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The Unsung Hero of Home Health: Light Housekeeping and Its Impact on Wellness

When we think about home health care, our minds often jump to medical services, therapy, and nursing care. However, there’s another essential component that often flies under the radar but plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of individuals: light housekeeping. At Deer Meadows Home Health & Support Services, we understand that maintaining a clean and organized environment is not just about aesthetics; it’s about enhancing quality of life and supporting health.

What is Light Housekeeping?

Light housekeeping encompasses a range of tasks that keep a home tidy and functional without requiring the extensive cleaning services one might expect from a professional cleaning company. This includes:

  • Tidying Up Common Areas: Regular straightening and organizing of living spaces, including the kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
  • Dusting and Surface Cleaning: Wiping down surfaces to reduce dust and allergens.
  • Vacuuming and Sweeping: Keeping floors free from dirt and debris.
  • Laundry Assistance: Washing, folding, and putting away clothes.
  • Dishwashing and Kitchen Maintenance: Ensuring dishes are cleaned and the kitchen remains in order.

These tasks might seem simple, but they have a significant impact on daily living.

The Benefits of Light Housekeeping

  1. Promotes Safety and Mobility

A clean and organized home reduces the risk of falls and accidents. By keeping walkways clear, surfaces non-slippery, and clutter minimal, individuals with mobility challenges or those at risk of falls can navigate their home more safely.

  1. Enhances Mental Well-Being

A tidy environment can significantly impact mental health. Clutter and disorganization can contribute to stress and anxiety, while a clean space can foster a sense of calm and control. For individuals dealing with chronic illness or recovery, a pleasant living environment can boost mood and provide comfort.

  1. Supports Independence

For many, managing a household can become overwhelming due to physical limitations or health conditions. Light housekeeping services can alleviate this burden, allowing individuals to maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes.

  1. Encourages Social Engagement

A clean and welcoming home is more conducive to hosting friends and family. By helping to maintain an inviting environment, light housekeeping supports social interactions, which are vital for emotional well-being and reducing feelings of isolation.

  1. Promotes Healthy Living

Regular cleaning helps reduce allergens and germs, contributing to a healthier living environment. This is particularly important for individuals with respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems.

How Deer Meadows Home Health & Support Services Can Help

At Deer Meadows, our light housekeeping services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. Our trained caregivers understand that every home and every client is different, and we take a personalized approach to ensure that our services align with your preferences and needs.

Whether it’s assisting with daily chores or helping to maintain a clean and orderly home, our goal is to support your health and well-being. Our team is committed to providing compassionate and reliable care that enhances your quality of life.

Conclusion

Light housekeeping is more than just a service; it’s a vital aspect of holistic home health care. By ensuring a clean and organized environment, we support not only physical health but also emotional and social well-being. At Deer Meadows Home Health & Support Services, we are proud to offer light housekeeping as part of our comprehensive approach to care. If you or a loved one could benefit from these services, we invite you to reach out and discover how we can make a difference in your home.

For more information on our light housekeeping services and how they can enhance your quality of life, contact us today. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re here to help you live comfortably and safely in your own home.

Wound Care: Essential Tips and Services by Dear Meadows Home Health and Support Services

At Dear Meadows Home Health and Support Services in Philadelphia, PA, we understand the critical importance of proper wound care for maintaining health and well-being. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or healing from an injury, our team of dedicated professionals is here to provide expert wound care tailored to your unique needs. In this blog post, we will explore essential tips for wound care and how our services can support your healing journey.

Understanding Wound Care

Wound care involves the prevention, assessment, and treatment of wounds. Proper care is crucial to prevent infections, promote healing, and minimize scarring. Here are some fundamental tips for effective wound care:

1. Clean the Wound Properly

  • Gentle Cleaning: Use mild soap and water to clean the wound. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or iodine as they can damage the tissue and slow down healing.
  • Pat Dry: Gently pat the wound dry with a clean towel or sterile gauze.

2. Apply an Appropriate Dressing

  • Choose the Right Dressing: Depending on the wound type, use appropriate dressings like gauze, hydrocolloid, or alginate. The right dressing will protect the wound, absorb excess fluid, and maintain a moist environment conducive to healing.
  • Change Dressings Regularly: Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how often to change the dressing to keep the wound clean and prevent infection.

3. Monitor for Signs of Infection

  • Look for Redness and Swelling: Watch for increased redness, swelling, or warmth around the wound, which could indicate an infection.
  • Check for Discharge: Any unusual discharge, especially if it’s yellow or green and has an odor, should be reported to a healthcare professional immediately.

