CareForce - Innovation in Seattle Home Care

For Immediate Release; CareForce Joins Sno-King Soroptimists

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

01.31.2012

 

 

Media Contact: Katheryn Howell

katheryn@careforce.com

(425) 712-1999

 

CareForce Joins Sno-King Soroptimists and Serves the Community in Another Way

 

Lynnwood, WA – 01.31.12 – CareForce has long been known in the community as a supporter of various philanthropic ventures. We have been involved in the Alzheimer’s walk for several years, this last year even engaging community partners in order to form a team. We have an ongoing commitment to support Sound Steps, a program from Seattle Parks and Recreation that helps train seniors 50+ for marathon events. We have participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk to further cancer research with the American Cancer Society. And, as of late 2011, we have pursued a membership with the Snohomish-King County Soroptimists. Beginning in 1921, the Soroptimists formed to create a venue for improving the lives of women and children in their community. An international organization, the Soroptimists consist of professional and business women who volunteer their time to take on community projects in order to support and enable nonprofit entities to continue their valuable work as well as providing scholarships for women. This year, one of the top focuses of the Sno-King Soroptimists is the issue of human trafficking, Seattle being one of the larger contributors to this issue.

It is the intention of CareForce to provide great value based services to our community through award winning Home Care and Home Health and through Geriatric Care Management. We also feel compelled to support our community through the Soroptimists, the Alzheimer’s Association, The American Cancer Society and Seattle Parks and Recreation, among other groups.  Perhaps it is the benefit of having local owners who live in the communities we serve, but CareForce understands that a healthy and safe community is the responsibility of everyone and that is why we have continued to support these important organizations that do so much for our families and friends.

 

About CareForce

Since 1999 CareForce has developed a reputation as one of the most trusted home care agencies in the Puget Sound area.  Today with over 130 employees, CareForce is known and respected for its exceptional caregivers, rapid response times, and commitment to continuous improvement of quality standards, relevant community education, outstanding customer service and its written Reliability Guarantee. CareForce hiring standards for its caregivers far exceed licensing requirements and industry standards. We select only experienced and committed Nurses, Geriatric Care Managers, and the other professional staff who make CareForce operate effectively 24 hours, every day of the year.

 

Call for more information:

(425) 712-1999 or toll free (877) 426-8800

www.careforce.com

CareForce engages in meaningful ways with our community

Before the Holidays I had a conversation with the Rehab Team Leader at US Healthworks in Lynnwood.  We discussed our caregiver training opportunities and our intention to help our staff employ best practices in body mechanics.  I had asked Ron if he would be willing to come out to our office to present current material on body mechanics and to observe a few of our caregivers technique.  To my delight, Ron said "of course".   

Last Month, I was approached through our Seattle chamber membership from a representative from       Living Well Alliance which is a partnership of Pac Med, Premera and the Diabetes Association aimed at prevention and healthy workplaces.  They offered to come out to provide free screenings at our office for staff and talk about prevention and I said "of course, Yes". 

When Seattle's Lifelong recreation asked recently if we would be willing to sponsor the local 50+ walking program aimed at increasing activity and community engagement, we said "YES".  Mari, the program coordinator at Sound Steps knows that reducing sedentary behaviors and helping our clients engage in community activities is one of CareForce's ongoing initiatives.  The kick off is this Saturday and I can't wait to meet this year's group. 

This week I had a meeting with Senior Services of Seattle to talk about their initiatives outlined this year and talked extensively about ways CareForce has supported our community seniors.  We discussed new ways to be influential together in helping our community plan for aging the way they want to.   

We are so happy to be an engaged member of our community.  The benefits are beyond measure.  We are always on the look out for new ways to do this work together and are open to talk more. 

Resiliency and capacity; CareForce's continued success story

CareForce has had so many stories over the past 48-72 hours of clients and their families helping make the care work in a situation where transportation is challenging.  Two have really exemplified the village it takes to provide care to vulnerable adults “in a snow storm”.  One client hired a cabulance to pick up their cherished caregiver and bring her to them.  The second drove to pick up one of our caregivers when the taxi service in King County disappeared off the map.  The snow and cold temperatures persist and we suspect everyone, except the children, are done with this weather.  Hoping for safe journey through the next 24 hours and warm temperatures arrive sooner than later.

