How and Where to Get the Covid Vaccine in Salinas
PLEASE NOTE: Central Coast VNA Community Services has discontinued the travel immunization program. As the community immunizers it has been a privilege to provide this vital service of disease prevention and healthy travel to our communities.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will help protect yourself and the people closest to you. With multiple providers offering the vaccine in and around Salinas, you should be able to receive the covid immunization without disrupting your schedule. A nationwide effort among healthcare professionals is providing free, easy access to vaccines. Once you’ve read this basic guide, you’ll have no trouble finding and taking the Covid vaccine in Salinas.
Eligibility for Covid Vaccine in Salinas
Everyone in California age 12 and up is eligible to receive a free covid vaccine. This applies to absolutely everybody regardless of insurance or immigration status. Don’t hesitate to get the vaccine because of any lack of proper documentation. The priority now is to vaccinate as many people as possible. You can join millions of Californians in protecting yourself against the virus and helping to bring this brutal pandemic to an end.
Where to Get Your Covid Vaccine in Salinas
There are many locations offering the covid vaccine in Salinas itself and throughout Monterey County. Doctors’ offices, urgent care clinics, and many pharmacies provide the vaccine for free. There are also several mass vaccination sites set up around the area. Another option is to visit the Central Coast VNA, which offers vaccines to residents of Hollister Counter, Monterey County, and the Central Coast. All these vaccination providers strive to make the process quick and easy.
How to Get Your Covid Vaccine
With vaccines widely available, you have some flexibility in how you arrange your immunization. Whether you'd prefer to make an appointment or simply show up for a shot when the mood strikes, you'll have no trouble getting the vaccine
Make an Appointment
You can schedule an appointment at most vaccine centers. To book a slot with Central Coast VNA, simply give the reception a call. You can also schedule appointments at most pharmacies and clinics. The government’s “My Turn” website is a great tool for discovering your options and booking an appointment.
Walk-In Options
Many vaccination clinics can provide instant jabs to walk-in patients. This means you can receive the covid immunization whenever you have a few minutes available. This walk-in option is great for anyone with a busy or unpredictable schedule.
What to Bring
It’s important to remember that you will be able to receive the covid vaccine even if you do not bring any documentation. All the same, you can make the process easier for everyone by bringing along a photo ID and, if you have one, an insurance card. These documents will allow the provider to quickly record your immunization and charge it to your insurance company.
Make sure you’re wearing a mask as you enter the clinic. You’ll be required to keep your mouth and nose covered as long as you’re in the facility. You should also consider bringing a book, magazine, or electronic device to keep you entertained if you have to wait.
Which Covid Vaccine You’ll Receive
Not all providers have the same vaccine available. Some may have multiple options to choose from, while others will only offer a single brand. You can call a vaccine center to ask about which vaccines they’re providing.
Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are the principal vaccines administered in California. It’s worth noting that all three have been proven safe and effective in clinical trials. Whichever vaccine you take, you’ll be protecting yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of COVID-19.
What to Expect
Receiving the covid vaccine is usually a quick and easy process, no more arduous than getting a standard travel immunization. If you walk into a mass vaccination site, you may have to wait in line. If you’ve got an appointment at a smaller provider, then you’ll likely be able to start the process right away.
First, an employee at the facility will explain the details and potential side effects of the vaccine. Then, you’ll sign a consent form and answer questions about any allergies you may have to medications. Once the providers have reviewed your answers and deemed your vaccination safe, you’ll receive the jab in your upper arm.
After getting the vaccine, most recipients are asked to wait 15 minutes before departing the clinic. This is to ensure no unexpected side effects develop. People with a history of allergic reactions to vaccinations may be asked to wait 30 minutes. Once the required amount of time has elapsed, you’ll be free to go on your way.
You’ll receive a vaccination card detailing the type, date, and location of your vaccination. If you got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this card will serve as your official record of vaccination. If you received the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, save the card and present it to the provider when you come back for your second shot.
Receiving Your Second Dose
For the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, you’ll need a second dose to receive the full level of protection that the immunizations can provide. You should be able to schedule your second dose in person while receiving the first jab. Otherwise, you can call to make an appointment by phone.
Learn More About the Covid Vaccine
The past 18 months have been difficult, and you’re far from alone if you’re feeling overwhelmed. All of a sudden, things like coronaviruses and vaccines have become central parts of life in America. To understand the situation and make the right decisions for you and your family, it’s always best to keep yourself informed. You can learn more about the covid vaccine from the WHO and the CDC. Armed with all the latest information, you’ll be ready to protect yourself and your loved ones from this harrowing disease.
