Meet the Care Coordination Team

We all know the frustration of calling a company for help, only to be transferred from person to person to person. Or worse, never reaching a live body at all.  At RVNA, that’s not OK.

“Our goal is to give our customers the help and guidance they need — right from the first phone call, or as soon as they walk in the door,” says Melissa Woodhouse, RRT, MOT, OTR/L, CDP, manager of RVNA’s centralized Care Coordination Department.  Woodhouse’s team fields calls from potential patients and family members, doctors, hospitals, and assisted living or rehab facilities, always with the same end goal:  helping patients get the services they need.

“Often, when people contact us or come to us,” says Woodhouse, “they don’t really know what they need. Health care services and terminology can be very confusing. Our job is to listen to their concerns, gather the clinical information we need, and talk over what we can do to help.”

The Care Coordination Department represents all of RVNA’s services – in-home nursing and therapy services, onsite physical therapy and rehabilitation (Rehab by RVNA), and non-medical home care (HomeCare by RVNA) – so customers don’t have to make multiple phone calls to get what they need.

“It’s not unusual for patients to come to us needing several RVNAhealth services,” Woodhouse explains. “We’re able to line up just the right services to address their concerns.” RVNAhealth care coordinators are also able to help people navigate the often-complicated requirements of insurance coverage, a much-appreciated service.

RVNA’s Care Coordination team currently has six members: manager Melissa Woodhouse, RRT, MOT, OTR/L, CDP; Randie Cooper, Kendall Krafick, and Courtney Mead, who work the phones; and receptionists Norma Losito and Nancy Verses, who take the time to ensure that all RVNAhealth callers and walk-ins get to the right place.

Among the six of them, the team has a breadth of experience that encompasses home health, rehabilitation services, home care, administrative services, and even work in a skilled nursing facility. This collective expertise and insight makes them especially qualified for their roles.

Woodhouse, a former EMT, and respiratory and occupational therapist (OT), started at RVNAhealth in 2014 as an in-home OT before being promoted to a Rehab Manager. When the Care Coordination role came up, she saw it as a great opportunity to help people on multiple levels. “I loved the idea of getting people the care they need while also assuring they have the best possible experience with RVNA,” she says. Both Krafick and Mead worked as CNAs (certified nursing assistants) before joining RVNA, and Cooper started in Homecare by RVNA. Losito and Verses have been at RVNAhealth for 6 and 4 years respectively, and bring a wealth of administrative experience to their roles.

Though the mission of the Care Coordination team is no small task, Woodhouse sums it up simply. “When you know you’ve helped someone and gotten them the services they need, there’s nothing more gratifying.”

From Hospital to Home to Rehab — All with RVNAhealth

One Patient’s Recovery from Joint Replacement Surgery

If you had spoken with Danbury resident Diana Barchi in early May, she probably would not have imagined she’d soon be walking laps around the RVNAhealth grounds — relatively pain free. Her knee was that bad. But on May 9, the active 90-year-old had total knee replacement surgery. And with RVNAhealth’s help, she’s made steady progress on her recovery.

Barchi’s story began earlier this year at her part-time residence in Florida. While walking to the mailbox one morning, she was suddenly unable to bear weight on her leg and walk. As she explains it, her arthritis, which had previously been manageable, had finally caught up with her. Fortunately, with family visiting from Connecticut, she was able to return home to take care of it. The solution was a total knee replacement followed by physical therapy. Instead of going to an inpatient rehabilitation facility after the hospital, Barchi decided to go home to start her therapy there. And RVNAhealth was right there with her to meet all her needs – from physical therapy and extra assistance at home while she recovered, to outpatient PT at Rehab by RVNA.

“I was afraid going home from the hospital would be awful at first,” she says, referring to both her pain and limited mobility. “Then (RVNA physical therapist) Tricia showed up the next day and started encouraging me. I kept saying ‘No, I can’t do it,’ but she helped me, and I did it.”

All told, Barchi received at-home physical and occupational therapy, as well as skilled nursing services to assist her when she first returned from the hospital. She then made a seamless transition to Rehab by RVNA where she continues her therapy as an outpatient.

