We’re excited to announce the launch of the official HealthKeeperz Instagram account! This page will focus on recruiting individuals to join our home health care team, in addition to sharing company news, announcements, and local events.
 
Following us on social media, whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, or now Instagram, is a great way to stay in the know about what’s happening at HealthKeeperz and in your local community.
 
Medical professionals with an interest in making a career of true service will find more information about open positions on our social media pages. We are always seeking caring and skilled home healthcare professionals to join our team. HealthKeeperz lives by the principle, “Caring for all people for the glory of God.”
 
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @HealthKeeperz. And please, feel free to say hello on social media! We like staying in touch with our extended HealthKeeperz family.

HealthKeeperz was honored to be the premier sponsor for last weekend's Boots & BBQ event, an annual fundraiser that benefits the Southeastern Regional Medical Center Foundation. The SRMC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to expand quality healthcare at Southeastern Health. With help from the generous contributions of its donors, SRMC provides financial assistance to grow medical services offered in the area. SRMC has worked tirelessly since 1983 to meet the healthcare needs of the communities where they serve.
 
The 9th annual Boots & BBQ was a super fun and casual event with over 400 attendees and their guests. We enjoyed excellent refreshments courtesy of Fuller’s BBQ, and a wonderful performance from Kasey Tyndall and her band.
 
HealthKeeperz is always happy to support a cause that advances and enhances the health and wellness of our community; however, the BBQ and music certainly made it extra special! Thank you to the SRMC for letting us be a partner in this event. We’re humbled to help with their mission, which resonates deeply with our own. Please visit http://www.srmc.org/foundation/ to learn more.

Change is not always easy, and often it's unavoidable. And some of the best change is the hardest change.

On September 16, many of us at HealthKeeperz began the process of change together as we started converting to a new electronic medical record system (commonly known as EMR). Jokingly, I recently said to our president, Tim Brooks, that I have never had more prayer requests in a day and week in all my five years at HealthKeeperz!

But it's actually true. And since then, the requests have continued, and I think that I have found a common thread either expressed or communicated in body language. It has to do with coping with the frustrations with learning a new system, working out of two systems in the interim, and encountering the expected and often unexpected mishaps. I've summed up the common prayer request this way: ”Lord, if I become frustrated, help me not to say anything or act in some way hurtful to others, regretful to myself, and dishonoring to you." 

First, I must say that I am so excited to have coworkers who think this way and are humble enough to ask God to help them with their human weaknesses. I know from my own personal experience that the temptation has been present to say or do what I ought not. Praise God for His help!

Second, I am grateful that at HealthKeeperz, there is an undercurrent that is moving us along that flows out our mission statement, “Caring for all people for the glory of God.” That undercurrent is our culture of encouragement, the Barnabas Culture. Simply stated, it's a way of life in the workplace, where being caring, selfless, and humble, as well as encouraging people lifts us all and helps each of us flourish.

I couldn't help but think of a few Proverbs from the Bible that will help us not only glorify God but will also help us support one another in the coming weeks and months as we seek to excel in the EMR transition phase. Listen to three of them and notice how powerful a kind word of encouragement is.
 
Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)
 24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
 sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 15:4 (ESV)
 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
 but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)
 25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
 but a good word makes him glad.

Don't you love the pure beauty of God's wisdom in His word? A gracious, gentle, good word is so accessible to us. We need only speak it and watch it heal and rejuvenate a weary soul, bear life giving fruit, or dispel anxiety from a heavy heart. I think this is how we will make it, and not only during this transition, but every day. With so many negative or discouraging words out there, what do you say we commit ourselves to gracious, gentle, and good words for the glory of God and the good our neighbor!
Yours in Christ,
Chaplain James Chavis

Pros and Cons: Alternatives to Nursing Home Placement
 
Assisted living facilities and retirement homes provide a source of care, joy, and community for many older folks. But for some, they’re just not the right setting, feeling “too clinical” or “cold.” This article is dedicated to those who might feel the latter emotions.  We’re going to take a look at several viable alternatives to nursing home placement, focusing specifically on the pros and cons of each.
 
Moving in With Family
 
When it becomes too much to care for oneself, many people turn to their children or other able-bodied relatives to help out. Provided that everyone in the family gets along, this can be a wonderful option. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend their retirement days surrounded by grandchildren? This option is also highly cost-effective. There’s no need to pay for a room, and in many cases for medical care, so long as the type of help you need is minor enough that family members can cover it.
 
Doesn’t seem to have any drawbacks, right? Well … not quite. There are a few important things to keep in mind before making the decision to move in with your children and/or other relatives. First, is the care you require going to be too much for unpaid, non-medical professionals to handle? Many grown-up kids love the idea of taking care of their parents, but soon realize that it’s more than they can handle on top of their own busy lives. It’s smart to have a concrete idea of what exactly care will look like before going into this situation; that will help prevent anyone from biting off more than they can chew. Many people opt to move in with family members and hire a home health care aide to assist with certain duties and ensure a proper standard of care.
 
Intentional Communities
 
Due to the hefty expenses associated with retirement and daily medical care, more and more seniors are choosing to form intentional communities or “communes” where they can live together and pool resources. It’s not only a barrel of fun, but also much more affordable than going at it alone. Some groups choose to hire a single live-in nurse or team of home health professionals, splitting the cost between everyone at the commune. Additionally, the benefits of being around other people all day are huge for both mental and physical health. Studies show that socialization is linked to the prolonged retention of one’s mental and physical faculties, as well as lower rates of depression.
 
The big “if” with regard to intentional communities is the people. Make sure that you and your loved one make a careful, well-informed decision together about who you will be living with. Can everyone agree on daily chores? Expenses? Medical care? Try and assemble a team of like-minded friends who want the same things out of retirement.
 
Home Health Care
 
For many Americans suffering from a condition that requires frequent medical attention, “home health care” are the three magic words. They mean the comfort, security, and convenience of your own home; they mean less disruption to your day-to-day life; they mean no more days spent driving to and from doctor’s appointments. Home health care provides immense relief from the stress associated with medical care.
 
There aren’t any real cons to home health care. With advances in medical technology, it’s now possible to receive the same quality of care at home as you would receive in a facility without paying a fortune. One important thing to note is that having everything you need at home can sometimes lead to social isolation, especially in seniors. If you do go the home health care route, make sure that your loved one is still getting plenty of social enrichment. While HealthKeeperz’ medical professionals are extremely warm and friendly, they can’t meet all your needs for fun and socialization. So, make sure to visit with friends and family and get outside when you can, to get up and get going.
 
Interested in receiving home health care services for yourself or a loved one? Please contact HealthKeeperz at 800-309-3784 to begin a conversation.