5 Reasons to Sign-Up for a CPR Class Right Now
CPR, or cardiac pulmonary resuscitation, is a life-saving procedure performed during emergency situations, including when a person’s heart stops beating. The American Heart Association explains that performing CPR doubles or triples the likelihood of survival after a person has an incident of cardiac arrest. If you are a resident of the Central Coast, there are a number of reasons to consider CPR classes Monterey CA. After learning the benefits of attending a CPR class, you are sure to enroll right away.
1. CPR Classes Boost Confidence
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 80 percent of cardiac arrest events occur at home. If you are going through a normal day, you want to be prepared if one of your loved ones suddenly needs to be resuscitated. After attending CPR classes Monterey CA, you will be confident in your abilities to perform the correct procedures to save someone’s life. Instead of becoming emotional and scared when the person around you has a heart attack, you will be able to remain calm and to assist.
2. You Can Help Anywhere
Although most heart attacks occur at home, you may be at a restaurant, store, or any location when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Having knowledge about CPR means that you can assist wherever you go. This is helpful to a person who is having a medical emergency, especially when there is no doctor in the area. When an emergency arises, you can spring to action and offer comfort to people who need it the most. As you perform CPR, you may possibly keep a person alive until further medical support has time to arrive.
3. Receive Hands-On Training at CPR Classes
Attending CPR classes Monterey CA offers the ability to receive hands-on training from first responders who have real-life experience in the field. Although many people learn skills online, there is nothing better than learning face-to-face with nurses, paramedics, and other medical professionals. It is crucial to learn how to handle a multitude of potential situations that involve an unconscious individual or someone who is intensely sick. Being able to practice life-saving techniques on dummies or other devices gives you a realistic feel of an emergency and how to proceed with successful results.
4. Increase Your Value at Work or as a Volunteer
It is scary to think about a co-worker suddenly taking a heart attack. However, it can happen. Being CPR certified makes you extremely valuable. Literally, you have the power to save a life. Your skills will provide great support in the workplace.
CPR class are smart for people of all ages and may open new job opportunities. For example, it will help a younger person gain employment as a lifeguard. Someone looking to provide childcare in a daycare or a private setting will benefit from training as well. These are just a few of the jobs that require CPR certification.
Also, having knowledge about how to perform CPR may provide you with the opportunity to become a volunteer in your community. It is especially helpful to know CPR when you wish to work with the elderly. Even if you won’t be providing direct medical care, it is always helpful to be prepared in times of emergency.
If you have aging parents and take on homecare duties, CPR training is a valuable tool as well. It prepares you to step into the role of caretaker and allows your parents to enjoy the freedom of remaining out of a nursing home setting. Nobody wants to think about situations when CPR is necessary. However, being ready is an important part of your family's safety plan.
5. Learn How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator
An automated external defibrillator is a portable device that is used in emergency situations to shock the heart so that regular rhythm is restored. These units should be run by individuals who understand their usage and placement on another person. Thanks to proper operation, a person who is experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest may be saved. In fact, a person's heart must be regulated quickly. The chance of survival decreases up to 10 percent for each minute that passes without a normal rhythm. During a typical CPR course, you will learn to use this device effectively.
People of all experience levels can enroll in CPR classes Monterey CA. They provide a solid insight into this life-saving technique and its applications during times of emergency. The above reasons are just a few motivating points that should make you enroll in a class immediately. If you live in Hollister, Monterey County, or Central Coast, it is possible to play an active role in the services provided by CCVNA. For more information, contact us today.
VNA & Hospice Featured in Coastal Grower Summer 2021
VNA & Hospice
Providing comprehensive and compassionate
services along the Central Coast since 1951
When VNA first began providing comprehensive and compassionate services along the Central Coast in 1951, a gallon of gasoline cost 19 cents and a DJ in Cleveland first
coined the term rock ’n’ roll.
(download full article below, page 58)
Health Matters Features VNA & Hospice 70th Anniversary
Health Matters Features VNA & Hospice 70th Anniversary
VNA Celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2021 by honoring its volunteers and employees, followed by a unique Summer fundraising event. Read more...
On June 26, VNA family and supporters gathered at the Monterey County Fairgrounds for a drive-in style movie night, featuring a video looking back at VNA’s seven-decade history.
