Colusa Regional Medical Center,
Caring for Our Community

Caring for Seniors in our Community

Caring for an older adult who has become ill is one of the highest stressors in a person’s life.  Not knowing what to do or where to go to get help can add to the stress level.  And, families are sometimes reluctant to “bother” the doctor with little questions about a loved one’s change in behavior or appearance.

  Doug Stoddard, RN, new Director of Home Health Services reports that one of the most important services that the Home Health nurse provides is educating family members about what is happening to their sick relative and what they can do to help the frightened patient recover.  Doug reports that the Medicare regulations are so confusing that most people don’t understand when and how Medicare would pay for licensed nurses and other professionals to come to the home. 

The patients who most frequently benefit from home health care include those who have had surgery or an injury requiring wound care; people recovering from strokes or cardiac episodes requiring medication management and stabilization; those who suffer with chronic pain or side effects of cancer treatment; and those with a newly diagnosed or chronic illness who don’t appear to be responding to medical care as expected.

  After the physician has authorized the service, the Registered Nurse will visit the home and interview the patient and other authorized family members.  Information from this in-home assessment is then provided to the treating physician who provides the medical orders for the care to be provided by the home health team. 

 The Registered Nurses spend a lot of time educating the patient and teaching them how to take their medications, monitor their vital signs, modify their food choices, and adapt their life styles to facilitate the healing process.   Sometimes, patients will benefit from in-home visits of other health professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists.  And, almost always, patients appreciate the comfort of being visited in their homes by the caring health professionals.

  Home Health care helps the patient feel more secure in his/her own home and reduces the need for repeat hospitalizations or transfers to assisted living facilities.  And, family members feel more comfortable about their ailing parent’s ability to continue to live at home and take care of him/herself.  For more information about whether your parent would benefit from home health services, contact Doug Stoddard, RN, Director of CRMC Home Health at (530) 458-5821 x040.  For more information on Medicare guidelines, visit www.Medicare.org.

Home Health care is just one of the many wonderful programs in the community and at Colusa Regional Medical Center that are available for older adults.  A resource guide has been prepared for distribution at the upcoming Senior Health Fair on October 26^th.  It will include contact information for the agencies in the area that specialize in providing medical and other support services to seniors.  If you are unable to attend the health fair and would like a copy of this resource guide, you can contact Charla Parker, Director of Community Relations and Strategic Planning at (530) 458-5821 x396 or cparker@colusamedicalcenter.org.