4. Manage Pain and Discomfort

  • Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help manage pain. Always follow the dosage instructions and consult with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
  • Comfort Measures: Elevate the affected area to reduce swelling and discomfort.

How Dear Meadows Home Health and Support Services Can Help

At Dear Meadows, we offer comprehensive wound care services to ensure optimal healing and patient comfort. Here’s how our expert team can assist you:

1. Personalized Wound Care Plans

We create individualized wound care plans tailored to your specific needs. Our skilled nurses assess the wound, develop a treatment plan, and provide ongoing monitoring to ensure effective healing.

2. Advanced Wound Treatments

Our team is trained in the latest wound care techniques and treatments. We use advanced dressings, debridement methods, and negative pressure wound therapy to promote faster healing and reduce the risk of complications.

3. Education and Support

We believe in empowering our patients and their families with knowledge. Our team provides thorough education on wound care practices, signs of infection, and when to seek medical attention. We’re always here to answer your questions and provide the support you need.

4. Home-Based Care

For those who require wound care but prefer the comfort of their own home, our home-based care services bring professional care to your doorstep. Our nurses visit regularly to provide wound care, assess healing progress, and adjust treatment plans as needed.

Conclusion

Proper wound care is essential for preventing complications and ensuring a smooth healing process. At Dear Meadows Home Health and Support Services in Philadelphia, PA, we are dedicated to providing exceptional wound care services tailored to your needs. If you or a loved one requires wound care, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our compassionate team is here to support you every step of the way.

For more information about our wound care services or to schedule a consultation, contact Dear Meadows Home Health and Support Services today.


By following these wound care tips and utilizing the professional services offered by Dear Meadows, you can achieve optimal healing and enjoy a better quality of life. Trust us to be your partner in health and healing.

Philadelphia Home Care Agency: Services We Offer

Understanding Home Health Care Services

Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services: A Trusted Name

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services has established itself as a cornerstone of compassionate care within the community. With a dedicated team of healthcare professionals including registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, physical therapists, and social workers, Deer Meadows offers a comprehensive array of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

Services Offered

  • Skilled Nursing Care Registered nurses are available to provide medical care such as wound dressing changes, medication management, and monitoring of vital signs.
  • Personal Care Assistance Certified nursing assistants offer assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
  • Physical Therapy Highly trained physical therapists work with clients to improve mobility, strength, and overall physical function.
  • Companionship and Emotional Support Social workers and caregivers provide companionship and emotional support, ensuring clients feel valued and connected.
  • Household Support Services Assistance with light housekeeping, meal preparation, and errands help maintain a clean and organized living environment.

Why Choose Home Health Care?

Opting for home health care services offers several advantages over institutional care settings:

  • Comfort and Familiarity: Clients can remain in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by familiar surroundings and loved ones.
  • Personalized Care Plans: Services are tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of each individual, promoting a higher quality of life.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: In many cases, home health care services can be more cost-effective than long-term care facilities or hospital stays.
  • Peace of Mind for Families: Knowing that their loved ones are receiving professional care at home provides families with peace of mind and reduces stress.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, home health care services emerge as a vital resource for maintaining independence and quality of life for individuals in need of assistance. Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services in Philadelphia exemplifies excellence in the field, offering compassionate care and support that truly makes a difference. Whether you or a loved one requires skilled nursing care, personal assistance, or rehabilitative therapy, choosing home health care through Deer Meadows ensures that you receive the highest standard of care right in the comfort of your own home.

For those seeking reliable and compassionate Philadelphia home care services, Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services stands ready to provide the support you need, where you need it most.

Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC Awarded CHAP Disease Program Certification

PHILADELPHIA, PA — December 2, 2022 — Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc., (CHAP) announced today that Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC, (DMHHSS), under the direction of DMHHSS Administrator Stanley Rynkiewicz, has been awarded a Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Wound Care and Diabetes Disease Program Certification under the CHAP Disease Program Standards. Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC is the first Home Care Agency in the United States to be awarded this Multiple Disease Process Certification through CHAP.

CHAP certification demonstrates that Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC meets the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards. The rigorous program evaluation by CHAP focuses on program structure and function, quality metrics, advanced education for staff, and demonstrated self-management tools for patients. 

“By achieving CHAP Disease Program Certification, Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC has shown a commitment to excellence above and beyond previous expectations,” said Nathan DeGodt, CHAP President & CEO. “Their efforts to strengthen their clinical performance using evidence-based protocols means consistency becomes a result, not a goal.” 

Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC provides a variety of Home Health and Private Duty services to patients and their families in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware Counties of Pennsylvania.

CHAP is an independent, not-for-profit, accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. Created in 1965, CHAP was the first to recognize the need and value for accreditation in community-based care. CHAP is the oldest national, community-based accrediting body with more than 9,000 agencies currently accredited nationwide. Through “deeming authority” granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice and home medical equipment services, to determine if they meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards. CHAP’s purpose is to define and advance the highest standards of community-based care.

For more information about the CHAP Disease Program Certification, please visit the CHAP Center for Excellence website at https://education.chaplinq.org | 619.800.7255 | education@chapinc.org 

For additional information, contact Stanley Rynkiewicz (DMHHSS Administrator) at 215-624-6038. Visit DMHHSS Website at https://www.deermeadowshomehealth.org or email srynkiewicz@dmhhss.org .

New Registered Apprenticeship Program for Nurse Aides and Home Care Aides!

Friday, June 14, 2019 Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak announced a new registered apprenticeship program for nurse aides and home care aides with the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. The apprenticeship will help meet growing demand for workers to provide care for seniors.Oleksiak toured the Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services facility and discussed the Wolf Administration’s commitment to helping Pennsylvanians become better prepared for in-demand careers. The governor’s Statewide Workforce Education and Accountability Program (SWEAP) proposal would provide an additional $10 million to expand access to education and training opportunities, apprenticeships and STEM careers to build on the success of PAsmart that launched last year.

Deer Meadows Home Health is pleased to be partnering with The Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Holy Family University on an innovative apprenticeship program for nurse’s aides and advanced home health care aides. The goal is for the program is to become a job-generating program starting with entry level home health aides.Holy Family University will deliver the curriculum although training for nurses’s aides and advanced home health care aides was not part of their curriculum up until this point, “it fits with our competencies,” says Karen Galardi, EdD, MBA, Dean, Graduate and Professional Studies at Holy Family University. “We have nursing programs from the baccalaureate through doctorate levels. Assisting with this program is a natural fit.” Dr. Galardi also hopes to see the program expand in the future.

Stanley Rynkiewicz, RN, MSN, WCC, DWC, CCS, NHA, and Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC, Administrator, is pleased to participate in the program as a way to give back to the community. He sees the program as an opportunity to help employees succeed. “In time, it will help people that want to stay employed and grow with the program,” he says. They hope to add an LPN track to the program in the coming years. “It’s great to work with partners like Holy Family University and the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Without partners, something like this would not happen,” he says.

Apprenticeship programs like this make advanced training obtainable and provides for those who are seeking training to enter the healthcare field. “The program with the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce is great because it’s a non-traditional sponsor, Holy Family University is a non-traditional trainer, and Deer Meadows is a non-traditional employer,” says James Chiarchiaro a workforce intermediary with the Keystone Development Partnership. “Programs like this can provide opportunities for women, minorities, non-English speaking individuals, and members of the LGBT community, among others.” He hopes to see the program grown into other occupations, such as information technology, that will help provide the training needs for a 21st Century workforce.

Funding for this type of program can be provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Labor & Industry, Philly Works and local Career Link.

Registered Apprenticeship Program
Registered Apprenticeship Program

Weekend Referral Program

Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services is the only home health care agency in the Philadelphia region that guarantees a 24 hour response time for patient admission referrals.”Physician practices, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals find it incredibly difficult to find a home care agency that is readily available to accept their patient referrals on a weekend”, says Marketing Coordinator Shawn P. Hanshew. “We are always available by our cell phones and we have a dedicated e-fax line in place to accept weekend referrals. The physician, skilled nursing facility or hospital can send their referral to our e-fax, and the referral information will go directly to our on-call clinical and administration team. From there, an assessment nurse will call the patient or patient’s family to schedule the start of care the very next day.” says Hanshew. Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services is the only five star rated home health care agency in Philadelphia and is the home health care agency of choice within the medical community because of our guaranteed 24 hour start of care- even on a weekend!

If you have a weekend referral or would like more details of this program, please contact our Marketing Coordinator Shawn Hanshew at (267) 648-0361 and shanshew@deermeadowshomehealth.org. Our weekend referral e-fax number is (484) 361-4619.