Since 1951, the not-for-profit has provided a wide range of home health care, serving Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and South Santa Clara counties. VNA places an emphasis on individual patient needs and goals, providing care in an ethical, effective, compassionate and fiscally responsible manner.
“VNA has existed in various forms over the years,” says VNA chief executive officer Jane Russo. “What hasn’t changed is our core mission, and the amazing people wanting to give back and provide care, creating that trusted compassion.”
VNA Community Services provides wellness care and aids in immunizations by employing experienced, professional registered nurses. As the only local travel health clinic, VNA provides comprehensive consultation and immunizations for international travelers. Health screenings and education are offered to corporate businesses, in the field or in the boardroom. Nurses provide services to local schools to meet state-mandated screenings, vaccines, and staff education.
The home health division offers key specialty programs, including cardiac, diabetic, orthopedic and palliative care. And of course, VNA Hospice provides a specialized type of care for those facing a life-limiting illness, a peace of mind for their families and their caregivers. The care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes.
A key component to the team are the efforts of VNA volunteers, who give their time to improve the lives of others. For the community, grief and loss support are offered to individuals or groups.
VNA Provides Health Services for Seven Decades
VNA Provides Health Services for Seven Decades
“The VNA works closely with many of the area’s skilled nursing and residential facilities. When families couldn’t visit, I could often have a nurse check in on someone. We became the conduit between family and patient,” – Tina Del Piero
On the eve of its 70th anniversary, Central Coast VNA & Hospice moved from outlining celebrations to launching COVID-19 testing and immunization services. The Organization’s clinicians also became a vital source of communication and comfort.
“The VNA works closely with many of the area’s skilled nursing and residential facilities. When families couldn’t visit, I could often have a nurse check in on someone. We became the conduit between family and patient,” says Tina Del Piero, VNA Director of Fund Development.
That dedication has defined the VNA since 1951. The organization assists clients of all ages, delivering school health care, home health assistance, and end-of-life planning and care, and continuing health care education. Some 220 employees and 40 volunteers support the nonprofit, which also collaborates with Meals on Wheels, Alliance on Aging, and other partners.
“We coordinate and connect with resources to best serve our patients, and our team works hard every day to provide specialized, individualized care. It’s all based on trust and compassion,” says VNA Chief Executive Officer Jane Russo. “That’s what our business is about. We’re providing human care to other people.”
Central Coast VNA & Hospice celebrates 70 years on June 29 with food trucks and drive-in showing of the movie “50 First Dates.” For details, and to support the organization, visit ccvna.com.
CARMEL MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine: Who Should and Who Shouldn't Get Vaccinated
The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is ongoing, and those who have received them have posted their vaccine cards on social media platforms. While experts recommend the vaccines for people aged 16 years and above, some might have received Pfizer's version while others could have gotten Moderna's vaccine. Although some people have received the vaccine, some individuals question the vaccine's safety. However, while the vaccines' development is fast, the established routine procedures and processes guarantee safety.
Although posting images of COVID 19 vaccine cards on social media seems like a small tool, it is an effective strategy to encourage family and friends to get the vaccine. Receiving the vaccine is the best technique to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Additionally, it will help combat the misinformation circulating to ensure the protection of people's well-being.
Since the pandemic has disrupted many life aspects, including economy and health, safeguarding society's well-being is a shared obligation. Therefore, individuals and institutions should come together and do what it takes to curtail the spread and disrupt the transmission chain. Consequently, while specific amounts of COVID-19 vaccine doses are available to states, the Monterey vaccination at CCVNA will enable Central Coast, Monterey County, and Hollister residents to get in a position to go back to everyday life.
While people are still concerned about the vaccination, here is what you need to know about it:
COVID-19 Vaccines' Safety
Any vaccine present in the market or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already been rigorously examined and tested in several stages to determine any adverse effects it may have on humans. The examiners choose a dose that seems to be the most effective and try it on many volunteers.
Many volunteers received the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which comprise of doses administered intramuscularly, and scientists used a placebo group to compare the adverse effects and transmission rates. Monterey vaccination data confirms the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and asserts that severe side effects are uncommon. However, while safety does not imply zero side effects, vaccinated individuals may experience some effects, such as body aches, fever, and sore arms, resulting in short-term consequences. Thus, the vaccines' potential benefits outweigh the potential harms, meaning that many people can tolerate COVID-19 vaccines. Nevertheless, the vaccine's effectiveness duration remains unknown, but experts say the vaccine provides at least one protection.
