True Care Blog listing page

The True Care team was honored to receive recognition as one of the most improved agencies for the 2017 Healthfirst Quality Incentive Program for LHCSAs.

This recognition speaks to the successful year that True Care has had. True Care has shown commitment to providing patients with the best quality of care. Together with Healthfirst, True Care has focused on improving the quality of care to patients in a variety of categories including patient satisfaction, positive health outcomes, and high quality of care.

A home visit from a nurse is a valuable tool that can be used to determine the health and wellness of an individual. The visit can also predict future problems and help stop them before they occur. During a home visit, I will look at the overall cleanliness of the home. This is important because it demonstrates if the patient is being well cared for and if she can care for herself. When visiting clients in their homes you can never be sure of what you are going to learn about them.

Last month, a few clients and aides of our Memory Care program enjoyed a delightful day at Robert Wagner Park in lower Manhattan. The program's very first meetup, Art in the Park, was a great success. The participants and caregivers supported each other and painted beautiful landscapes with facilitator, Jodie Berman, Director of Programs and Community Engagement for True Care. They learned how to "paint what you see" as they overlooked a breathtaking view of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. They also learned a paint technique called a "wash", where a layer of color is applied using diluted watercolor paint.

Meet Mr. Oka, an exceptional True Care client, who has been living with dementia for over 5 years. The relationship he has with his caregiver, Ansan, is truly special. She is his friend, someone he spends time with, learns with and, in this particular case, teaches chess.

Ansan has never played chess before meeting Mr. Oka. Being able to learn something new and switch roles with her client is something that she has sincerely enjoyed. "It feels [good] to learn something new," says Ansan. Watching them play chess is a remarkable experience. "Immediately Mr. Oka took on the role of being a teacher," says Director of Programs and Engagement, Jodie. "This was really a role reversal in caregiving."

When choosing the right person to care for you or your loved one there are many options to choose from. When coming to a decision that is right for you one of the most important questions you should ask your physician is "Do I, or my loved one, need a skilled nurse?"

A nurse that comes to your home is different from a home health aide, contrary to a friend visiting you, and unlike a phone call from a family member to “check in”. When choosing the correct caregiver there are many factors to consider.

When working with a client or loved one living with memory loss, do you often hear the word “No” more than “Yes”? It can cause distress when you hope to engage or motivate someone but not get the response you expected, or get no response at all.

Open-ended questions can work well when establishing a dialogue. However, you can rephrase your questions and allow your client to express themselves best by providing a controlled choice . By doing this, you provide them the opportunity to make their own choices, which promotes their independence as well as providing the quality care they need.