Written By  Shawn Hanshew

Taking Care of Caregivers From a Social Workers Point of View

As a social worker and clinician, I’ve met a lot of caregivers who are stressed out, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Caregivers spend an average of 40.5 hours a week if they live with a loved one who needs care AND 24.4 hours if the loved one lives in another home. More than 96% of caregivers who provide complex care help provide activities of daily living such as shopping for food, dressing/undressing, providing technology, booking medical appointments, and the list goes on. Caregiving for a loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful.

With all that time being spent helping someone else, it’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed if you don’t take care of yourself. Imagine that you are on an airplane, the flight attendant tells you “in case of a pressure change, place the oxygen mask on yourself first and then a child or dependent”. Self-care is the oxygen. I love this metaphor because it’s really something that carries over into mental health for everyone. We must take care of ourselves before we can give anything to others, or we will burn out. Burnout looks like having less empathy, less patience, being more easily frustrated, depression, cynicism, and tiredness. When we continue to care for others without taking care of ourselves, not only are we running on empty, we aren’t able to really care the way we would like to.

What does practicing self-care really look like? It might be taking 15 minutes just to do something for yourself such as: sleeping a full 8 hours, saying no to extra obligations, joining a support group, eating healthy, starting a journal, or anything that allows you to recharge your energy bank. You might worry that practicing self-care is being overindulgent, that we should work even harder. In fact, when we work harder without replenishing ourselves, we are even less productive and provide less compassionate care. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, don’t be afraid to ask for help and talk to a qualified professional.

Written by Andreea Socoloschi, MSW LCSW

Wound Care Program – Deer Meadows Home Health

Shawn Hanshew from the Deer Meadows Home Health marketing team has been promoting our wound care program to the medical community of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Bucks. Our clinical specialist team members are board-certified in Wound Care WCC, Diabetic Wound Care DWC, and are Ostomy Management Specialists OMS. We practice evidence-based and current standards of care, and work with physicians to customize an individual plan of care for the patient. We will achieve increased healing rates and decrease readmission’s for patients.

Shawn has been partnering with a number of podiatrists to offer home wound care for their diabetic foot wound patients. Approximately 15 percent of all patients with diabetes can be expected to develop ulceration in their lifetime, thus putting them at risk for lower extremity amputation. Treatments for infected diabetic foot wounds account for one quarter of all diabetic hospital admissions in the United States. Patient education, proper footgear and regular foot examination can decrease the frequency and severity of ulceration. However when ulceration does occur, the Deer Meadows home wound care specialists can be a cost-effective intervention that can avoid hospital admissions in appropriate cases.

We are utilizing the most advanced technology and treatments in the industry, including Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (Wound Vac), Compression Therapy, Unna Boot Application, Lymphedema Treatment, and Tissue Analytics. In specific, Tissue Analytics is bringing wound care into the 21st century by turning the common smartphone into a sophisticated image analysis platform. Our wound care nurses objectively and automatically measure wounds with HIPPA Compliant IOS and Android Apps.They can also stream photographs directly to a physician’s desktop where the physician can evaluate, track, and manage patients on our secure web portal.

In addition, Shawn has been working closely with several colorectal surgeons to promote the Deer Meadows home wound care and ostomy referral program.He plans to work directly with surgeons, their teams, and their pre/post-surgical ostomy patients through a home care referral process. This will give ostomy patients access to our highly-trained and certified wound care nurses and ostomy specialists while recovering at home. Shawn has been sharing his personal story as a former ostomy patient himself and walking the patients through the process of their ostomy through its reversal. Our ostomy specialists are helping patients with distal irrigation of their stomas, educating the patient and their family, and closely monitoring patient progress at home. Once the patient’s reversal surgery is complete and the patient is discharged to home, our wound care and ostomy specialists will continue to monitor the patient at home and treat any open wounds that may have been caused by the surgery. The colorectal community is very excited to partner with Deer Meadows Home Health to make this program available to their patients.

If you have a wound care referral or would like more details of this program, please contact Shawn Hanshew at (267) 648-0361 and shanshew@deermeadowshomehealth.org.

Deer Meadows Home Health Offering Clinical Services to Philadelphia Residents

This week starts a busy time over the next few weeks for the staff of Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services(DMHHSS). Kate Liggins, Private Duty Manager has worked closely with Carla Fleming, the Manager of Special Programs for many PHA sites in the Philadelphia area to schedule events at 6 PHA housing sites in the Philadelphia area. Of the selected sites, 5 of these locations has never been visited by DMHHSS staff previously. This will be the selected locations first chance to receive 5-star care from one of Philadelphia’s premier home care agencies. At these events participants will be able to have their blood pressure screened by a licensed nurse as well as speak with a licensed clinical social worker in regards to depression. The participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the services that DMHHSS has to offer and also to sit down and enjoy a refreshing drink and snack. DMHHSS is no newcomer to providing these types of services to the Philadelphia residents. In the past DMHHSS has not only offered blood pressure screenings but has also offered diabetic foot clinics to educate the residents of the communities of which it serves. This is the beginning of DMHHSS working closely with PHA sites and DMHHSS staff hopes to be able to keep Philadelphia healthy one screening at a time.