Groups of People Eligible for the Vaccines
The following are groups of people who can freely get vaccinated:
1. Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
The clinical trials excluded expectant mothers, implying that there is no data to show the safety of the COVID 19 vaccine on expectant mothers. However, the CDCP states that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is unlikely to pose any risk to a pregnant woman and the unborn baby or interfere with genetics. During the Pfizer clinical trials, some volunteers became pregnant and showed no adverse effects. Thus, observational data indicate that the COVID-19 vaccine does not pose a significant risk to pregnant women.
Although the clinical trials did not include breastfeeding mothers, the Moderna vaccine does not pose any risk to lactating mothers and their infants. Thus, the COVID 19 vaccines should be given to these women too.
2. The Elderly and People with Other Medical Conditions
Elderly adults and individuals with medical conditions can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. During clinical trials, seniors showed mild and few adverse effects after receiving the vaccination, while people with medical conditions similarly responded to the vaccines like those without any health condition.
3. Individuals Who Have or Had Tested Positive
The vaccines are safe for people who had contracted the virus and prevent them from becoming reinfected without considering whether their previous case was severe or mild. However, a person who currently has the virus should not get the vaccine until the symptoms clear up.
4. Older Adolescents
Teens aged 16 and 17 can get the vaccination.
People Who Should Not Get Vaccinated:
The following are groups of people who should not get the vaccine:
1. Allergic People
Unfortunately, the vaccine showed allergic reactions. However, the allergic reaction-anaphylaxis-showed in people with anaphylaxis history, but the extreme reaction rate is relatively low. Thus, anyone who is allergic to one of the vaccines' components or known to have anaphylactic reactions should get the COVID-19 vaccine with caution or not receive the vaccine at all. People with other allergies, such as mold and food allergies, should not hesitate to get the vaccine. Other eligible persons should not fear getting the vaccine due to allergic reaction fears.
2. Children
At the moment, experts have not examined the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in children, and children aged 16 and below should not receive the vaccine.
Benefits of Receiving the Vaccine
It is vital to get the COVID 19 vaccine for several reasons. First, you need to protect yourself from contracting the virus. Although you still need to take preventive measures such as masking, testing, social distancing, and quarantining to protect yourself from the virus, the vaccines available in the U.S have shown to be effective at preventing COVID-19. Additionally, the vaccines might also protect you from getting seriously sick and protect people around you if you contract the virus. Moreover, the vaccination will improve your immunity by enabling you to create an antibody response without falling sick.
Besides, the COVID 19 vaccination will function as a useful tool to help end the pandemic. Although wearing masks and observing social distance reduce your chances of getting exposed to coronavirus or dispersing it to others, vaccines will prepare your immune system to fight the virus when you get exposed. As a result, the disease will spread at a reduced rate and eventually end.
Currently, any reason to doubt the effectiveness and safety of COVID 19 vaccines does not exist. There is enough evidence to prove that vaccination will not have severe long-life consequences for most American populations, including those excluded from clinical trials. Researchers have not yet collected any data to show any controversies in receiving the vaccine. Thus, everyone should get the vaccine to help end the pandemic. If you got any questions regarding the vaccine or when you should get vaccinated, consult your doctor.
Disproving Hospice Care Myths
Many people don't even want to think about hospice care, much less talk about it. They equate hospice care with death, but this is just one of the many misconceptions associated with this kind of care. The truth is, hospice is much more about life than it is about death because it lets the patient make the most of their remaining time with minimal stress and discomfort.
Even more, hospice care is also about the patient's loved ones and friends. This wonderful service gives advice and support to them, too. You will receive support and services from a number of health care professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, therapists and home health care workers. Spiritual guidance from a clergyman of your religious choice is also available and encouraged. Social workers oversee your care, too.
Do you know what hospice offers? Here's a basic list of the goals of this specialized kind of care:
- Providing physical comfort
- Meeting mental and emotional needs
- Providing spiritual care
- Assisting with tasks of daily living
Hospice isn't a place. It's a philosophy. You can choose to receive services anywhere, including in your own home. Your family and friends will receive instructions on how to care for you. A nurse will be assigned to you, and he or she will visit you on a regular basis, usually two to three times a week. Your nurse will assess your changing needs and adjust medications as needed.
