I was talking with a good friend recently who was soon to have major surgery. She and her husband are both in their seventies and I was concerned about what plans were being made for her care after the surgery. I knew her husband was a good cook and usually did most of the shopping and errands, but who would be there to look after his wife when he was out of the house? I suggested they insist their surgeon write orders for Home Health Aides to come in after her discharge. The couple had not been told that these could be paid for by Medicare or that they were even available. In the past, we always had a discharge conference when a patient was ready to leave the hosptial. That way everyone involved who was caring for the patient could have input. This sadly seems to have gone by the wayside.
I explained to my friend that Home Health Agencies can provide RNs, physical therapists, individuals to cook, clean, or grocery shop. These aides can also be paid for by Medicare, many health insurance plans, and even Medicaid. However, in this day and age, a patient or their family have to push the doctors to be sure an Rx is written and faxed to the Home health Agency in the area where the patient lives. I have done this many times for my older neuromuscular patients, many of whom had little in the way of a support system. I kept checking about aides with my friend and her husband and when she was discharged, the woman said the surgeon finally wrote the prescription but he wasn't happy about it. How is that possible? Does the doctor really want his patient to land back in the hosptial because of complications? I was astounded!
Haldane's 4th grade class visits Glynwood to kick-off the 2011-12 Chef in the Classroom
On Thursday, September 22nd, Mrs. Hartford's 4th grade class visited Glynwood farm to experience first-hand where their food comes from. This was a special event to kick-off the Chef in the Classroom program for the new school year.
As the students got off the bus, they were greeted by farm educator, Carolyn Llewellyn. She led them into the demonstration garden and pointed out all the different vegetables and herbs that were growing and ready to harvest. With wicker baskets in hand, the students picked cherry tomatoes, chives, purple basil, rosemary and cabbage.
Next, they went into the CSA garden and picked kale and sungold tomatoes. After that, they had the rare opportunity to visit a mobile henhouse where each student was allowed to pick their very own egg.
Unlike a traditional henhouse, a mobile henhouse sits on wheels in an open field. The chickens spend most of their time outdoors – free to roam in a large fenced in area. Every few weeks the henhouse is moved to a different field. This process benefits both the chickens and the fields. The chickens benefit from a diet rich in vegetation and insects. And the fields are fertilized with their manure.
After the students collected all their ingredients, they headed up to the big red barn where Mark and Sunny Gandara had already set up their mobile kitchen. The kids sat on haystacks and helped prepare frittatas made with all the ingredients they had just picked. Everyone got a chance to crack an egg, stir in some herbs or sprinkle on a little cheese. And in under an hour, the kids were devouring their frittatas and begging for more!
Did they like it?? After every Chef in the Classroom program, the students are asked to name their dish. This is what they came up with:
Fabulous, Amazing, Delicious, Scrumptious, Fantastic, Wonderful Frittata!
The cafeteria will be serving this dish next Thursday, October 6th. Mark your calendars. Your kids won't want to miss this one.
For news about Farm to School in the Hudson Valley New York, visit:
Posted by: www.klonopinx.com | November 17, 2011 at 01:50 PM
I thought I had a grasp on this topic until I read your article. I was very mistaken. You have taught me something today. Your article really opened my eyes.
Posted by: Home Health Aide | January 30, 2012 at 05:05 PM
The demand of home health aide rising every year and you have to smart if you want to hire the HHA. You must choose the certified one
Posted by: theHHAGuide | May 12, 2012 at 06:47 AM