At Family & Nursing Care, our commitment to exceptional client support extends beyond traditional business hours. Our Nights & Weekends Client Services Manager Team plays a crucial role in ensuring that clients receive prompt and compassionate assistance whenever they need it. Whether adjusting schedules, guiding new clients through the care process, troubleshooting urgent issues, or collecting feedback, this team is always ready to respond with empathy, efficiency, and professionalism.

Our Nights & Weekends Client Services Manager Team members work closely with one another and other departments to ensure seamless communication and coordinated care. Each member brings unique expertise to their role, contributing to the team’s ability to navigate unpredictable situations. Team members include:

• Madison Hoover: With five years of experience as a Client Services Manager, Madison leads the Nights & Weekends team as Assistant Director, providing critical support to clients in crisis. She ensures that every client feels heard and valued, reinforcing the company’s commitment to providing access to compassionate care. Outside of work, Madison stays active with her toddler and enjoys time at the beach.
• Elizabeth Bearisto: A newly licensed attorney, Elizabeth applies her sharp problem-solving skills to every challenge she faces. She expertly balances urgency with empathy, ensuring that clients receive both the care and attention they deserve.
• Thomica Flakes: Passionate about mindfulness and resilience, Thomica is currently pursuing a master’s degree in corporate mindfulness. Her calming presence and ability to navigate unpredictable situations are a key asset to the team.
• Michael Sallee: Mike brings a unique blend of creativity and positivity to his role. As a comic, he keeps spirits high with his impersonations, love for dance, and passion for writing movies and TV shows — helping to create a supportive and uplifting atmosphere for both clients and colleagues.

Whether addressing an urgent need in the middle of the night or ensuring continuity of care over the weekend, our Nights & Weekends Client Services Manager Team is dedicated to providing the same high level of service that defines Family & Nursing Care. To learn more about how our team can help, visit our Client Services Managers webpage.

At Family & Nursing Care, we believe that the best measure of impact comes from the voices in our own community. Recently, Aging Life Care Professional, Renne Fuller, shared a heartfelt letter recognizing two Family & Nursing Care Select caregivers, Paula Nash and Ernestina Anaman, for their extraordinary dedication and professionalism during a particularly challenging time.

In the letter, Renne described how she was covering on-call services when a client went into sudden decline and, later that evening, unfortunately passed away. Throughout the difficult day, Paula and Ernestina were not only thorough in their caregiving responsibilities for the client but also deeply compassionate and communicative.

Renne noted how impressed she was with their attentiveness, stating that she could hear the concern in their voices and see their commitment to providing the best possible care during the client’s final hours. “I know how hard it is on caregivers to be with someone at the end of their life,” she wrote. “They both stayed so professional and were so diligent in their duties throughout. I was really impressed.”

This recognition is especially meaningful because, as a former Care Coordinator, Renne intimately understands the challenges of end-of-life care and the immense responsibility caregivers hold in such moments. These words underscore not only the skill and dedication of Paula and Ernestina, but also the strength of Family & Nursing Care’s collaboration with Aging Life Care Professionals.

At Family & Nursing Care, we pride ourselves on connecting clients and families to compassionate caregivers that make a meaningful difference in their lives. Paula and Ernestina exemplify this commitment, as their professionalism and heartfelt dedication reflect the very best of what home care can be.

If you or a loved one could benefit from trusted home care services, Family & Nursing Care is here to help. To learn more about how we partner with Aging Life Care Professionals and other professionals in the senior care industry, visit our Professional Partnerships webpage.

Every year on April 7, World Health Day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing health and well-being. This global observance, spearheaded by the World Health Organization, highlights critical health topics and encourages people of all ages to adopt healthy habits. For older adults, World Health Day is an opportunity to focus on maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being – key factors in living a fulfilling and independent life.

Prioritizing Health as We Age

As we grow older, our health needs change, making it even more important to take proactive steps toward wellness. Regular medical check-ups, proper nutrition, physical activity, and social engagement all contribute to a higher quality of life. World Health Day serves as a timely reminder for older adults to assess their health routines and ensure they are making choices that support longevity and vitality.

