police Department, our precious patient and wife, and our own indomitable Betty Avery.

Summertime and the Living is Easy…

Or is it? While beautiful summer days usually lift your spirits, there may be times when you just don’t feel that happy. What does happiness mean to you? It’s not easy to define and means different things to different people. One definition offered is that happiness is a feeling of joy, contentment, or positive well-being combined with a sense that life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.

Since it’s not unusual to experience occasional bouts of unhappiness, it’s comforting to know there are things you can do to boost your happiness quotient. Do an act of kindness: when you do something kind, you’ll feel your happiness soar. Hold the door for someone and wish them a good day or buy a cup of coffee for a friend or the stranger in line behind you. Practice gratitude: list three things that make you feel grateful. They can be as simple as a sunny day, finishing a project or an outing with a friend. Play: take time to have fun and step out of your normal routine. Get outdoors and take a hike, play with the dog, read a good book, or walk on the beach. You’ll feel more relaxed and contented.

If, after all that, you just don’t feel positive, fake it. Choosing to exhibit a positive attitude has mental and physical health benefits. Brighten your face with a smile and try to counter every negative thought with an optimistic one. And, finally, practice self-care. Don’t always put the needs of others before your own. It’s important to take care of yourself to feel happy, to be available to help and support others, and to live a meaningful and happy life.

Sometimes the story tells itself and all you have to do … is listen.

Today, meet Betty Avery, RN, who brings equal magic to the stories she tells and the stories, memories, and emotions she encourages in others.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in a small town in north Jersey, Ridgefield Park, where everyone knew each other. I am the 11th of 12 children and my husband Paul is the 10th of 10. Paul is also from Ridgefield Park. Although this may seem impossible, we represented the average family in our home town. We moved to New Fairfield back in 1993, twenty five years ago, but we still miss Jersey (#18 on the NJ Turnpike).

What is your role at RVNA?

I am a Hospice nurse and work very closely with our Director, Leslie Chiaramonte, and our entire team to provide comfort care to our patients,’ “End of Life.”  I like to see it as Quality of Life and this goes not only for the patient but for the family and loved ones too.

How long have you been at RVNA?

I started at RVNAhealth back in mid-November, before we had any patients. I can’t express what a gift it is to me to work for such a great place and to be part of this new endeavor, Hospice at its inception.

What brought you here?

I have worked as a nurse for over 35 years, mostly with children in both hospital and school settings. Coming from a pediatric setting, I believe my care often extended to the parents and loved ones, to educate them and relieve them of their fears. That experience is a wonderful transition into Hospice.

Approximately 14 years ago, I took care of a dying woman, a friend, who I worked with at her request. Subsequently, at the request of her daughters, I started working for a Hospice in the region one day a week. After that experience, I always knew I would return to Hospice and the opportunity that RVNAhealth presented was like fate to me and I knew it was time to return to Hospice Care.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Although working with such wonderful people for a common goal is wonderful, my favorite part is knowing I have helped someone die with comfort, with dignity, and with peace.  I love families — all families — and getting to know them and to help them see their loved one die in peace, brings them an inner joy and gratitude that cannot be expressed in words.

When did you decide to become a nurse?

I have had a grammar school friend for over 40 years who likes to remind me that in my 8th grade yearbook, I apparently told the world that I wanted to be a nurse.

When did you decide to become a hospice nurse?

I think the day my friend’s daughters came to see me and asked me to become their hospice nurse.  My first response was “no way.”  But two weeks later, I found myself signing up!

What do you love to do when you’re not working?

I love to read and spend time in the woods.

What is your hidden talent?

I think I’m a storyteller by nature and love to bring joy to others.

What would you do if you won the lottery? 

I always had a dream of having my own “kids camp.”  I’ve thought of many different variations, like for girls to build self-esteem, children with hardships, and the list goes on and on.

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?

After I was here at RVNAhealth for less than a month, there was a visitor just outside my office, but down the hallway. The visitor was a woman named Ashley, who was bringing her newborn child to see her mother-in-law, a long-time RVNAhealth employee.

But Ashley was also the daughter of the woman I had taken care of years before in my first hospice experience.  Ashley and her sister had been my inspiration. Years before, they had given me a beautiful angel that is in my garden and is also my screen saver.

At RVNA, when we re-connected, Ashley said to me, “If you ever doubted where God wants you, doubt no more.”

I believe that with all my heart.