“Following a patient right from the time they get home from the hospital is incredibly important to the therapy process,” says RVNAhealth Director of Rehabilitation Services, Gigi Weiss. “The patient benefits from the continuity of having one agency provide all of their treatment and therapists who understand the patient’s complete medical history and path to recovery.”

Barchi’s progress is a case in point. “I started with exercises on my bed. Pretty soon, Tricia had me up and walking, and doing even more exercises.” Now, at Rehab by RVNA, Barchi is working on more advanced skills such as increasing her knee range of motion and strength, improving her balance, walking up and down stairs, and getting around outside independently.

As her therapy progresses, Barchi is looking forward to getting back to some of her favorite activities – cooking, baking, and gardening.  A Danbury native, Barchi and her siblings, ranging in age from 88 to 97, regularly get together for family gatherings. After years as a stay-at-home mom, she began her career as laundry supervisor for a local nursing home at age 50, retiring 30 years later. Along the way (in her 70s), Barchi broke both wrists in a fall. Determined, she went back to work as soon as she recovered. It wasn’t until age 80 that Barchi finally decided to retire. Still, she says she loved working and sometimes thinks she’d like to go back.

In the meantime, Barchi will continue her therapy at RVNAhealth, which is scheduled to conclude on July 10, just 2 months from the day of her surgery.

“I have nothing but accolades for the RVNAhealth physical therapists and staff at Rehab by RVNA,” she says. “I love the people I’m working with here. That’s sincere, you know. I’m so glad I didn’t go to a nursing home!”

June 2018: Eating for Brain Health

My family has a history of Alzheimer’s Disease. I’ve read about different diets that can help reduce the risk. What are they and do they work?

A healthy diet is certainly a good place to start in the prevention of many conditions, and brain health is no exception. While there’s no single diet that is proven to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, there is promising information about dietary approaches that may help brain function in indirect ways.

What’s key is reducing the risk of other conditions that can contribute to a decline in cognitive function. Cardiac disease and high blood pressure are both linked to a deterioration in blood vessels, including blood vessels in the brain, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Eating to protect your heart and lower your blood pressure can have the added benefit of lessening risk factors associated with cognitive decline. Diets that reduce cholesterol and inflammation can also contribute to a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s, again because they can reduce your risk for heart disease.

There are three eating styles that show promise in protecting heart health and reducing blood pressure, and therefore may improve brain health, as well. They are the Mediterranean Diet, the DASH Diet, and the Mind Diet. These diets all have some elements in common and it’s smart to consider incorporating these into your diet:

Up This

  • Foods high in monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids, such as olives, ground flaxseed, cold water fish and nuts
  • Fruits and vegetables, particularly green, leafy vegetables
  • Whole grains and beans (legumes)
  • Lean meat and occasional low-fat dairy foods

Reduce That

  • Sugar – including honey, syrup, agave and other “natural” forms of sugar
  • Artificial sweeteners – including Stevia, Splenda, Sweet ’N Low, Equal and sugar alcohols
  • Processed carbohydrates, such as those made with white flour
  • High-fat dairy products
  • High-fat and processed meats, such as deli meats and bacon
  • Alcohol

Although there’s no sure-fire way to completely prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s, improving your overall health through diet is certainly food for thought.

If you want to discuss dietary approaches to prevent and manage specific diseases, feel free to contact me for a private consultation at 203-438-5555.

May 2018: Arthritis and the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

I know nutrition can help with conditions like heart disease and diabetes, but what about arthritis. Will changing my diet help my condition?

I’m sorry to hear about your arthritis but am happy to report that there are definitely things you can do nutritionally to protect against the development of the condition or lessen the severity of symptoms. Simply put, arthritis is inflammation in the joints that worsens over time. Several types of arthritis together affect millions of Americans and limit their daily activities. So, what’s the nutritional approach to help with the inflammation of arthritis? An anti-inflammatory diet. Here are key elements to keep in mind.

Out with the Bad — Foods that Promote Inflammation
Higher intake of meat and alcohol contributes to increased inflammation in the body. Lower consumption of vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, whether in combination with high meat and alcohol intake or not, also contributes.

In with the Good – Foods that Help
Evidence suggests that increasing consumption of vitamin C, vitamin D found in fatty fish, omega 3s found in ground flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, and nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and chondroitin may help with arthritic symptoms. Phytochemicals found in a wide variety of foods such as fennel, garlic, basil, rosemary, pomegranate, turmeric, red pepper, cloves, anise, and ginger can also fight inflammation.

Lighten Up
For osteoarthritis in particular, weight loss is effective because excess weight strains the joints. As little as a 5% reduction in weight from a sensible diet— in an overweight person — can bring an 18% gain in overall functioning. While it’s not recommended that people at a healthy weight attempt to lose weight, everyone benefits from vitamins A, C, D, E and omega-3s.

Translating it to the Kitchen Table
The anti-inflammatory diet isn’t new. In essence, it’s similar to the Mediterranean diet, which has myriad health benefits beyond reduction of inflammation. The recommendations from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics include:

  • Fish: 3-4 oz. fatty fish (cold water fish like salmon, tuna, scallops, sardines, herring) twice a week. If you’re not a fish fan, try taking 600-1,000 mg of fish oil daily. Omega-3s found in these foods and supplements can help with pain, swelling, stiffness, and tenderness.
  • Nuts: 1 ounce per day to provides benefit from vitamins B6 and Omega-3s. Choose walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or pine nuts.
  • Fruits and vegetables: Nine or more 1-cup servings per day helps due to the antioxidants and phytochemicals they offer. Quick tip — the brighter the color, the higher the antioxidants, so choose broccoli, spinach, kale, blueberries, cherries.
  • Beans: 1 cup at least twice per week. Beans contain fiber and phytonutrients that can help lower a key marker of inflammation in the blood, and are filled with protein which helps with muscle health. Best choices include red kidney beans, pinto beans, and small red beans.
  • Whole grains: 6 oz. of grains per day (at LEAST 3 oz. should be whole grains). A serving boils down to a cup of cooked brown rice or one slice whole grain bread. Much like beans, the fiber here is key.
  • A word about night shade vegetables: Some people report more pain when consuming tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and red bell peppers, sometimes referred to as nightshade vegetables. If they cause discomfort for you, avoid them. Otherwise, feel free to eat them as they contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals!

By following an anti-inflammatory diet, you can keep inflammation and arthritic symptoms at bay. As always, it’s important to talk to your doctor or healthcare team about supplementation and what’s the best fit for you.

Meg Whitbeck, MS, RD, counsels patients in disease management through nutrition. For more information or to schedule a private consultation, contact RVNAhealth at 203-438-5555

Older Adults and Depression

Clinical depression in the elderly is common, but that does not mean it’s something to be ignored.  It’s estimated that 7 million Americans 65 and older suffer from some form of depression, but only 10% of them receive treatment.

Depression in the elderly differs from that in younger adults because it often occurs along with other medical illnesses and lasts longer. Depression doubles the risk of cardiac disease in the elderly and increases their risk of death from illness.  It also reduces an elderly person’s ability to rehabilitate.

Research indicates that brain chemistry, genetic make-up and stress all can contribute to depression. Factors that increase the risk of depression in the elderly include being female, unmarried, divorced or widowed; lack of a supportive social network; and stressful life events such as losing a loved one, a relocation, or retirement. Physical conditions like stroke, diabetes, cancer and chronic pain further increase the risk.

Symptoms of depression are similar at any age: ongoing feelings of sadness or helplessness, excessive sleeping or insomnia, loss of interest in once pleasurable activities, social withdrawal, aches and pains, lack of concentration or poor memory and thoughts of death and suicide. The suicide rate for people age 80-84 is twice that of the general population. Many times the symptoms of depression in older adults are overlooked and considered a normal part of aging, and no treatment is sought. However, there are options available including antidepressant medication, psychotherapy and in severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy that can greatly improve the condition. Other simple steps to reduce late-life depression include trying to prepare for major life changes as much as possible, engaging in regular social contact with family and friends and adopting a healthy diet and exercise schedule.

Depression should not be suffered through. Seeking treatment for depression, starting with a primary care physician, can greatly improve one’s quality of life, even in later years.

Meet Dena Davis, LPN

Dena Davis, LPN, is a nurse through and through. Drawn to nursing from an early age, it’s a core part of her identity. For Dena, life — and nursing — is about the people, the relationships, the sharing, the connection. Meet Dena for yourself!