“Good health is the foundation of independence and quality of life for older adults,” said Rachel Sanford, a Registered Nurse and Director of Nursing for Family & Nursing Care Select. “Having the right support system in place, which may include assistance from a caregiver, can make all the difference in helping older adults maintain their health and continue enjoying the activities they love.”

The Role of Caregivers in Older Adult Health and Well-Being

Caregivers play an essential role in helping older adults achieve and maintain their health. Whether it’s assisting with medication reminders, preparing nutritious meals, encouraging regular exercise, or providing companionship, caregivers support every aspect of an older adult’s well-being. Their presence not only helps manage physical health issues but also enhances emotional and social wellness, key components of a happy and fulfilling life.

Family & Nursing Care is a resource for access to compassionate caregivers who are dedicated to empowering older adults to live safely and independently in the comfort of their own homes. Through personalized care, they provide the necessary support to ensure seniors can prioritize their health every day – not just on World Health Day.

Take the First Step Toward Better Health

World Health Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on your health or the well-being of a loved one. If you or someone you care about could benefit from additional support, Family & Nursing Care is here to help. To learn more about home care and what sets us apart in the industry, visit our Home Care Services webpage.

With an estimated 48 million people in the U.S. taking care of adult relatives or friends and 61% working fulltime while caregiving, it comes as no surprise that these people are having trouble balancing their competing responsibilities. What’s more, the sandwich generation – adults who care for their parents while still raising their own children – is growing faster than ever, putting increased pressure on individuals caring for family members of all ages, whether it’s assisting with daily activities, medical care, finances, and emotional support.

Combatting the Strain on Family Caregivers

Fortunately, there is greater recognition of the strain that caregiving can have on families, and industries are beginning to come up with new ways to help ease the burden. For example, some employers are starting to expand their benefits to help with elder care. According to a recent Mercer survey of companies with 500 or more employees, 34% currently offer or plan to offer within the next year elder care referrals or consultations; 20% offer access to back up elder care services; 17% offer concierge caregiver support; 16% offer care coordination navigation services; and 14% offer elder care leave. Not only will these benefits help keep workers in their jobs longer, but it acknowledges the important role of caregiving.

At the same time, there also are tried-and-true methods to help family caregivers, like home care. Not only can home care make a big difference by providing older adults with personalized, daily living support to help them maintain their independence at home, but it can offer respite to family members that their loved ones are being taken care of when they are not there.

The Impact of Home Care on Family Caregivers

Home care provides many practical benefits for family members who may not have the extra time to care for their aging parents on top of their other responsibilities like raising children and working a full-time job, including:

• Keeping loved ones out of the hospital. Research shows that when people can recover at home after a hospitalization, they recover faster. For this reason, home care can be especially helpful for older adults transitioning home after a hospital stay, as caregivers can help with daily activities like picking up prescriptions and preparing meals that allow them to get the rest and recovery they need.
• Providing peace of mind. The average family caregiver spends more than 20 hours per week caring for their loved one at home. Home care is an ideal solution for the sandwich generation and older adults who need help with daily living activities but can’t always rely on family members to maintain their independence. Caregivers can help with medical appointments, mobility around the home, medication reminders, and more.
• Improving mental health. A strong social life has been linked to many benefits for older adults, including a longer life expectancy, fewer health conditions, and improved well-being. Later in life, it can become harder to maintain the same levels of social connectedness that was once had. That’s where caregivers can play an important role by offering companionship, friendship, and warm conversation.
• Giving people more time to do what they love. As we age, it’s normal for activities to take a bit longer than they used to, and home care can help ensure the tasks of daily living don’t keep older adults from enjoying the activities that matter most. Whether it’s putting away groceries or hanging clothes in the closet, caregivers can help older adults complete tasks around the house safely and more efficiently, so they can spend more time focusing on their favorite pastimes.

The Family & Nursing Care Difference

Family & Nursing Care stands ready to support families and reduce their physical and mental load. As one of the most well-respected home care resources in the Mid-Atlantic region, we’ve made it our mission to help older adults live their fullest independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. For more than 56 years, we have helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to a network of over 1,500 experienced caregivers who can assist with a range of home care tasks, including:

• Activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, meal preparation, feeding, and toileting.
• Mobility assistance, including helping someone get up, walking, transferring into or out of bed or a chair, turning and positioning in bed, range of motion exercises, and more.
• Companionship, which includes taking walks, providing company at mealtime, social activities, family events and other functions, errands, accompanying on appointments, and transportation.
• Support services, such as doing laundry, washing dishes, taking out the trash, and light housekeeping.
• Nutrition and paying close attention to dietary needs, preferences, and restrictions by preparing meals and snacks, assisting with feeding, and encouraging fluids.
• Disease specific care, which can include specialized support for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Parkinson’s disease, hospice and palliative care, pneumonia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s leading home care services, visit the Home Care Services page on our website.

Imagine a family member goes to the hospital for a routine outpatient procedure. During the visit, your loved one encounters some unexpected complications, like their blood pressure rising or the doctor discovers something else during the procedure, and the hospital decides to keep your family member overnight for additional testing and monitoring. While many might think this person has been admitted as an inpatient, this person may actually be put on “observation status.”

Why Does Observation Status Matter?

The distinction between inpatient versus observation status can have a significant impact. Financially, for patients on Medicare, they are considered outpatients when on observation status, meaning there may be greater copays and other uncovered out of pocket expenses. Further, since outpatient status is not considered a hospital admission, this means patients won’t qualify to go to a rehab facility following their hospital stay. Only those formally admitted for three overnights are covered by Medicare for follow up care in a skilled nursing facility. Yet, these patients who were put on observation status may still require support at home, especially since the first 48 hours after discharge from a hospital are critical to their safety and health. That’s where home care can make all the difference.

Enter Family & Nursing Care

Regardless of status, Family & Nursing Care helps patients receive the crucial care they need as they transition home from the hospital. During the first 48 hours post discharge, when there is the most confusion and misunderstanding of needs and instructions and there are often delays in the start of Medicare or Medicaid services, there is a dramatic difference in successful transitioning between patients who utilize home care services and those who do not.

As a regional leader in providing access to compassionate and reliable home care services since 1968, Family & Nursing Care’s Hospital to Home program helps ease the transition for patients after a hospital stay in the following ways:

• Easy and quick access to experienced and compassionate caregivers can provide clients a safe and comfortable environment for recovery at home.
• Family & Nursing Care liaisons are available to visit with patients and their families while the patient is still in the hospital to help them understand their options for coverage and care at home.
• Support can be obtained on a short-term basis to help with the transition home or on a longer-term basis as needed.
• No up-front deposits or long-term commitments are required.

Family & Nursing Care is always willing and ready to help people even at a moment’s notice when they leave the hospital. With responsive and supportive staff and access to compassionate and reliable caregivers, Family & Nursing Care can truly make a positive difference in older adults’ lives while offering their families peace of mind.

The Family & Nursing Care Difference

With 75% of Family & Nursing Care clients needing in-home care within 48 hours, we pride ourselves on being nimble enough to get a caregiver in the door within that immediate timeframe. These caregivers can help in many ways, including:

• Managing tasks of daily living, such as errands, medication pick-up, groceries, meal preparation, bathing, dressing and support for those who may be at risk for a fall, as well as helping clients digest all the information thrown at them upon discharge from the hospital.
• Assisting with specific client needs by ensuring they adhere to a special diet, practicing breathing techniques and required exercises, reminding them to take medications on time, and more.
• Using their knowledge and to recognize “red flag” symptoms, such as edema, shortness of breath, and fever.

The bottom line is regardless of whether a patient is on observation status or considered inpatient, when they are discharged from the hospital, Family & Nursing Care stands ready to provide the resources needed to help them recover in the comfort of their own home because when hospital readmission statistics are lowered, everyone benefits.

To learn more about how Family & Nursing Care can help clients with their transition home from the hospital, visit the Home Care Services page on our website.