Access Participates in Charity Easter Egg Hunt

Access Homecare and Hospice had the privilege of working with The Cache County Family to Family Network (CCFF) on their 3rd annual Adaptive Easter Egg Hunt.  Thanks to the Whittier Center, the hunt took place on their wonderful play set and adjacent grounds.  Access Homecare and Hospice, Smith’s and the local scouts played a role in donations and volunteers.  Lora Meerdo is the director of the local chapter and put the Easter Egg Hunt together three years ago.  The event is a wonderful opportunity for those with disabilities and their families. 

What is the Family to Family Network?

Utah’s Family to Family Network is a grassroots volunteer organization composed of family members from across the state that have a relative with a disability.

What is their Mission?  

The Mission of the Network is to educate, strengthen, and support families of persons with disabilities.

            

             What can they do for you?

You can learn what services and resources are available to you!

                *Local monthly meetings

                *Information and referral

                *Family to family support

                *Advocacy for families

                * How to work with the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD)

               

The CCFF group holds monthly meetings on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Logan Regional Hospital Education Center, classroom 7. We invite you to attend meetings for education and support. Below is a schedule of topics for upcoming meeting.  There will be time for support at each meeting.
*May 2 - Special Olympics
*June 6 - Sibling Issues
*July 4 – No meeting
*Aug 1 – Adaptive Bicycles with Common Ground
*Sept 5 – DSPD Benefits and the waiting list

For additional information and to find out how to get connected, contact:
Lora Meerdo
lmeerdo@comcast.net
435-760-0741

Celebrating Volunteers

April is National Volunteer Month.  Access Home Care and Hospice appreciates all the hard work and hours our volunteers put in.  We would like to share a personal story by Sylvia Jones on volunteering:  

Many years ago, while I was employed full time at a busy job and also being a newly married lady, I gave of my time, talent, and energy at a mental institution in our town.  The joy I found and the satisfaction I felt was overwhelming.  At first it was somewhat scary to be in this environment, never having had anyone compromised in this way in my family circle or circle of friends.  But I had a reason for doing this.  I learned from this valuable time how to deal and cope with these situations and how to work with them.  

I volunteered in a locked-up environment which was also overwhelming at first.  To my surprise, I found out that a friend of my parents from many years back was a resident of this facility, and that when I was a baby this lady had wanted to keep me as she was unable to have children.  I brought this lady up to date with pictures, special items, and brought her up to current times.  The time came when she was able to piece things together and she said to me one day, “Please dear, you should not come here, as this is not a place for you.”  However I wanted to bring something into this lady’s life.  Together, after much time, we had closed up the years.  I was told that she would have been able to be released from the facility, but because she had no family to go to, she was unable not leave.  But I did bring her to my home on two occasions for afternoon refreshments, and I saw the joy of this lady “feeling a part of life.”  I have never forgotten this volunteering experience.  This lady later passed away but I have the fulfillment in my life of having done just a little to make a difference in the life of one person.

On behalf of all of Access Home Care and Hospice staff, thank you all for the time you have spent volunteering.  It has made such a difference in the lives of our patients and families.  Any liitle bit you are able to do really is appreciated and makes such a difference.  If you, or anyone you know is interested in volunteering, please contact your local office in your area.  Together we will help others “feel the difference.” 

Access Home Care of Pocatello, Idaho Awarded the Pinnacle Customer Experience Award

Over the course of the last twelve months, Pinnacle Quality Insight, a nationally recognized customer satisfaction firm, has interviewed the customers of Access Home Care of Pocatello, Idaho regarding their satisfaction levels. Customers were asked to evaluate several aspects of their received services. From the results of these interviews, Pinnacle determined that Access Home Care qualified for a Pinnacle Customer Experience Award in the following service areas:

• Licensed Nurse Services
• Home Health Aide Services
• Response to Problems
• Courtesy and Friendliness
• Safety/Education and Training
• Pain Management
• Communication from Agency
• Combined Average

The Customer Experience Award is awarded to care providers who have achieved best-in-class customer satisfaction standards within their peer group.


We would like to congratulate the staff of Access Home Care in Pocatello, Idaho for achieving this honor!