How long have you been a nurse?
8 years 

How long have you worked at RVNA?
3 years this August.

Where did you grow up?
I have lived in Connecticut my entire life. I currently live in New Milford.

When did you decide you wanted to become a nurse?
I was originally a CNA (certified nursing assistant) after high school and started nursing school, but eventually transitioned out of that program. Even so, I still found myself working in physician’s offices and in the medical field. Low and behold, after a couple of years I was drawn to nursing school again.

What is your favorite part of nursing?
People. It will always be the people. The relationships we build, the knowledge or experience someone else is willing to share with you. I receive the greatest joy from meeting people in their own environments.

If you weren’t a nurse, what would you be?
There is nothing else. Being a nurse is part of my identity. I cannot see myself being as satisfied in any other profession. I have many roles in life, but my profession is nursing.  

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I spend as much time as possible with my family outside of work.  

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would take my family state by state to try different foods. The greatest question is would we be in search of breakfast, dessert, specifically ice cream, or BBQ? Maybe just a search for the best cup of coffee or most ridiculous food truck. Something silly and fun.

Thank You Ridgefield High School Interns!

They came, they conquered, they left!

So it goes with high school interns. But we treasured the time we had, and sincerely thank our three Ridgefield High School interns, Sarah Cordisco, Rachel Johnston, and Katie Schoenherr, who joined us in May and helped us in ways too myriad to mention.

We appreciated their energy, insights, and enthusiasm and welcome them back whenever they’re in town!

Rachel Johnston

Rachel spent her days at Rehab by RVNA, our onsite physical therapy and rehabilitation center.  Rachel’s goal?  To confirm or deny her interest in the field of physical therapy. Was she convinced? “Yes!” says Rachel. “By looking at the way the therapists interacted with the patients, I learned that it takes a lot of social skills in addition to medical knowledge to be the most helpful.”  Rachel was also impressed by the positivity of the Rehab patients — who were upbeat and interested in her future, even as they came in for their own treatments — as well as the closeness and collegiality of the Rehab by RVNA team.

Rachel now looks forward to two weeks of European travel, followed by summer lifeguarding, and preparing for her first year at Bucknell University.

Sarah Cordisco and Katie Schoenherr

Sarah and Katie spent their RVNAhealth internships working and helping nearly every department in the organization. From philanthropy to marketing to clinical, making blankets, creating mailings and materials, they saw it all.

Their favorite part? Going out in the field with RVNAhealth clinicians to visit patients. “It was so much fun!” they exclaimed. And the clinicians agree. They were a breath of fresh air indeed.

For the summer, Katie will continue her job as a hostess at Hoodoo Brown in Ridgefield (bonus dining tip: Tuesday nights are the least crowded) with travel plans to Rhode Island, Long Beach Island, and …. Aruba with her family. “It’s my first time out of the country!” says Katie.  And Sarah departs promptly for Camp Woodstock in Woodstock, CT where she’ll be a camp counselor through mid-August, returning just in time for her next adventure.

In the fall, Sarah heads north to study nursing at the University of Vermont and Katie heads south to the nursing program at the University of Delaware, where they’ll both expand upon their recent learnings.

Thank you again interns, we’ll miss you and … Godspeed!

Meet Kendall Krafick

For those of you who phone RVNA in need of our services, chances are the Centralized Care Coordination team has answered your call — literally and figuratively. And care coordinator Kendall Krafick may very well have been the friendly voice on the other end of the phone. Lucky for us, a career change brought Kendall to RVNA. What did Kendall bring to us? Her own blend of enthusiasm, excellence, and empathy to everything she does. See what we mean….

Where did you grow up? Where do you reside now?
I lived in Brookfield, CT until I was 3 and have lived in the same house in Danbury ever since!

What did you study in school?
I majored in Health Sciences and minored in Rehabilitation & Disability Studies at Springfield College in MA.

What brought you to RVNA?
I was previously a CNA for about four years at a nursing home and decided that I wanted to broaden my experience by working in home care on the administrative side.

