CareForce - Innovation in Seattle Home Care

King County Healthcare Coalition Wins 2012 Homeland Security Award

It is our pleasure to share that the King County Healthcare Coalition has been awarded the 2012 Homeland Security Award for Outstanding Regional Partnership. This prestigious award recognizes the importance of our Coalition in bringing together a diverse set of healthcare organizations to better serve our community during disasters. CareForce is both a member and sponsor of this very important adventure in preparing for and responding to emergencies.  www.kingcountyhealthcarecoalition.org

Fond Farewell to Amber, Geriatric Care Manager

Amber RN, one of our Geriatric Care Managers will leave CareForce at the end of this week to go to work for Group Health.  We will miss her.  During her time with us she has shared her enthusiasm and professionalism to with our close knit team.    In addition she gained a reputation among our clients and caregivers as being honest, positive, and a great teacher.  She also graduates from University of Washington, Tacoma this June with her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN).  Please join CareForce in wishing Amber all the luck in the next phase of her journey in nursing.  The world is much better for it….

National Agenda Focused on Prevention/Cure for Alzheimers' Dementia

The National Institute of Health released their new agenda to focus on prevention and cure for Alzheimers' type dementia.  This announcement coincides with the announcement of an exciting study to be held in the country of Columbia http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2018215046_alzheimerdrug16.html as well as some parts of the USA and Europe.   Learning how to care for people with dementia is one very important component of this agenda.  CareForce is proud to partner with Evergreen Health Systems and Providence Mt. St. Vincents'  in bringing Teepa Snow, dementia expert extraordinaire, to King County June 18, 19, and 20.  Visit www.careforce.com for information.

Finding Support for Your Parents is A Process

Kim Nicholas, MSW, is a geratric care manager at CareForce.  Her specialty is geriatric mental health and her wisdom is very important to the care that CareForce brings to our clients.  So many times, adult children want their parents to get support and care to alleviate some of the burden on the "kids" and also to create a larger safety net in helping them remain safe in their own home.  Kim reminded us this week that sometimes that first meeting with a CareForce clinician can end with agreement to care and support, only to have the parent (in need) cancel and refuse help within the hour (or just before the first caregiver shift).  Remember....it is a process...and many of our independent older parents have to dip their toe in the water several times before they decide to wade.....

Reflecting on Mother's Day

CareForce is honored to be trusted by so many people to care for their mothers.  These are good sons and daughters who need support in helping their moms to have a safe and happy life during the weeks, months or years of disability.  CareForce Geriatric Care Managers and caregivers help their moms to have a life in their own home where each mom feels like they have some control over their wellbeing. In addition, many of CareForce's staff are mothers.  To these mothers who leave their homes to care for our clients....we are eternally indebted.  Please join me in honoring mothers everywhere in our midst.

Happy Birthday Florence Nightingale

On the celebration of her birthday, National Nurses' Week comes to a close for 2012.  However, the RN Geriatric Care managers , the RN's and LPN's that provide care to our customers, and the nurses who refer clients to CareForce are celebrated every day.  Home Health Nursing and Geriatric Care Management are specialties that attract nurses who are comfortable in their clients' home and community setting.  In our field, the nursing staff has to work with client goals and walk that delicate line of earning the trust and respect of the client.  Happy Nurses' Week.

CareForce Attends Women of Color Empowered Event

Dennis Chapin and Elizabeth Kongo attended the event today titled "Today's Leaders: Paving th Way for the Future.  A presentation panel included such powerful women as Dr. Ana Mari Cauce, Provost, UW, Martha Choe, CAO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Trish Carpenter, President, Bellevue LifeSpring, Anu Jain. VP, community Relations, Inteliu, Gael Tarleton, President, Port of Seattle Commission, Gloria Northcroft, Life Sciences Consultant, Linda Pillo, Chief, Bellvue Police Department, and Marie Zackuse, Secretary for the Board of Directors, Tulalip Tribes of Washington.  This event is a wonderful way to say thank you to the leadership in our community who can inspire all girls and women to be all that they can be and to promote community building. http://womenofcolorempowered.com/

Wow, these are exciting times at CareForce! We are proud to announce that our very own Joni Scott, RN, BSN, and Certified Geriatric Care Manager, was featured in The Seattle Times this past Sunday. The May 6th 2012 article, titled “Niche nursing: Specialties that are in demand,” highlights areas of nursing practice that many individuals may not be aware of. Joni Scott describes her role as a Certified Geriatric Care Manager, where her days may range from providing for a client’s medical needs and problem solving, to training caregivers on how to appropriately care for her clients. In addition to Joni, CareForce has three other RN Geriatric Care Managers, and a MSW Geriatric Care Manager. This unique blend of the RN-MSW team ensures the highest level of care and understanding of our client’s needs. This is one of the many aspects of CareForce that sets us apart from the rest. As The Seattle Times article pointed out, it is expected that more and more individuals are being cared for in their homes than in facility settings. This translates to a need for skilled clinicians that are ready to meet the distinct needs of each person in their home. CareForce is not only prepared to meet this need, we are excited and honored to have the opportunity to do so! To read the full article that Joni Scott was featured in, visit the following link: http://blog.nwjobs.com/careercenter/niche_nursing_specialties_that_are_in_demand.html#comments

Check out CareForce's Deal on Geriatric Care Management.
Experienced geriatric care expert RN/MSW team assesses your care needs based on your personal goals. A comprehensive plan is developed based on your goals for your consideration including medical, safety, housing, legal, social, and cognitive/psychological needs. For more information please call 425-712-1999.

http://store.careforce.com/dealoftheday.asp

National Dementia Expert Offers Low Cost Training June 18th and 19th 2012

TEEPA SNOW, nationally recognized expert in Dementia Care, is coming to Seattle during the week of
June 18th 2012. Ms. Snow, an adjunct faculty member at Duke and the University of North Carolina is known for her expertise in Dementia Care. Snow uses her perspective as an occupational therapist to teach nursing students, physicians and thousands of family members more effective methods to communicate with and provide care for persons with Dementia. She has received awards and accolades for her clinical teaching skills from a wide variety of organizations. Ms. Snow has developed two training videos, published many professional articles and has conducted over 350 workshops on Dementia Care during the past year alone.

June 18th at Evergreen Hospital Kirkland- two separate workshops:

• 9:00am-12:30pm: “Understanding Symptoms of Dementia and How to use this knowledge to help".
• 1:30pm-5:00pm: "Building your communication and hands-on skills for quality interactions and care"

June 19th at Evergreen Hospital Kirkland - two separate workshops:

• 9:00am-12:30pm: "Progression of dementia what changes, What is Lost, What abilities are kept".
• 1:30pm-5:00pm: "Matching your helping behaviors to the person to reduce distress and resistance".

Registration
CareForce and Evergreen Health sponsor these events. The cost for each of these workshops at Evergreen Hospital cost is $10 per session, $5 students with a copy of student ID. Register by calling
425-712-1999 or download registration form at; http://careforce.com/download-form/ . CEUS will be available for $5.00 for social workers, professional guardians and care managers at workshops held on the 18th and 19th. Seating is limited and early registration is encouraged.