Jennifer Leake, business development manager for Egis Quality Senior Home Care, speaks to local Kiwanis. Provided photo
Laramie Hassenstein of Presbyterian Home Health and Hospice of Northern New Mexico provided an overview of the organization and its goals. Provided photo
Written by Brooke Davis
Los Alamos Ski Varnish Club
At the Nov. 12 Kiwanis meeting, club members heard from representatives from the senior health care industry and learned about the range of services they provide and plans to bring those services to Los Alamos.
Nathan Young and Laramie Hassenstein of Presbyterian Home Health Care and Hospice of Northern New Mexico provided an overview of the organization and its goals. Hospice care aims to create value in the final days of a loved one's life. Their goal is to reduce physical pain, psychological and spiritual depression, and reduce stress for patients and their families. All efforts to help patients maintain dignity, comfort, and quality of life, even when treatment is no longer the best option.
They provide case management experts, skilled nurses, medical social workers, and home health care.
Medical assistants, chaplains, and volunteers follow patients. Nurses play an important role in identifying medical issues and acting as a conduit of communication with other members of the team.
The national average length of hospice care is 14 days, but recertification occurs every 60 days, 120 days, and then every 30 days, so the period can be longer. Many patients are admitted to hospice intermittently depending on their symptoms.
Next, Jennifer Riek, Business Development Manager for Egis Quality Senior Home Care, spoke and explained about the company and the unique services it offers. Examples of traditional home care services include bathing and dressing, meal preparation, meal assistance, transportation, toileting and transportation, shopping and errands, light housekeeping, and medication reminders and transfers.
Egis goes beyond these services to provide elderly care management. These activities include:
Performs evaluations and care plans, assists with long-term care insurance, serves as a health care power of attorney, coordinates medical appointments, assists with living options, identifies community resources, and generally serves as a communicator and advocate for clients. .
