Give the gift of help this Christmas
Not sure what to get a friend or loved one for Christmas? Give the gift of help from Holland Home’s In-Home Helpers. Our friendly, caring staff can help with light housework, meal preparation, errands or shopping as well as more skilled tasks like medication set-up, dressing changes and care coordination.
Your gift of an In-Home Helpers gift certificate can provide your loved one with transportation to an appointment or outing, assistance with bathing or dressing or just some one-on-one companionship. There’s no need to worry about size or color—the gift of help is always right and always appreciated.
To purchase your gift certificate for an In-Home Helper service, call 616-643-2525, or, for a free consultation, call 616-235-5113.
We’re on the web at in-homehelpers.org.
December 15th, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, HomeCare, Raybrook, Rehab Dimensions | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Living Life to the Fullest—How Occupational Therapy Can Help
“Is the glass half full or half empty?”
Occupational therapists and assistants have the answer: It’s full when client and therapist work together in harmony to ensure that clients are doing their best no matter what challenges they face.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), “Occupational therapy enables people to achieve their goals, function at the highest possible level, concentrate on what matters most to them, maintain or rebuild their independence and participate in everyday activities that bring meaning to their lives.”
Occupational Therapy (OT) aids in maximizing function, including bathing, dressing, grooming, home management (cleaning, cooking, laundry), equipment use, upper extremity strength/range of motion, cardiac rehabilitation, client education and the reduction of pain. OT is not simply getting back to your occupation; instead it is getting back to your daily activities. Some areas of treatment in Occupational Therapy include:
• Enabling recovery after arm and wrist fractures
• Decreasing complaints of shoulder and elbow pain or decreased motion
• Addressing difficulty with self care or Activities of Daily Living
• Progressing cardiac rehab and energy conservation/joint protection
• Obtaining adaptive equipment for self care, dressing, or home modification
Holland Home provides Occupational Therapy (OT) services at all levels of the continuum. With 19 registered Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants working at all Holland Home Campuses and throughout the community, the services can be brought to where you live. OT services are provided in skilled nursing facilities, in your home for homebound individuals, and at our three CORF accredited outpatient centers, at Breton Terrace, Raybrook and Fulton.
If you have questions about whether you might benefit from Occupational Therapy services, call the Holland Home Intake Department at (616)235-5113. We can give you more information and arrange for a free in-home screening by one of our occupational therapy clinicians. Occupational Therapy services are covered by Medicare, Medicare HMOs and most private insurances.
“Living Life To Its Fullest”™ is what occupational therapy is truly all about.
October 1st, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, HomeCare, Raybrook, Rehab Dimensions | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
The Wellness Series Presents: Staying Healthy This Winter
HomeCare of Holland Home is proud to present Marilyn Schutter, RCN on “Staying Healthy This Winter.” Marilyn will present tips on staying healthy during the cold winter months ahead along with everything you ever wanted to know about the ‘flu!
Tuesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Breton Terrace – Centre Place
2500 Breton Woods Drive
Grand Rapids
RSVP: 616-235-5112
September 29th, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, HomeCare, Raybrook, Rehab Dimensions | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Independent living to assisted living
In an attempt to familiarize the public with the full breadth of Holland Home’s services, we have created a fictionalized account of a resident working her way through the Holland Home system-from our services available in the home like home health care and hospice-through the full continuum of care from independent living to skilled nursing and benevolent care. We hope you enjoy this three-part series and that it answers some of the questions you might have about Holland Home.
In our previous installment, Ruth VanDyke was widowed and made the decision to sell her home and move to Breton Woods, Holland Home’s independent retirement community. She was settling in nicely, having made new friends and discovered new interests.
Ruth VanDyke looked out her window and watched as the tulips and daffodils danced in the gentle spring rain. She had a lot of errands to run today-a deposit at the bank, a blood draw for her annual physical and an appointment to get her hair cut. She smiled to herself. Everything she needed was close at hand at Breton Woods-a bank branch, beauty salon, a health center with access to medical care and lab work. A podiatrist visited once a month, and the pharmacy delivered prescriptions. If you didn’t want to leave the campus, you really didn’t have to!
Most days, of course, she was out and about so much that she would come home to half a dozen messages from her kids asking where on earth she was. Ruth took her checkbook from the desk drawer in the kitchen and paused for a moment. Life was good at Holland Home.
That afternoon was Ruth’s favorite activity-country-line dancing in Expressions. Her hip was hurting a bit, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She changed into her sneakers and took the elevator to the lower level.
Several times during class Ruth had to stop to rest. Her hip really hurt now. She was almost limping as she made her way back to her apartment.
“Have you spoken to the doctor?” Her daughter asked when she called later that evening.
“I’ve got an appointment next week. But it’s probably nothing. I’m sure it will be gone by then.”
Ruth was shocked when the doctor told her she would need a hip replacement as soon as possible. “Are you sure? I think it’s already stopped hurting,” she said trying to ignore the persistent ache on her right side.