Our Philadelphia Home Care Agency Receives DHS Award!

The Department of Human Services recently announced the awarding of nearly $8 million dollars in grant money to member agencies of the Pennsylvania Homecare Agency (PHA) to connect their Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to the statewide health information exchange. Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services was one of only six home care and hospice agencies in the state of Pennsylvania to receive the grant. Our Philadelphia home care agency will use the funding to upgrade our software programs and to provide training to other staff members. The funding will also enable Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services to integrate into the Keystone Health Information Exchange (KeyHIE), thus providing real-time notifications from over 20 hospitals in the Philadelphia area about patient admissions, discharges, and hospitalizations. We will be able to better coordinate care of our patients with other health care providers, in turn improving outcomes for our patients.

We were rated 5 Stars by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Again!

CMS established the Home Health Compare (HHC) website on Medicare.gov<http://medicare.gov/> as a key tool for consumers to use when choosing a home health care provider. It is designed to be an easy-to-access, convenient source of authoritative information on provider quality. Please go to https://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/search.html.

On 4/11/18, CMS Home Health compare website updated its quarterly data. Once again, Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC (DMHHSS) is rated 5 Stars. Since CMS launched Home Health Compare Website July 2015, DMHHSS has been rate 5 Stars nine out of ten rating periods. The only exception was October 2015 when DMHHSS was rated 4.5 Stars. This is an outstanding achievement and join me in congratulating the DMHHSS staff on their excellent quality of patient care and customer service. This is star rating is evidenced by our patient’s quality outcomes and satisfaction surveys which are publicly reported here on this website. This is an AWESOME ACCOMPLISHMENT. I appreciate each member of DMHHSS Staff specially my wonderful clinical staff whom without their hard work and dedication this 5 Star rating would not be possible. To all of my DMHHSS Team especially my management team and support staff in the office (including Irene Dudley, Gina Grosh, Christine Slavics, Lydia Dudley, Kathleen Liggins, Felicia Alber, Christine Rynkiewicz and Keyata Williams) thank you for all that you do and keep up the great work. Below I have attached screen shots from Home Health Compare website and Fazzi.com denoting DMHHSS a 5 Star Agency.

We are on TV! Watch Our New Commercial Before It Airs. Let Us Know What You Think!

You Need Medical Care or Other Assistance and Want To Remain At Home. That’s Where We Come In.

Figuring out what health services fit best in your life can be a grueling feat to face. As life presents its many health-related challenges, getting quality heath care services is essential. However, the task of finding the best option for you—health-wise and financially speaking—is not something particularly fun. That’s why when it comes to Philadelphia home care, Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC is the best! We are passionate about providing you with the greatest services that exclusively fit your needs.

When pursuing home health services, there are two routes you can go; it is all a matter of what best fits your needs.

If you, or a loved one, needs assistance with everyday activities—such as shopping, cooking, or bathing—then our Private Duty Homecare/Personal Care is the best option for you. Not only will our Certified Nursing Assistants or Home Health Aides provide the best support and services, but they will make life easier while proving to be great companions—and friends—to you or your loved ones.

If it is general medical services you or a loved one desire, or if your Primary Care Provider has determined you can benefit from skilled care without leaving home, then our Home Health Nursing and Therapy Services will best fit your situation. Our group of skilled professionals provide stellar medical services, ranging from physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and managing chronic illnesses.

No matter what option works best for you—whether it be Home Health Services or Private Duty/Personal Care—our Philadelphia area home health professionals are here to what they do best: provide YOU with the highest quality of medical assistance.

Contact Us Today

If you would like more information on which services we can provide, or which areas we service, please call Deer Meadows Home Health and Support Services, LLC at 215-624-6038.

DEER MEADOWS HOME HEALTH & SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC, has created a two-minute infomercial that highlights our services. This infomercial feature will be part of a television program titled “AMERICAN HEALTH FRONT!” that will air in the Philadelphia Market on WTXF-TV FOX 29 on Sunday, December 17, 2017 @ approximately 5:30-6:00PM. This video will air directly after the Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants Football game and post-game show.