VNA program keeps Lynn cardiac patient safe

LYNN – At 92 years old, Rita Bourque still has her memory, wit, and intelligence, and she’s lived in the same home for 69 years.What she doesn’t have, however, is a healthy heart.But thanks to her care providers at All Care VNA, Bourque can control her condition at home and live independently, because she has learned how to care for the congestive heart failure (CHF) that she was diagnosed with in 1997.She has used a variety of All Care home care and supportive services through the years, and with education and resources provided by All Care clinicians, Bourque is living as high-quality, safe and independent a life as possible.February was American Heart Month and CHF is the No. 1 cause of hospitalization for seniors. All Care’s CHF program educates clients on self-management and provides personalized care. Bourque is an All Care example of how well this can be done.”Once diagnosed, CHF is a chronic condition that must be managed for the rest of a person’s life,” said Veronica Augero-Hoffman, RN, BSN, clinical educator of All Care VNA. “The good news is that it can be managed.”Bourque has learned to distinguish when her body is stable, and when signs of fluid retention might indicate her heart failure is ret?ur?ning.She checks her weight daily and keeps a log provided by All Care. She avoids salt, keeps her feet elevated when sitting, and does exercises every evening at 7 p.m., holding onto her stairway banister for support during a series of squats, leg lifts and toe pulses.Bourque is also diabetic. She closely monitors her sugar intake, administers her own insulin shots, and takes her medicine on schedule, logging this in for All Care clinicians. Finally, she uses her “check your zone” worksheet to self-assess any symptoms that require a phone call to a care provider.”All of this teaches the patient that when they have graduated from VNA services, they can continue to keep themselves safe at home,” said Aguero-Hoffman.Bourque smiles as she adds her additional secret to healthy older age: “I make sure I eat a vegetable every night.” She also leaves out a piece of fruit daily for her mailman.All Care’s CHF Program is a multidisciplinary approach to home health care. Nurses and rehab therapists, all educated in CHF, work as a team to stabilize patients after hospitalization, initially with five weekly home visits, less frequent visits as the patient progresses, and regular telephone calls that allow for early intervention if needed.Bourque also receives three weekly visits from a home health aide – and attention from her 68-year-old daughter, who helps with shopping, laundry and errands.”My daughter is a saint, and I’ve had so many nurses and physical therapists, and I love them all to pieces,” she said, adding, “Every single one of them was excellent.”For more information on All Care’s CHF Program, please call 781-598-7066.Founded in 1911, All Care VNA is a Medicare/Medicaid-certified agency offering services of nurses, home health aides, specialists in geriatrics, oncology, diabetes, physical, occupational, and speech therapies as well as palliative care. All Care Hospice provides medical and emotional care for those with life-limiting illnesses, as well as respite care, spiritual support, and bereavement counseling for families. All Care also offers All Care Resources, a private pay division for flexible, in-home services.