Marketing Opportunities: Health Care Observances

A New Year means new opportunities to promote your agency’s services. Review your print media and prepare for health care observances like Medical Group Practice week, which kicks off January 28th. Visit your referring physicians and drop off a variety of brochures and flyers they can share with their patients. How about: Educating seniors on medication safety?  

It is not uncommon for adults age 65 and older to take a variety of prescription and OTC medications every day.  It is important that seniors understand some basic facts about their medications:

  • What are they used for?

  • What side effects do they have?

  • How do I take them correctly?

  • How will they interact with my other medications?

Educating seniors on their medications and the importance of following the instructions is more important than ever before. If a medication is advertised on television, people tend to think it can be taken regardless of their existing health conditions or other medications.

Medication education is a service that home health can provide. Home health nurses and technicians are in a patients’ home multiple times each week. In addition to prescribed medications, they can review the over-the-counter drugs in the home and alert the patient to potential dangers that might be lurking in their medicine cabinet. They can explain the proper way to take each medication and follow up to ensure it is actually being taken.

 As a home health provider, be sure to supply your referring physicians specializing in geriatric care with customized Medication Safety flyers. We offer many topics relevant to senior care giving that are personalized with your agency branding and contact information.

Host medication education classes at your nearby senior centers and worship community gatherings. We offer a complete kit of educational tools on Understanding Medications and a variety of other topics. Follow this link to learn more.

Tips for Medicating Safely:

  • Use one pharmacy to reduce the risk of harmful drug interactions.

  • Check with your pharmacist when selecting OTC medications or dietary supplements to be sure they are compatible with your prescribed medications.

  • Use a pill organizer for all your medications and supplements.

  • Call your doctor or pharmacist if you experience unusual side effects after taking a new medication.

  • Take OTC medication according to the instructions.

  • Check expiration dates and replace medications that have expired.

  • Always choose products with the fewest ingredients.

Visit www.tagwebstore.com for all your home health and hospice print media needs.

Prepare now for National OT Month approaching in April

April is National Occupational Therapy (OT) Month and a great time to highlight the Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy associates on your Home Health team. Recognize these vital professionals by celebrating their holistic approach to wellness that enable people to participate in the activities they want and need to do. These talented practitioners blend knowledge of the patient and their environment to help them live life to its fullest despite injury, illness, or disability. Their maxim is, not “What’s the matter with you?” but, “What matters to you?”

Common OT implements include, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Many Occupational therapists and occupational assistants specialize in geriatric care. They focus on re-teaching seniors the basic skills needed for daily activities like dressing, grooming, and cooking.  The OT process is to improve physical and mental abilities by therapeutically preforming everyday tasks.

Besides overcoming daily challenges, Occupational therapists generally recommend household modifications that can make their patients’ environment more accommodating. They simplify functionality within the home and train the family on how to better provide care while improving safety for everyone.

Standard OT Services:

  •  Perform a preliminary evaluation with the care group to establish the patient’s goals.
  •  Outline a strategy to accomplish patient goals and improve daily activity performance.
  •  Teach simple techniques to make daily tasks easier.
  •  Coach physical wellness through low impact exercise.
  •  Provide helpful devices like bathtub benches, bed rails, and any other mechanisms that may help prevent falls.
  •  Conduct evaluations to track patient progress.

Celebrate OT Month in your company:

  •  Throw an OT Party and invite past patients to share their success stories and take lots of photos to share.
  •  Use social media to highlight your Occupational Therapists and describe how essential OT is to Home Health care.
  •  Host a Lunch & Learn for your referral sources to point out all of the services you offer your patients and seek feedback to improve your practice.
  •  Put together an OT get together after work to facilitate team building and discuss the patients that have touched your heart.

Check out our online web store for materials to help promote your wellness message…