Interim HealthCare of Newark, Ohio

INTERIM HEALTH CARE
Last month I told you about the excitement around Interim HealthCare from our new One Step at a Time fitness program. Everyone was out walking laps around the building. This month we've taken it a step further....Come around after hours on WEdnesday and you'll hear Latin Salsa music. The second step in our Wellness program was to add the new popular exercise "dance" program known as Zumba. It's a combination low impact aerobic exercise and Salsa dancing. I have two left feet but still am enjoying the music and the exercise. If you are interested in trying Zumba it's being offered at Zerger Hall (the Licking Co. Aging Program building on E. Main St.) Sat. mornings 9-10AM and Monday evening 6-7PM. There is quite an age range of participants. One Saturday the oldest participant was my mother-in-law (83) and at the other end of the spectrum was a 16 year old. Hope you'll come join the fun at Zerger Hall.
WE have 12 employees from the Newark Interim HealthCare office signed up for the American Heart Association Walk, Aug. 23 in Columbus, starting at 9AM at COSI. By walking we are contributing to heart health two ways - our employees are improving their own heart health while raising money for the Heart Associations programs !

The nursing shortage that hit Ohio several years ago is still a reality. Interim HealthCare of Newark has found a way to supplement the nursing staff and improve the quality of patient care at the same time. By using tele-health monitors we are able to monitor our client's blood pressure, oxygen level, blood sugar and weight, from the computer in our office. It is connected to a small monitor in the client's home which reminds the client daily, at a preset time , to step on the attached scale, use the attached blood pressure cuff, and oxygen monitor. The readings are then transmitted to our office, where an in-office nurse reads the results and responds according to the results. If the values are outside of the numbers set by the client's doctor we contact the doctor for further orders. Sometimes by adjusting the patient's diet or medication we can prevent a worsening condition that might have led to hospitalization. We may send a nurse to check on the patient and obtain another reading or we may instruct the patient to rest and do a recheck with the machine in a few minutes. These tele-health units have saved several patients a trip to the hospital or emergency room. It can also give peace of mind to family members who live out of town. The client can give access via computer to any family member they want to see the readings. If you are interested in seeing a demonstration of the tele-health unit or know someone who may be interested in it please contact Kathy Feightner at Interim HealthCare @ 349-8700. These units are particularly useful to patients with congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic lung diease or hypertension.

Need help remembering to take your medication? Interim HealthCare has an automatic medication dispenser that will hold, remind and dispense medications up to 4 times a day. It can be rented separately or with an Emergency REsponse Unit that you can activate should you need immediate medical assistance. For more information call Karen Mills at Interim HealthCare 349-8700 or 1-800-886-8700.

Thought for the day: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato