A Word from Our CEO

Krystin Albert, BSN RN

What does Occupational Therapy include and how can you benefit from it? Occupational Therapy focuses on promoting health and improving quality of life. An Occupational Therapist evaluates a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities with a focus on fine motor skills, dexterity, and hand eye coordination. They develop an individualized approach for each person based on their comprehensive assessment. They provide education, recommendations for adaptive equipment, as well as environmental changes needed for a person to be successful. Some examples Occupational Therapy treatments would be working on maximize independence for personal care, education, and implementation of adaptative equipment needed for independence and adjustment to physical changes from all types of disease processes.

You might be surprised to know that they also work on memory recall and working closely with families of individuals with Dementia or other Neurological diseases to help increase familiarity within their home and improve safety. Pillbox teaching, ostomy and wound care training and teaching are tasks that Occupational Therapists can assist with. Franklin VNA & Hospice can say with confidence that patients who receive Occupational Therapy while on service with us demonstrate improvement on discharge. Our approach is patient based incorporating the goals of a patient and family with the therapist care plan. Franklin VNA & Hospice provides a team approach encompassing all disciplines to work together to ensure success. Being a small Home Health Agency we have one Occupational Therapist and one Occupational Therapist Assistant. In honor of Occupational Therapy Month in April we want to give a huge thank you to Rachael Dargie and Amy Sue Deluca for providing compassionate care to each person they care for. Your professionalism and expertise represent the mission of Franklin VNA & Hospice in the community. Thank you for all that you do.

If you have an accident, hospitalization, or changes in your medical status, Franklin VNA & Hospice is here to assist you. Make us YOUR choice for in-home care.

Welcome to April!

This month we celebrate our amazing Occupational Therapy Team, learn about Esophageal Cancer awareness and prevention, and celebrate our office staff for Administrative Professionals Day.



NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH

We are so fortunate to have two AMAZING Occupational Therapists on our team here at FVNAH that we want to celebrate during the month of April. National Occupational Therapy month is the perfect time to say thank you to them for all of the hard work they do for us and for our patients.

OT Month officially began in 1980, according to nationaldaycalendar.com. It is so important to recognize the kind of therapies that are provided by professionals who carry the OT or COTA licenses. These types of therapies are not ones we often think about....until we NEED them! Injury or long-term wear-and-tear on joints and muscles can seriously impact life and the day-to-day tasks that are required of us as human beings. Sometimes, even the simplest of tasks can seem virtually impossible when there is pain and injury to the body. Occupational Therapists work with patients to help them gain back the strength and dexterity needed to wash dishes, cook meals, clean the home, and shower/bathe. Additionally, OTs can provide modifications to use to perform the above tasks if an injury or wear-and-tear of the joints that effect dexterity and overall movement have caused these tasks to be challenging....or impossible. The entire goal of an accomplished OT is to provide therapies that dramatically improve the quality of life for patients who may have been struggling to even get out of bed, let alone maintain their homes or feed and bathe themselves.

For more official information about Occupational Therapy and how it can help you or someone you know, please visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website by clicking the link below.

Meet Our Amazing OT Team!!

ESOPHAGEAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

There are so many different kinds of cancers....over 200, according to the American Cancer Society. This month, we focus on one in particular: Esophageal Cancer.

April is National Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, a type of cancer that is becoming more concerning, according to medical professionals. Specifically, the esophagus is the long tube that runs from the throat to the stomach, and helps with swallowing due to a fine network of muscles that help food, liquid, saliva, and other materials pass from the mouth to the stomach for digestion and/or removal. There can be many different causes for this type of cancer, but as it is with most, there are ways to prevent it from occurring, as well as ways to make living with esophageal cancer possible.

If you would like more official information about Esophageal Cancer, please click the link below to access the American Cancer Society's official website.

Early Detection is Power!

Your Monthly Word Search Has Arrived!

Cancer Prevention In the Kitchen

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY IS APRIL 24TH

What do you think of when you hear the title Administrative Professional? Do you think "secretary"? Do you think "someone who answers the phone"?

As an Administrative Professional myself, answering the phone is a BIG part of my job. However, it goes far beyond that task. Certainly, answering the phone for FVNAH is an incredibly important part of this job. It's how we connect patients, doctor's offices, and many others to the correct members of our staff. However, it does not stop there. This job changes from day to day, and while there are tasks that I perform regularly as part of my routine, there are many situations that arise that require quick thinking, problem-solving skills, and a clear and level head. This role also requires a lot of empathy, and the ability to relate to people in a kind and considerate manner that is devoid of judgement. To successfully perform the role of an Administrative Professional, a great deal of organizational skill and the ability to multitask is a very necessary. One must be regimented but flexible, able to pivot in a new direction at the drop of a hat, and have strong critical-thinking skills. In short, this job is not at all simply answering the phone, and it is the same for most Administrative Professionals. We are creative writers, researchers, planners, task managers, amazing listeners, and so much more!

How can you thank an Administrative Professional today? Share something on social media using #AdminProfessionalsDay and tag someone with a "shout out" for the amazing work they do! Or simply say thank you to an Administrative Professional today.

Visit https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm for more information.

Memorial Brick and Founding Donor Patio

With a donation of $50 you receive a custom brick in the memory of a lost loved one. The brick will be honored in the Teuscher-Wilson Hospice Garden, which is pictured at the top left. Other opportunities are open for larger donations as Diamond, Opal, and Amethyst sponsors. Please click on the link below for more information.

BP Clinics and Calendar of Events

Introducing Our Spring Drop-In Grief Support Group

Shout Out To Our Employee Engagement Sponsors!

We Are Hiring!!