Control of pain is a paramount goal of hospice care. Effective medications to control discomfort and other symptoms are always available to you. Special hospice pharmacies deliver these medications to your door. Home health care personnel can assist you with bathing, dressing and other daily activities. Hospice is all about you and the people who matter to you the most.
Hospice Care Myths
- It's only for cancer patients
Not only is this untrue, it's not even accurate. The statistics say that only about 30 percent of hospice patients have a primary diagnosis of terminal cancer. Common non-cancer diseases seen often in hospice include heart failure, vascular diseases and neurological conditions.
- It's only for the actual dying process
Hospice is appropriate for any kind of terminal illness expected to end the patient's life within the next six months as determined by a medical professional. This kind of specialized care is all about making the most of the time the patient has left to live. Some patients even outlive the six-month time period. No one ever really knows when someone will die, even if they have a fatal illness. The entire dying process can easily take many months as the body slowly prepares for it. Hospice provides support during this intervening time so precious time isn't wasted. Home health care workers can also free up time for caregivers, so they don't get overwhelmed.
- It means being required to sign a DNR
A DNR is a written directive that stands for Do Not Resuscitate. This means that in the event of a life-threatening medical situation, emergency response personnel are forbidden to try to save the person's life through artificial means. Many people think that since they're in hospice for end-of-life care that they'll be forced to sign a DNR. However, a hospice patient cannot be forced to do anything. A DNR isn't the right choice for everyone. As a hospice care patient, you still make your own medical choices. If you don't feel comfortable signing a DNR, you don't have to.
- You can't leave hospice
You can leave the service at any time. All you have to do is let your providers know. No one can force you to remain in hospice if you don't want to. You don't even have to give a reason, but you probably should discuss the matter with your providers. Maybe the problem can be solved, and you won't have to leave. However, if you are unhappy with hospice, you can leave at any time. If you want to return to it later, you can do that, too.
- You need a physician's referral
While it's true that hospice requires a doctor's order and certification, the referral or suggestion can be made by anyone. If you think you or a loved one could benefit from this kind of care, speak up.
- It's expensive
Hospice is typically covered 100 percent by Medicare, Medicaid, which is called Medi-Cal in California, and the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs as long as certain criteria are met:
- The patient signs a form requesting hospice in lieu of other covered treatments.
- The patient's physician must certify that the patient has a medical condition likely to be terminal within six months' time.
- The patient agrees to accept palliative treatment and agrees not to pursue any kind of curative treatments.
Palliative treatment focuses on symptomatic treatment designed only to keep the patient out of pain and otherwise comfortable. Many private insurers also cover the service. Hospice includes all relevant medications and even certain supplies, such as adult diapers, a hospital bed, chux pads, eggcrate mattress, nebulizer, oxygen and special hygiene items.
Continued Support
Hospice care continues even after the patient's passing. Grief counseling, bereavement services and help with funeral arrangements are all available to help loved ones cope and adjust after they've said goodbye. Hospice will make arrangements to transport the body to the funeral home. They can make a tremendous difference in this difficult time as they help to guide family and friends through the aftermath of a loved one's passing. You can expect this support to last for up to a full year in some cases.
VNA
If you live in California near the Central Coast, Monterey County or Hollister, VNA provides hospice and home health care services for this area. You can read more about us online. We look forward to your visit.
How To Prepare Your Loved One For Hospice Care
Unfortunately, a significant part of the human experience is the end of life. Such circumstances are often difficult to think about much less plan for. However, severe illness or incapacitation often forces stricken individuals or their loved ones to render such challenging decisions.
Fortunately, a service known as hospice might make these issues easier to cope with.
Hospice Care Overview
People possessing life-limiting illnesses might be suitable candidates for hospice care.
Eligibility
To receive hospice, patients must undergo a thorough medical evaluation and be approved for such care by a licensed physician. In most instances, recipients will have been formally diagnosed with an illness that is expected to be fatal within six months or less.
Care can be administered inside a medical facility. However, many of those who can choose to receive such services at home.
The Initial Planning Process
Should a patient be deemed eligible, a representative from a hospice-based organization will meet with the intended recipient and their close relations. During this meeting, the hospice official will likely:
- Disclose the services their agency provides
- Discuss insurance coverage options
- Perform an independent assessment of the prospective patient's medical condition
- Provide the necessary paperwork
In some cases, these processes will be completed over several meetings. Admission into a hospice program is official when the necessary documentation is filled out and endorsed.