In home care with CareForce; a story of business resiliency

Reading an article in the Puget Sound Business Journal yesterday about businesses that have profited from our inclement weather, I thought about CareForce's incredible showing of resiliency and capacity.  It was with great pride during a conference call with our healthcare partners that I said we are staffing at 100% and have capacity to open new clients.  Our staffers and caregivers are particularly shining at this moment, filling shifts and getting to work to care some some of the most vulnerable adults in the county.  CareForce clinical staff visited clients and opened a new client to 24 hour care starting late yesterday evening.  CareForce financial staff completed billing and payroll.  This is how we operate, this is the expectation at CareForce and the incredible value we bring to providing in home care everyday even in inclement weather.  

CareForce values all aspects of the home care industry

Few private duty home care agencies in Washington State choose to join the Home Care Association of Washington (HCAW).  CareForce is proud to be one of the few.  At CareForce we understand the importance of all aspects of the home care industry: Medicare Home Health, Private Duty Home Health, Private Duty Home Care, Medically Intensive Home Care and Durable Medical Supplies to name of few.  Our care managers and home care aides coordinate care with these other members of the home care team in a manner that is exemplary and helps our clients to recover quickly.  CareForce clinicians help you identify when other home health providers might be needed for your care and recovery. CareForce clinicians joined 15 other agencies across the state in becoming Integrated Chronic Care Managers through HCAW education.   As a member, one of CareForce’s successful coordination stories is January of the 2012 HCAW calendar.  We invite you to click on the link and explore January through December and the stories of HCAW membership’s successes.

http://data.axmag.com/data/201112/U23972_F63833/index.html

Healthy weight week 2012 Jan. 15-21

Working into the middle of the 2nd week of the New Year, most Americans have been able to test out their New Year's resolutions.  I'm sure for some folks that resolution included some commitment to their health and maintaining a healthy weight.  It is in the over 50 age bracket that we start to see chronic diseases start taking hold.  As discussed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website,

More than one-third of all adults do not meet recommendations for aerobic physical activity based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and 23% report no leisure-time physical activity at all in the preceding month.

In our own practice of caring for clients at CareForce, we often admit new clients to care services after years of sedentary behavior and subsequent disease.  We continue to work hard as a care agency to increase the activity levels of our clients.  We added a new service line to our offerings in 2010 called Activity CarePack(TM).  Activity CarePack(TM) can be the solution for clients looking to be better stewards of their care that might just need some help with goal setting and introductions in the community that make their commitment possible and sustainable. 

All of our care at CareForce begins with an initial assessment by a registered nurse or a Masters level Social Worker.  Our assessments absolutely include activity as part of our care plan.  We have as an agency trained two our Registered Nurses in Chronic Disease Management, further adding value to the service that we provide to our clients. 

So If you are overweight, you are not alone. Sixty-six percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Achieving a healthy weight can help you control your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. It might also help you prevent weight-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and some cancers.  Call our intake line and talk to a CareForce clinician about how we can help be a partner in care for you or someone you love.

 

Revitalizing the senior care community in 2012

CareForce Community Liaison; Chrystal Campbell has been busy revitalizing our community and being a part of helping the senior care community learn more about each other.  Chrystal has been one of the founding members of "Revitalize U", a Snohomish county based focused networking group for senior care providers.  Here is what Chrystal has to say about this newly formed group;

"The goal of Revitalize U is to provide a forum where like minded professionals who serve older adults can network with their community partners, problem solve to ensure that the seniors in our community are receiving the very best care, and find referral agents to serve those individuals.

The difference between Revitalize U and other networking groups is that we are not only focusing on the client and what is in their best interest but we also want to focus on you, the agents that work for our community. We want to give you a space to renew your spirit, to recharge your enthusiasm, to reaffirm the goals that you have set in place for the care of your clients. Many of us find ourselves working in the area of aging because we experience tremendous satisfaction from working with elders and learning from their wisdom and life experiences. So often, though, those working in this area of our community get bogged down by the variety of variables that affect ourselves and our work. We want to address that issue in this group. This way we are a group benefitting the community we serve as well as those who provide care in that community. We hope that you will find this group effective for your clients and potential clients as well as for yourselves as you are working with this vulnerable population."

To RSVP for the next meeting 1/25/12 you can RSVP to; Kelley@carepartnersliving.com  Or feel free to reach out directly to Chrystal at 425-712-1999 she'd be happy to answer your questions.  The group meet the last Weds. of every month at beautiful Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood.