HOME HEALTH SERVICESOverview of Our Disease Management Services

OuTREACH COORdInATOR

(757) 217-2273

A Medicare Certified and CHAP Accredited Home Health Agency

Westminster-Canterbury at Home2

DIABETES

Diabetes, referred to as Diabetes Mellitus, is a metabolic disease in which the body has

high blood glucose (blood sugar). There are two types of diabetes.

Type 1: The body does not produce insulin. Referred to as Insulin-dependent diabetes,

usually develops in early adulthood or teenage years. Only 10% of diabetic cases are

type 1.

Type 2: The body does not produce enough insulin for proper functioning, or the

cells in the body are insulin resistant. This is the most common type of diabetes. Type 2

diabetes may be controlled with diet, exercise and monitoring of blood sugars, but may

also require the use of medication, either insulin or prescribed diabetic medication.

Hyperglycemia: (High blood sugar). Is caused by too much food, too little insulin or

diabetes medicine, illness or stress.

Hypoglycemia: (Low blood sugar). Is caused by too little food, too much insulin or

diabetes medicine, or extra activity.

Westminster-Canterbury at Home Diabetes Management program will assist the patient in managing their medication and educate their caregiver on a home routine to keep the patient in control of their life. Our clinicians will assess the patient and develop a customized home health plan and establish an exercise routine along with tips on reducing sugar in their diet to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

ExErcising wiTH DiabETEs: gEnEral guiDElinEs TO blOOD sugar lEvEls

• Lower than 100mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L). Your blood sugar may be too low to exercise.

Eat a small carbohydrate-containing snack, such as fruit or crackers, before you

begin your workout.

• 100 to 250mg/dl (5.6 to 13.9 mmol/L). You are good to go. For most people, this is

a safe pre-exercise blood sugar range.

Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle 3

• 250mg/dl (13.9 mmol/L) or higher. Caution Zone. Before exercising test your urine

for ketones-substances. Ketones are made when your body breaks down fat for energy.

Excess ketones indicate your body does not have enough insulin to control your blood

sugar.

• 300mg/dl (16.7 mmol/L) or higher. Your blood sugar may be too high to exercise

safely, putting you at risk of ketoacidosis (a serious complication of diabetes that needs

immediate treatment – blood sugar out of control). Postpone your workout until your

blood sugar drops to a safe range.

Source: Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-and-exercise/Da00105

DiabETic FOOT carE

• Inspect your feet daily

• Wash your feet in lukewarm (not hot!) water

• Be gentle when bathing your feet

• Never trim corns or calluses

• Cut nails carefully and straight across

• Avoid the wrong type of socks (tight elastic bands reduce circulation)

• Moisturize you feet (but never between your toes – this could cause a fungal infection)

• Keep your feet warm and dry

• Never walk barefoot

• Take care of your diabetes

• Wear clean, dry socks

• Don’t smoke

Westminster-Canterbury at Home4

Orthopedics, is the branch of medicine that deals with conditions involving

musculoskeletal systems.

Types of condition: Back and Spine, Arthritis, Foot and Ankle, Hand, Wrist and Upper

Extremity, Degenerative Hip, Knee, and Shoulder, Shoulder Pain, Sports-related

injuries, and Trauma.

Westminster-Canterbury at Home Orthopedic rehabilitation program is tailored for every patient requiring treatments for a variety of orthopedic conditions. Our clinicians will assess the patient and provide a comprehensive rehabilitation plan according to their condition and state. Our clinicians will determine and customize a home health plan and exercise routine to help them regain mobility and independence while working and communicating with their orthopedic surgeon.

Fall PrEvEnTiOn PrOgraM

• Evaluate patient for fall risk using BERG Balance assessment

• Evaluate balance and gait by applying our Tinetti Assessment Tool

• Assess home environment setting and recommend modifications

• Review patient medications and side effects

• Assess neurological impairment

• Improving balance and strength through training

• Education on durable medical equipment use

• Safe at home programs

• Educating patient and family on safety and prevention practice

• Assistance of Medical Social Worker for community programs

ORTHOPEDICS

Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle 5

ExErcising guiDE aFTEr HiP surgEry

• Ankle Pumps

• Ankle Rotations

• Quadriceps Setting

• Back-lying Hip Abduction

• Standing Hip Extension

• Straight Leg Raises

• Standing Leg Raises

• Standing Knee Raises

• Standing Hip Abduction

• Bed-Supported Knee Bends

ExErcising guiDE aFTEr KnEE surgEry

• Quadriceps Setting

• Straight Leg Raises

• Standing Hip Abduction

• Side-lying Hip Abduction

• Ankle Pumps

• Long-Arc Knee Extension

• Passive Knee Extension

• Wall Flexion (heel) Slides

• Seated Heel Slides

• Hip Extension

• Knee-Straightening

• Short-Arc Quadriceps

• Stationary Biking

Westminster-Canterbury at Home6

COPD

cOPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a shortage of air movement on a lung

function test. COPD is similar to asthma, but is very progressive and poorly reversible.

Two causes of COPD:

1. Emphysema is the result of lung damage to the alveoli. This condition also reduces

elasticity of the lungs and may eventually lead to the airways closing, which leads to

destruction of the lungs over time.

2. chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways in the lungs. This condition

leads to mucus accumulation in the airways contributing to their narrowing, and

which involves long-term coughing with mucus.

Westminster-Canterbury at Home Management program will help the patient improve their ability to manage their condition in their home setting. Our clinicians will educate and train the patient and their caregiver on how to manage their disease. Our clinician will customize a regimen to assist the patient on improving energy conservation, and an exercise plan to help improve circulation and oxygen use to reduce physician’s office and emergency room visits.

signs anD syMPTOMs

Common symptoms include: An ongoing cough or a cough that produces a lot of

mucus. Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity. Wheezing (a whistling or

squeaky sound when you breath). Chest tightness.

Severe symptoms which may require treatment in the hospital include: Having a hard

time catching your breath or talking; your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray (sign of

low oxygen level in your blood); you’re not mentally alert; your heartbeat is very fast; the

recommended treatment for symptoms that are getting worse isn’t working.

Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle 7

ExErcising wiTH cOPD

• Improve your circulation and help the body better use oxygen

• Improve your COPD symptoms

• Build energy levels so you can do more activities without becoming tired

or short of breath

• Strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system

• Increase endurance

• Lower blood pressure

• Improve muscle tone and strength; improve balance and joint flexibility

• Strengthen bones

• Help reduce body fat and help you reach a healthy weight

• Help reduce stress tension, anxiety, and depression

• Improve sleep

• Make you feel more relaxed and rested

OxygEn THEraPy

Oxygen use can help people who have certain lung

diseases. The cells in the body get their energy from

breathing. Sometimes with COPD lung function is

reduced to the extent that oxygen therapy is needed to

continue daily activities. Oxygen therapy can improve

their sleep, mood, mental alertness, and stamina,

allowing them to participate in more normal day-to-day

activities. It also prevents heart failure in people with

severe lung disease.

Westminster-Canterbury at Home8

cHF, Congestive Heart Failure, occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump

enough blood throughout the body causing insufficient blood and oxygen flow that the

body needs to normally function. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or

even carrying groceries can become difficult.

causEs OF HEarT FailurE:

• coronary artery Disease (caD) is a disease of the arteries that supply blood and

oxygen to the heart, causing decreased blood flow to the heart muscle.

• Heart attack, also known as Myocardial infarction (Mi), results from partial

interruption of blood supply to the heart muscle, causing the heart cells to be

damaged or die.

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated

which requires the heart to work harder to circulate blood through the blood vessels.

Westminster-Canterbury at Home cHF Management program will teach the patient and their family ways to improve their condition by developing a healthy heart diet. Our clinicians will educate the patient and their caregiver in ways of maintaining and reducing weight through diet and exercise. it is also very important to reduce salt intake and to avoid food with high cholesterol and fat. a comprehensive teaching guideline will help improve overall functionality and the outcome results in a reduced hospital readmission rate.

ExErcising wiTH cHF: gEnEral guiDElinEs

• If you are not exercising, start with ten minutes everyday. It can be as simple as

walking five minutes from your front door, turning around and walking back.

CHF

Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle 9

• Start slowly. Only do what is comfortable for

you and at a comfortable pace and at intervals

(exercise for a few minutes and then rest).

This alternating sample gives you the benefit of

exercise without unnecessary strain. Gradually

increase the time and pace as you get stronger.

• Increase flexibility, mobility and balance by

standing, walking, bending, and getting in and

out of chairs to help increase daily activities.

• Increase strength by doing housework, yard work, laundry and unloading your car

with groceries. All require strength and a good grip. Do some resistance training to

get stronger. Try resistance training without weights for a few months, then gradually

do some light-weight lifting. Your physician may also suggest some respiratory

exercises to help build up your chest, diaphragm and abdominal muscles to help you

breathe better.

• Increased endurance will let your periods of activity be longer and more productive.

TiPs On rEDucing sODiuM in yOur DiET:

• Buy fresh, plain, frozen or canned “with no salt added” vegetables.

• Use poultry, fish and lean meat rather than canned or processed types.

• Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasoning blends in cooking and at the table.

• Cook rice, pasta and hot cereals without salt. Cut back on instant or flavored rice,

pasta and cereal mixes, which usually have added salt.

• Choose “convenience” foods that are lower in sodium. Cut back on frozen dinners,

pizza, packaged mixes, canned soups or broths, and salad dressings – These usually

have a lot of sodium.

• Rinse canned food such as tuna to remove sodium.

• When available buy low, reduced sodium or no added salt foods.

• Choose ready-to-eat breakfast cereals that are lower in sodium.

10 Westminster-Canterbury at Home

STROKE

strokes happen when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked or bursts. Then

that part of the body can’t work and neither can the part of the body it controls.

Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the United Sates. They are also a major

cause of severe, long-term disability. People over 55 years old have more chance of

having a stroke, and the risk gets greater as you get older. Men, African Americans, and

people with disabilities or heart disease are the most at risk for a stroke.

Westminster-Canterbury at Home stroke Management program will assist the patient and educate their caregiver on ways to improve their daily living and mobility. Our team of clinicians will assess the patient, customize a plan and implement an individualized course of therapy. This also includes an exercise routine to strengthen parts of the body that were affected by the stroke.

warning signs OF a sTrOKE

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of

your body

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

risK FacTOrs incluDE:

• High Blood Pressure

• Smoking

• Diabetes

• High Cholesterol

• Heart Disease

• Atrial Fibrillation

(Abnormal Heart Rhythm)

Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle 11

ExErcising guiDE wiTH a sTrOKE

• Moving can help you have more energy and feel better.

• If you are not exercising, start with ten minutes every day. It can be as simple as

walking five minutes from your front door, turning around and walking back.

• Start slowly. Only do what is comfortable for you.

• Stop if you feel chest pain, dizziness, or have severe shortness of breath.

• You can also exercise using a stationary bicycle, treadmill or go to an exercise class.

Our MissiOn

Creating community to foster

joy and well-being.

HOurs OF OPEraTiOn

Monday-Friday

8:00am-5:00pm

Intake for referrals:

(757)496-1691

24 hour phone line:

(757)496-1653

Fax:

(757)496-1771

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3100 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 – www.wcbay.com –homecare@wcbay.comWestminster-Canterbury at Home does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race,

color, national origin, disability, or age in admission, treatment, or in employment.