Greetings!,
roberta

 

Anyone who knows me knows I am like a "Roadrunner"...always on the move. A common statement said to me is "you are everywhere." I often move in and out and all about...and then it happened. I fell, twisted the ankle on my driving foot, and fractured my ankle. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks to heal and of course the recommendation was to "stay off of it" for that time. I was given a heavy boot to wear that would immobilize the ankle.

 

The first few days were rough so I stayed put - elevating and icing it often during the day. I begged for a way to make me mobile and was granted that for which I am grateful.

 

The real eye-opener, however, was the shower. Oh, how I took taking a shower for granted! How was I to do this now? I could not bear weight on that foot. I had to come up with a different process to get the job done. A folding chair went into the shower so I could sit. Now how to get onto the chair without standing on the foot? It was a challenge, to say the least. Every move had to be calculated so that I would not fall and injure myself further.

 

My thoughts immediately went to the population I serve. What if I was more frail, as they are, and did not have the strength to move differently?  What if I were not cognitively intact and could not come up with another process...could not calculate every move so not to fall again? Would I eliminate the shower?  Would I attempt to take showers and fall repeatedly? I am sure we have all worked with elders who have done both.

 

There is a reason I am seeing life from this perspective, though I do not know what that is at this moment. 

 

I felt that I was sensitive and compassionate before the accident; however, I will be even more sensitive and compassionate as I go forward. And...I will be incredibly and eternally grateful to have my mobility back. 

 

We take so many things for granted...like getting in and out of the shower and bed easily, effortlessly and without pain...like stopping the car and jumping out of it to dash into a store for something we need...like running up a few stairs to get to our destination.

 

May we always be aware and grateful for the things we can do and sensitive and compassionate for the folks who are less fortunate than us.

 

There are many resources available to help seniors in need and I have provided a short list below. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of service. My email address is: [email protected]

  1. Cambridge Health Alliance, my employer, has tremendous services for older adults - everything from fabulous primary care doctors to 24-hour emergency care, and specialty programs like House Calls, PACE, and Geriatric Psychiatry.

    If you know an older adult that needs to be connected to care, visit http://www.challiance.org/Services/SeniorHealth.aspx or call the CHA Doctor Finder Service at 617-665-1305.
     
  2. The local ASAP's (Aging Service Access Points: Somerville Cambridge Elder ServicesWest Suburban Elder Services, Mystic Valley Elder Services etc. can connect individuals to the service they need.
     
  3. There are private pay home care companies i.e. Senior Homecare SolutionsRight @ Home, Griswold Special Care, ABC Homecare who can help with showers, meals, housekeeping etc. 
     
  4. Adult Day Health agencies, like Community Family and Windsor Adult Day Health allow seniors to be safe and socialized during the day.
     
  5. All-Inclusive Insurance Programs such as SCO (Senior Care Options) and also the CHA Elder Service Plan (PACE) provide a health plan and health services for older adults that qualify.

 

 

 

Featured Service

 

Primary care at CHA continues to grow!

 

Good news! CHA is growing our Malden, Everett, and Revere Care Centers to better serve our patients. We recently completed the expansion of 391 Broadway in Everett and now have more exam rooms, new primary care doctors, and additional staff.

 


 

What does this mean for older adults in our community? 

Patients benefit from more exam rooms and services which include primary care, social services, nutrition and complex care services.

 

With these changes, CHA is now able to accept new patients of all ages. To get connected to CHA primary care, just call the CHA doctor finder service at 617-665-1305.

 

Want to learn more? 

Join us on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at the CHA Everett Care Center for our Open House. This will allow you to meet the staff and see the improvements. We want to support our community and help keep all of you healthy in 2015!


 

              

 

CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE is a vital and innovative community health system that provides essential services to Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and the Cambridge Public Health Dept. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.  For more information, visit www.challiance.org.

This newsletter provides general information for educational purposes only. The information provided in this newsletter, or through linkages to other sites, is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. 
Thank you.


  

 

CHA in the News


 
NY Times highlights new study from CHA physician, Pieter Cohen on danger of dietary supplements.

 

CHA addiction expert Dr. Howard Shaffer featured in ESPN story on sports betting.

 

 

Watch the Health is Wealth TV Show
  

To learn more about Fall Prevention watch this video


 

To view more, click here.



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