SBAR Training

We had an awesome CEU program in our Haverhill office by a nurse practitioner named Sue Jamison from Educational Solutions for Long Term Care on SBAR communication. It was really interesting. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment and Resolution. It is a system for health professionals to have precise and consistent communication with each other to relay a client's condition or a concern. The training helped us all to think about what needs to be communicated NOW to solve a client's problem. It seemed awesome for a facility, but I can definitely see how it could be applied to home health care. We may try to find a way to take this idea and create an in service for our aides on communication.

Lazy, Hazy Days

I had a lot of fun today delivering ice cream sundaes to the seniors that receive Meals on Wheels in Marblehead. North Shore Elder Services provided them to the senior centers and my Rotary Club delivered them. Everyone was home and I think they were all looking forward to their sundae. What a fun thing to do on a summer afternoon!

Light Exercise Prevents Abnormal Heart Rhythm in Elderly

I saw an article today on Forbes.com regarding another benefit of exercise for people over the age of 65. A sedentary lifestyle is killing Americans as a whole, but even a little bit of exercise can have a big benefit. The Forbes article states that light to moderate exercise -- just walking a few blocks or even dancing -- can help prevent the abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation in the elderly. Other than heart rhythm, it is known that exercise can help with weight issues and blood pressure. Check out the Forbes article here.

Meet Right at Home at Beverly Senior Day

Come see Right at Home at the Senior's Day in the Park on August 7th! Right at Home is thrilled to be one of the sponsors of the event. There will be a big band, presentations by state and federal dignitaries, and an award of Senior of the Year. This is the biggest event for the Beverly Council on Aging and we hope you can come visit Lynne Nieman at the Right at Home booth. There is a BBQ chicken lunch and an ice cream social. We hope to see you there!

More Pictures of Fun Night...

Lisa Furtado of Right at Home plating the salads...


Sharing the fruits of our labor....













Here is Audrey Connelly, Francine Dawicki and Nancy Rubin taking a little break from the hot stove...










Erin Higgins and Nancy Hardin are preparing the main course...



















Stephen Spano is preparing our vegetarian options for the evening....














Salem elder care is well represented here by Deb Coddington and Lynne Nieman of Right at Home















Marta Sturm is making the pizza and Francine is preparing the bruchetta.....

Oh What a Night...Fun Night That Is!

Right at Home, In Home Care and Assistance had our first Fun Night for our local elder care network here on the North Shore. Jay and I were thrilled at the turnout. It was such a great event because almost 30 of us were able to mingle and leave work behind. It was a so much fun for all of us at Right at Home. Our invited guests have already sent us emails telling us it was the best networking event they were ever at!

We held the evening at Eurostoves in Beverly, who sells high end appliances and runs a large commercial kitchen. The theme was a summer Tuscan Dinner. The invited guests worked in different teams to create the most delicious dinner. The menu consisted of grilled California pizza appetizers, bruchetta, grilled sirloin, summer tilapia with vegetables, vegitarian risotto, and grilled summer vegetables. The dessert was a berry creme brulee that ended up to be the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

We can see here that Mary Niemi from Hospice of the North Shore is really having FUN! We also had people join us from Brooksby Village, Renaissance Gardens, Rosewood, Woodbridge Assisted Living, New England Rehab in Danvers, Stephen and Francine from The Law Offices Spano and Dawicki, the John Bertram House in Salem, the Marblehead Council on Aging and Sharyn Russell Geriatric Care Management.

Stephen Spano, Joan Tobin and Marta Sturm look like they are enjoying the food and drinks!

Lynne Nieman from Right at Home and Cyndi Chapper are having a great time learning how to cook all those wonderful dishes!



Chef Lars was a real task manager! He showed the ladies how to pan roast the sirloin and fillet the fish! Here he is demonstrating his stovetop skills!

We will add more pictures in a day or so! Save the date for September 18th 2008 for our next FUN NIGHT~

Haven't heard from me in a while...

I have no excuse...busy I guess. The North Shore Alzheimer's Partnership met and we are working on the Caregiver Connections Conference on November 1st. We have confirmed that Dr. Peter Morin from the BU Center for Alzheimer's will be the keynote speaking about Managing Challenging Behaviors. He is also on staff at the Bedford VA Hospital. We are very excited about him being with us. The conference looks like it will be shaping up pretty well.

It is HOT out there! If you are taking care of an elder, please make sure that they stay out of the heat of the day and that they stay hydrated. I love the heat, but I know that many of our seniors are in older homes that heat up terribly and they may not have air conditioners. Stay cool!