What is your role at RVNA?
I work in the Care Coordination Department where we process HomeCare, Lifeline, and Home Health referrals. We speak with everyone who might refer a patient to RVNAhealth – physicians’ offices, family members and individuals themselves.

How long have you worked at RVNA?
Since September 2017. (A newbie!)

What is your favorite part of your job?
I had been used to direct patient contact, which I certainly do miss. However, this job has allowed me to see health care from a completely different perspective. I’ve truly realized how much work goes into patient care behind the scenes.

Did you ever consider another profession?
I’ve always known that I want to work in health care and I just recently came to the realization that my dream job is becoming a nurse. I hope to return to school for an accelerated program in 2019. Perhaps I’ll return to RVNAhealth as a clinician!

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I enjoy spending time with my family (including my pups) and friends. If it’s a sunny day, you can probably find me at the beach.

What is your hidden talent?
I competed in Irish Dance for 10 years!

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would definitely save some for nursing school and use some to travel, too.

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?
I’m constantly smiling or laughing in the office with my co-workers. Care Coordination is a centralized department now and we’re a very close and collaborative team.  I have to be the best I can be for my newer co-workers, who are absolutely wonderful. We take a lot of pride in our work and ability to help everyone we speak with.

Children Need to Play Outside

Summer vacation in nearly here, providing a break from the schedules and commitments of the school year.  You can improve your children’s chances of future health and success by making sure they have lots of opportunity to enjoy outside play. The current generation of children differs markedly from the last generation in the amount of time it spends indoors. Among other things, this is attributed to increased time interacting with electronic devices, more scheduled activities instead of unstructured outside play time, concerns about sun exposure and for some families, the lack of suitable outdoor play places. Adults, too, are spending less time outside.

Playing outside benefits children in lots of different ways: their bodies need sun to make vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in bone development, immune system function and helps with sleep. While overexposure can be dangerous, our bodies work best when we get some sunshine every day. Outside play is also typically active, which provides opportunity for children to get the hour or more of exercise they should experience daily.

The unstructured part of outside play increases executive function by helping kids learn how to plan, prioritize, negotiate and multitask. And there are the creative and problem-solving aspects of outside play, all of which are crucial skills for life success. Playing outside can involve positive risk taking too. If children never take risks by trying new things or attempting to make new friends on the playground, they won’t learn how to accept failure and learn from it. Unstructured outside play also benefits children socially by helping them learn how to make friends, share and cooperate, and treat others. And, lastly, it is important to give children an appreciation of nature. They are the future guardians of our planet, and unless they’re given the opportunity to walk in the woods, dig in the sand or play in a stream, they may not understand how important the natural world is and how our actions impact it.

Meet Jessica Gilmore!

One of the nice things about working for RVNAhealth is that the breadth and scope of services allows for different options for those of us who work there.

Take Jessica Gilmore, for example. She started at RVNAhealth as a non-medical caregiver for HomeCare by RVNAhealth working in the field and caring for customers in their homes. Eighteen months later, she’s at a desk in the RVNAhealth building, helping HomeCare clients get the services and care they need. Jessica doesn’t miss the driving, but she does miss her clients!

Where did you grow up? Where do you reside now?
I grew up in Norwalk and now I live in Fairfield.

What brought you to HomeCare by RVNA?
I came to HomeCare about a year and a half ago working in the field as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).

Note: CNAs are HomeCare by RVNA’s caregivers who provide non-medical care to customers in their homes. Jessica did this for just under 18 months before her talents and insights led her to a new position — this time in the RVNAhealth building in Ridgefield. 

What is your current role at RVNA?
My new role is a Client Service Coordinator. I help ensure that our clients are getting the care and service they need and that we are matching the right caregivers to the right families.

How does your new role compare to your time in the field?
I don’t really miss all the driving, but I do miss talking to and working with many of the clients and helping them in their beautiful homes!

What is your favorite part of your new job?
My favorite part of my new job is working with the very lovely ladies in the office with me and understanding what my clients on the phone are really looking for. It’s also nice to have weekends off!

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I love to go on vacation and enjoy going to different festivals.

What is your hidden talent?
I would say my hidden talent is doing art, painting, and drawing.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
If I won the lottery, I would take a couple of vacations and buy my dream home. But I would definitely keep working. (Good thing, says RVNA!)