LIVE—Without Pain Campaign Helps People Advocate for Relief

New public awareness campaign from NHPCO’s Caring Connections dispels myths about pain and empowers consumers

(Alexandria, Va) – “Pain is a natural part of aging or illness and people have to live with it” – is a common myth that leaves millions of people in pain every day. There is almost always a reason why a person is experiencing pain and in most cases physical pain can be managed. Learning the truth about pain and what can be done to manage pain is the focus of a new campaign, LIVE—Without Pain.


LIVE—Without Pain was developed in partnership between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Caring Connections and Purdue Pharma L.P. The campaign will empower patients and family caregivers to advocate for expert pain relief in all care settings through education and how to resources.


“When someone is in pain, it can be impossible to think about anything else,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “Pain can make it difficult for you to work, sleep, maintain relationships with friends and loved ones and participate in simple activities.”


Physical pain is only one aspect of suffering. Emotional and psychological suffering is also an important factor that must be considered.Hospice and palliative care professionals, experts in helping patients and families cope with pain, know that pain can take away peace of mind, comfort, enjoyment, and most of all hope.


“Good pain management improves quality of life and in most cases it is possible to manage pain and that’s why we want to increase public awareness about the issue,” explained Schumacher.  Some advice from professionals who help patients and family caregivers deal with pain:

• In order for the doctor or other healthcare provider to determine the best way to control pain, they rely on what patients and family caregivers tell them, so communication is important.
• Pain in older adults, just like pain in any other age group, is the body’s way of saying that something needs attention. Pain is a signal that it is time to talk with a doctor or other caregiver and seek help.
• Pain associated with a life-limiting illness or at the end of life requires special attention and can best be treated by a palliative care or hospice provider.

NHPCO will officially launch the campaign at its upcoming Management and Leadership Conference being held at the Gaylord National Harbor Convention Center on March 29-31, 2012.


LIVE—Without Pain resources are available online at CaringInfo.org/pain. You can learn about different kinds of pain, caring for someone in pain, talking with your physician, managing medications and more. Free brochures that may be downloaded include: Managing Your Pain, Using Narcotics Safely, and When Your Child is in Pain.  Local hospice and palliative care providers also serve as important community resources to help people who are struggling with pain related to serious and advanced illness.

Access Home Care and Hospice Changes Office Location in Ogden, Utah

Access Home Care and Hospice is proud to announce their new office location in Ogden, Utah.  After years of  growth and working out of the Harrison Boulevard office, the staff is happy to be in their more spacious location in Riverdale.  The new address is 4933 South 1500 West, Building B, Riverdale, Utah 84405.  The Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new location and did a ribbon cutting.  We look forward to many more years and growth at this new location!

Access "Commits to be Fit"

Access Home Care and Hospice launched an employee wellness program in January of 2012 with the goal of encouraging its employees to make healthy lifestyle choices. Studies have shown that employees who live healthier lifestyles have greater job satisfaction and are actually more effective in the workplace.

Approximately one third of Access employees are currently participating in the inaugural “Commit to be Fit” fitness challenge. Upon completion of the 12 week event, employees will be rewarded for achieving specific fitness benchmarks. Additional events will be organized throughout the year to promote healthy lifestyle choices.

Each Access Home Care and Hospice office has a Wellness Representative:

Pocatello, Blackfoot, Preston, ID – Lauren Pascoe
Afton, WY – Jaime Stevens
Logan, UT – Chris Howell
Brigham City, UT – Jason Jones
Ogden, UT – Jeff Baird
Salt Lake City – Mary Collins

Access Recognizes Staff for Achievements

The annual Christmas party was held again at the Maddox restaurant in Brigham City, Utah. It was great to meet as a company and enjoy food and some laughs from all the skits. Many staff were recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments throughout the year. Below is a list of those people with their corresponding awards:


• Best Customer Service – Valerie Pascoe (Patient Care Coordinator in Pocatello, Idaho)
• Best Leader – Camie Tripp (Regional Director of Nursing Idaho/Wyoming)
• Most Professional – Ashley Sandoval (Area Manager in Ogden, Utah)
• Best Team Player – Kaydawn Hatch (Office Manager in Logan, Utah)
• Best Patient Care – Elaine Egbert (CNA in Logan, Utah)
• Most Compliant Nurse, Quality Assurance Award – Tina Shaw (RN Case Manager in Pocatello, Idaho)
• Happy Retirement Award – Jill Thorson (Office Manager in Logan, Utah and Preston, Idaho)

Thank you to the owners, Rob, Chad, and Cathy for the cash prizes and for such a great meal.