After Admission
Once the patient is admitted, their individual needs are identified. From there, a more comprehensive care plan is established and might include pertinent information including:
- How often the individual in question will receive visits from medical professionals like doctors and nurses
- The specific medications the patient will require
- The specific supplies they will need
- The comforts they desire
Initial plans can change depending upon the recipient's needs.
Preparing A Loved One For Hospice
Preparing a family member or other close association for hospice can prove daunting. However, dividing said endeavor into certain steps might render the process more manageable.
Ready The Physical Environment
The first major undertaking loved ones must take is to prepare the physical environment. This means designating a relatively substantial and open area of the home capable of accommodating the egress of numerous persons and safely housing the patient's required medical equipment.
Once space has been defined, the patient's equipment must be situated in said environment. Specific devices will vary depending upon the individual, their condition, and said malady's severity. Common materials could include:
- A hospital bed
- A wheelchair
- Electronic breathing apparatuses
- Bedside commodes
- A shower chair
In many cases, Medicare will cover the costs of these items.
When the patient's formal environment has been established, the focus should turn to creating creature comforts.
Specific efforts might include setting up curtains or other barriers designed to increase the patient's privacy, installing mini-refrigerators enabling easy access to food and beverages, providing headphones and remote controls geared towards easier management of televisions and other electronic devices, and the purchasing of comfortable and easily accessible furniture.
Safety Proofing The Area
Once the patient's accommodations have been established and set up, caregivers should then place emphasis on ensuring said location is safe for the patient and their loved ones. Safety-boosting measures could include:
- Installing adequate lighting
- Removing rugs
- Ensuring the floor is never slippery
- Tucking electrical cords away
- Placing handles along the wall to enable the recipient easier, freer, and safer movements
- Place anti-slip mats in baths or showers
Additionally, there should ne enough space separating equipment and all other objects. This enables free-flowing movement and reduces the chances of clutter development.
Attempt To Create A Sense Of Normalcy
Granted, the end of someone's life is a solemn occasion. However, the entire focus of a recipient's hospice experience should not be centered on waiting to die. Patients can and should be emboldened to enjoy these times as often as they can.
From a caretaker's perspective, this means encouraging their relation to engage in as normal a routine humanly possible. Those receiving care should engage in their favorite activities and meet with friends and other relatives when warranted.
Caregiver Responsibility
Caring for a hospice patient can be an overwhelming duty. Loved ones might be able to stay ahead of this remarkable challenge through actions like:
Formulating A Plan
Caregivers are called upon to wear numerous hats and handle countless serious responsibilities. Fortunately, authoring a written plan identifying specific tasks and suggestions regarding how to carry said actions out. Specific actions might include:
- Keeping track of the patient's medical information
- Scheduling visits from family and friends
- Managing the recipient's medication dosage schedule
Several copes of these documents should be produced and stored for safekeeping.
Request Help When Needed
There is no shame is asking for help. Caring for an ailing loved one is a physically-demanding and emotionally-training experience. Caretakers will encounter times when they are too tired or drained to perform needed tasks. When such circumstances arise, they are encouraged to reach out to volunteer organizations for help.
Tend To Their Needs
Optimal caretakers are those who preserve their physical and mental well-being. Said individuals will be of no benefit to their loved ones if they do not engage in health-boosting actions like consuming a nutritious diet, obtaining adequate rest, exercising, monitoring their own medical issues, and finding a few spare moments for relaxing activities.
Reaching Out To Us
If you or a loved one resides in Northern California, have recently been diagnosed with a life-limiting malady, and believe hospice might prove beneficial, please contact Central Coast VNA & Hospice. We enjoy a successful track record of providing superior home health care in Monterey County and surrounding regions.
Home Health Care for Congestive Heart Failure Patients
Home Health Care for Congestive Heart Failure Patients by VNA
Congestive heart failure (CHF) can take a toll on the physical and mental health of patients and their families. CHF can be frustrating, stressful, and disruptive to everyday living. Home health care, which includes palliative care, can help patients and their caregivers team up with their healthcare providers to manage the disease and improve life quality.
What Is Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition in which the heart can’t properly pump blood throughout the body. CFH can happen in the left ventricle, the right ventricle, or on both sides. Although some CHF conditions are irreversible, treatment and lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms and help manage the disease.
Conditions leading to CHF include high blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries (coronary artery disease), both of which weaken the heart. Alcohol abuse, heart rhythm abnormalities, thyroid disorders, viral infections affecting cardiac muscle also are contributing factors.