The doctor patted her hand. “We’ll take good care of you, don’t worry.” He glanced through her chart and then looked up at her over the rims of his glasses. “You’re at Holland Home, aren’t you? Their Breton Woods community?”
Ruth nodded as she fiddled with the straps of her purse.
“They do an excellent job of rehab at Breton Manor. You won’t even have to leave the campus.”
That was good news, at least. Ruth hated the thought of being somewhere she’d never been before and where she didn’t know anybody. She was pretty sure Marge and Jim from next door would visit her, and probably her friends from Pins and Needles as well.
Ruth’s surgery went well, and there were no complications. She was dismayed when she learned that none of her children would be able to be there, but Marge and Jim visited several times along with other friends and neighbors.
Ruth was nervous about making the transition to Breton Manor, but a hospital liaison from Holland Home stopped by her room to put her at ease.
“Everything is all arranged,” she assured Ruth as they went through the necessary paperwork together. “You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Ruth’s daughter called later that afternoon. She was distraught at being so far away, but Ruth reassured her that she was well taken care of. “A representative from Holland Home has already organized everything,” she told Sarah.
Ruth’s transfer to Breton Manor went smoothly. Her room was light, airy and comfortable, and, best of all, not a day went by without some of her friends stopping for a visit.
Ruth worked hard with the excellent physical therapists at Breton Manor and made great progress. She couldn’t imagine how she would have managed the situation if she hadn’t been part of the Holland Home family.
Life was certainly good at Holland Home.
Ruth’s hip healed beautifully, and she enjoyed many more country-line dancing classes along with all the other activities being offered at Breton Woods. The years went by quickly, and Ruth was as surprised as anyone to have 85 candles on her birthday cake that year.
The kids all came for the big day, and Ruth rented the private dining room for a party which was a great success. Afterwards, Ruth was tired and a little dizzy.
“Have you taken your pills today, mother?” Sarah opened the medicine chest and took out Ruth’s pill box. She looked up in concern. “You haven’t taken any pills since Monday.” She showed the nearly full container to Ruth.
“Oh, dear.” Ruth wiped a hand across her forehead. “I could have sworn I’d taken them.” She looked at Sarah, her eyes troubled.
Sarah patted her mother’s hand. “Probably all the excitement has put you off your routine. Why don’t you sit down while I make us a cup of tea?”
Later, Ruth overheard her daughter talking on the phone to her husband. “…she’s lost weight…hasn’t taken her pills…I’m concerned…”
Ruth felt a sense of dread settle in the pit of her stomach. What if the kids decided she shouldn’t live alone anymore? What would happen to her then?
A month later, Sarah planned another trip to Michigan to check on her mother. She hated having to leave her family again and didn’t want to take time away from work, but she was concerned. The trip from Ohio went quickly, and she pulled into the driveway at Breton Woods not long after lunch. They had an appointment to visit Raybrook Manor later that afternoon where Holland Home offered assisted living. She hated the thought of making her mother move when she was so happy, but being so far away made it impossible to take care of her herself. She needed this for her own peace of mind as well as her mother’s safety.
Sarah knew she’d made the right decision when Ruth greeted her at the door. She was thinner and seemed even more confused than the last time Sarah had seen her.
Sarah was impressed with how warm and friendly everyone was at Raybrook Manor. Her mother was pleasantly surprised as well. There were comfortable lounges for gathering with family and friends, and the room they showed her was spacious and homey.
“What do you think?” Sarah swept a hand around the room. “There’s plenty of space for your things. We can put your favorite chair in that corner and the small table next to it.”
“It’s very nice, of course,” Ruth looked around hesitantly. She remembered when she first moved to Breton Woods. She’d been nervous and scared then but things had turned out so well.
“Do you think you would like it here?” Sarah asked gently.
Ruth smiled and said softly. “I think so. I really do think so.”
Ruth found it a relief to have others helping with certain daily activities. She never had to worry about remembering her pills now, and not having to cook for herself was a wonderful luxury. The chef was excellent, and she enjoyed the camaraderie around the dining table every night.
She’d made some new friends, but her old friends visited regularly as well. She even recognized some familiar faces from Breton Woods at Raybrook Manor, and they had a wonderful time together pursuing all the activities and enjoying trips and entertainment.
Sarah was pleased when she went to visit her mother several months later. Ruth had gained weight, her color was good, and she was taking her medication regularly.
“I do worry about one thing,” Ruth confided as she and Sarah sat outside in the late afternoon sun. “My care must be costing a fortune,” she waved her hand toward the beautiful building. “What if I run out of money? What do I do then?”
“That’s the beauty of Holland Home, Mother,” Sarah replied. “You certainly made the right decision when you chose to come here.” She put a hand on her mother’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Holland Home has guaranteed you a home for life. Their resident assistance fund is ready to help anyone who has outlived their resources.”
Ruth smiled and held her face up to the sun.
Life really was good at Holland Home.
July 2nd, 2009 | Posted in Breton, General, Raybrook, Rehab Dimensions | Share this on Facebook or Twitter