Symptoms and Complications of CHF
CHF can be both sudden (acute) and ongoing (chronic). People who live with CHF feel uncomfortable and tired due to the persistent symptoms, one of which is being short of breath from exertion or lying down. The shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing come from fluid building up in the lungs and other body parts, causing pain and swelling (edema).
Other symptoms include fatigue, leg inflammation, irregular or rapid heartbeat, abdominal swelling, fluid retention, nausea, and lack of appetite. Another sign is chest pain in the event of a heart attack.
Life with CHF can seem erratic. One day a patient might feel good and go on with everyday activities. On other days, they might experience shortness of breath and fatigue, which can interfere with regular exercise and daily routines. Other debilitating effects include the increased need to urinate at night, difficulty concentrating, and fast weight gain from fluid retention.
The prognosis and outlook for CHF patients depend on their age, current health and medical history, and the severity of the disease. One or more complications might arise from CHF, including heart valve and heart rhythm problems, kidney damage or failure, liver damage, and death.
Proper treatment and care can help many CHF patients improve their condition, but CHF is still severe and life-threatening. Patients with more serious conditions might need heart transplantation or surgery to insert a ventricular assist device.
Palliative Care for CHF
Chronic conditions like advanced-stage CHF require palliative care, often called supportive care. Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on relieving symptoms and stress to improve the patient’s quality of life, no matter the patient’s age.
Palliative care involves a team of trained doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, and other providers to work with patients and their families. The group supports the patient and other family members in organizing care, managing pain and other symptoms, navigating the healthcare system, reducing stress, and improving life quality. More specifically, the palliative team makes sure patients understand their care and are up to date on their treatment plans.
Palliative Care for CHF at Home
Some patients receive palliative care in skilled nursing units. Others choose to accept it at home, where they can learn to manage and cope with the condition daily. For example, a home care provider can teach patients how to stand, sit, or lie down to reduce fluid retention in the lungs. They also can guide patients on how to decrease stress when they feel short of breath.
In addition to symptom management, home health care can include assistance with setting personal goals to help patients live with CHF. This approach can also show patients and family members how they can work together to meet their needs while living with this chronic condition.
Patients should remember to take their prescribed medicines, stay physically active, reduce their salt intake, and monitor symptoms and any changes such as weight gain. Patients and family caregivers should remain in touch with their doctors and bring up any questions or concerns with medications and treatment.
Home Care for CHF in the Age of COVID-19
Anyone with a chronic condition like CHF should follow all COVID-19 guidelines on social distancing, wearing masks, and hand washing. Coronavirus spreads through person-to-person contact and respiratory droplets. Because CHF is a risk factor, contracting the virus could lead to more serious complications.
How to Get Palliative Care for CHF
Are you or a family member living with CHF? In that case, it’s essential that you learn about all the care and treatment options available to you. If you live in Central Coast, Hollister, or Monterey County, consider CCVNA as an option for CHF home health care. CCVNA has a cardiac care program that provides comprehensive home nursing care. Consider asking your doctor for a referral to CCVNA’s palliative care Monterey County to treat and manage CHF.
What Is Palliative Care and How Can I Know if It’s the Right Choice for a Loved One?
Palliative care can be a difficult topic for anyone involved with chronic or potentially terminal illness. People suffering from those conditions often feel like accepting palliative care is tantamount to giving up. Likewise, the person's family will often feel like they've let him down. This is one of the few downsides to the love family members have for each other. Feeling the need to take care of others often results in people shouldering more than they need to. In fact, most of these viewpoints come from a misunderstanding of what's involved with palliative care.
Asking About Palliative Care Suggests the Answer
How does one know if palliative treatment is the right choice for a loved one? The easy answer is that it usually is the right choice if the question has even come up. People seldom ask about palliative treatment when everything is going smoothly. Instead it usually comes up in one of two ways. A person with a serious condition might start to feel as if their condition is causing a negative impact to others. Or a family member taking care of them might start to wonder if they're up to the task. Both parties in this situation want the best for each other. And when the question comes up it's usually in the context of strain appearing in one or both people. It's important to stress that this kind of help is exactly what palliative treatment is all about. It should never be seen as giving up. Instead, the treatment is all about finding quality of life in the midst of difficult medical conditions.
Palliative Treatment Centers on Quality of Life
In reality palliative treatment is heavily focused on quality of life. People often talk about fighting various diseases or conditions. However, it's just the nature of life that people will eventually face a condition which can't be cured. But this by no means should be taken to mean it's the end of the fight for life. One can't always fight for duration of life. But there's always options to increase the quality of life one has remaining to them. And this is exactly what palliative treatment involves. Prior to palliative treatment one is focusing on trying to fight the battle for their health in two different fields. The patient is trying to beat a particular medical condition and retain quality of life. At a certain point it's evident that the condition is going to be a permanent concern. The fight should therefore move into focusing on quality of life.
Medical Care as a Continual Process Which Adapts to Changing Needs
Palliative treatment should therefore be seen as a continuation of the prior efforts. This is also where one sees a shift in how to approach overall care. It's natural to rely on doctors when treating an illness. However, the patient's family members often make the mistake of assuming that they need to take over when treatment shifts to quality of life issues. The problems with this approach should be apparent when one really looks into it. Medical issues should always be handled by professionals when possible. Even when it's possible for people to take on some of that responsibility there's a question of need. Whose needs are being taken care of if a family tries to provide quality of life care?
Family members usually aren't prepared to provide palliative treatment on their own. At the same time they often feel as if they should be able to do so. It can create guilt for both the patient and family members alike. However, the sentiment and need is fully undeserved. Someone should no more be expected to provide palliative treatment on their own than they should be expected to provide services comparable to a medical doctor. Medical resources exist for a good reason. Expert palliative treatment exists to improve the life of both the patient and his or her family. But what exactly is involved with palliative treatment? This can be best understood by considering a hypothetical example of someone located in Monterey County.
Focusing on Medical and Emotional Needs
Consider the example of a daughter hoping to find help for her mother. To begin, she'd want to concentrate on senior care Monterey County style. The emphasis on local care might seem surprising at first. However, senior care Hollister or Monterey County style brings important distinctions. It means that people are able to enjoy a climate and setting which fits in with their needs. Palliative treatment puts a heavy emphasis on comfort. Quality of life is often vastly improved when people find a local social and environmental climate which promotes relaxation.
Next, it's important to keep one point in mind above any other. Palliative treatment focuses on the needs of a patient rather than on the patient's prognosis. This might seem like a small distinction at first. However, one needs to really consider how most medical conditions are treated.
If someone has cancer than almost everything revolves around it. If a doctor asks how the patient feels it's not about whether they're having a pleasant day. The question is always about how a patient's life might provide clues about the cancer. Even loved ones will usually need to focus on the condition. It's not out of any callousness. It's simply that people need to understand the condition in order to understand what a person is capable of at any given time.
Talking over the medical condition helps people understand how to approach the individual at any given time. And this is just the approach which people outside the medical profession are forced into. It's usually their first time dealing with late stage cancer. And the same general philosophy applies to any severely restrictive medical condition. Doctors need to focus on treating the condition. And family members aren't familiar enough with medical treatment to adapt to intuitively adapt to it.
Palliative treatment instead focuses on the patients rather than the conditions they might suffer from. This usually comes as a huge relief to everyone involved. Family members no longer have to feel like they're essentially acting as a medical support team. They can instead be the sons and daughters, husbands and wives, or anything else for their loved ones. For many people palliative care is about resuming an actual life with their loved one.
Finding Relief in the Midst of an Often Difficult Struggle
The person entering into palliative treatment is often relieved as well. It's easy to misunderstand what people are interested in at the end of their journey. People with decade upon decade left to them often find it hard to see the world any differently. However, people closer to the end start to consider what the world will be in the future. And in particular they often find themselves worrying about their loved ones. The idea of the illness wracking their body causing pain to loved ones can become a serious issue. Basically, it's easy to find oneself worrying about causing worry in others.
The person's loved ones often feel the same way before palliative treatment is brought into the discussion. It's easy for a family to worry about causing their ailing loved one additional stress. However, people struggling to meet the needs of such a loved one are usually far less successful in hiding their own pain than one might imagine. The toll it takes on both parties can be significant. And in the end it often risks the last years of someone's life.
Palliative treatment is essentially a choice to never give up on life. It means that people accept the help of the experts in order to maximize quality of life in the midst of difficult medical concerns. And in the end it means that a family can celebrate their ailing loved ones life with them rather than stressing over how to provide proper care. The highest quality is there for the loved one because it's provided by experts. This doesn't just refer to experts in medical care either. These are experts who understand that finding joy in the midst of illness is both possible and a priority.