November 30, 2024 • 56 mins
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Karen Northover, a trailblazing healthcare administrator renowned for her transformative impact on the Florida chapter of the American College of Healthcare Administrators. Discover the remarkable journey from just three members to an astounding 385, and gain insider knowledge on evaluating skilled nursing facilities with practical tips like weekend visits and the importance of survey binders. Karen also lets us into her world beyond healthcare, sharing her passionate pursuits of historical travel and the therapeutic art of crafting miniature dollhouses.
We address some of the most pressing challenges faced by healthcare administrators today, especially in Florida where the shortage of AIT programs and preceptors has reached critical levels post-pandemic. Learn why mentorship is vital for the next generation of leaders in navigating this complex landscape and how Comfort Measures Consulting is stepping up to support caregivers. Karen shares her firsthand insights into effective team building, highlighting the power of inclusivity, identifying individual strengths, and the delicate balance between corporate expectations and genuine patient care.
Lastly, Karen provides invaluable guidance for selecting the right healthcare facilities for loved ones, emphasizing the importance of weekend visits and speaking with housekeepers for authentic insights. We explore how to effectively use resources like Florida Finder and the potential of innovative approaches such as gene testing for personalized medical treatments. Healthcare accessibility in the U.S. poses significant challenges, and Karen discusses the disparity compared to other countries while offering practical advice on utilizing community resources to ease the burden on caregivers. Tune in for an episode brimming with professional expertise and personal inspiration.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
One of my greatest accomplishments is actually
establishing the ACHCA, which isthe American College of
Healthcare Administrators, andnot just establishing it but
growing it.
This was a fledgling chapter.
It's a part of the AmericanCollege of Healthcare
Administrators nationally.
So for Florida it was barelythere.
(00:23):
There maybe had three membersand I was able to grow the
membership from three to 385.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
In a year you started .
Speaker 1 (00:34):
In a year I started.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
What would you guide them on in regards to doing the
proper research on a skillednursing facility?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I would literally say do not go in the middle of the
day, because everybody's there.
The administrator the socialservices person.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
She's giving you jewels right now.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Everybody's there, and they're gonna put their best
foot forward, because that'swhat they're there for too.
What I would advise is you goin on a weekend.
This is when all the you know,when the cat's away, mice will
play this is what you're goingto see and smell when the powers
that be are not around.
But also you need to ask rightaway can I see your binder or
(01:17):
your book of all your previoussurveys?
It lets that person know youknow what you're doing family.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Please keep your thoughts.
I just want to say do youunderstand?
She's saying you're settingprecedent from the start, so as
you enter the facility now withyour loved one, your name is not
going to be ringing throughoutthe facility.
Oh, you know, mr for the binder.
Welcome back, comfy listenersto another episode of the let's
(02:04):
Get Comfy podcast.
Your home of love, peace, joy,but most of all, comfort.
Your florida number one healthcare education station.
I'm your host, norman harris,an owner of comfort measures
consultant, and once again Icome with another another heavy
hitter in health care.
All right, um, this wonderfulindividual is a hospital, uh,
(02:25):
and licensed health careadministrator and consultant,
not only just here in the US,but also in Europe as well the
president of American College ofHealth Care Administration, ms
Karen Northover.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Hello, thank you for joining the show.
Thank you, yes ma'am.
Thank you, pleasure right.
Thank you, pleasure, pleasureto be here.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Thank you so much for joining me for this wonderful
conversation.
I've been knowing you.
I would say just e-knowing you.
They don't say that, do they?
I just made that up.
I'm incorporating that.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I've been e-knowing you you know via LinkedIn
finally, but in person now inperson.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
it's 2019.
So so glad to have you and, aswe get started, I just would
like for you to introduceyourself to the audience.
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Sure, sure, sure.
Well, hello everyone.
I am so honored to be invitedto join you on this podcast.
Be invited to join you on thispodcast.
I was born and raised inEngland and now count myself as
a dual citizen.
(03:35):
I do work here in the UnitedStates and have done for the
past 20, almost 30 years.
I do have the opportunity to goback and forth to Europe, so
because of that dual citizenship, I'm able to work in several
different arenas and differentcountries, all under health care
, and I received my, mybachelor's degree from UCF one
(04:01):
of the first for their firstprogram and then went on to
receive a master's withUniversity of Charleston and
received a gerontologycertification and Montessori
dementia professionalpractitioner through Oxford in
(04:22):
London.
So I am a hands-on individual,so I truly, truly enjoy what I
do around the world and this isan opportunity to speak about
how we can better provideresources and care not just to
(04:46):
our customers, our patients, butalso to our staff, our
employees, our team members, atevery level.
So yeah, thank you, thank youfor having me here.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Of course, wonderful introduction.
Good thing I didn't have tointroduce myself Comparing to
that, but yeah, so have tointroduce myself.
I was comparing to that, butyeah, so tell us about your
interests, what you enjoy doing.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I love.
I like movies, I'm a movie buffand I actually enjoy traveling.
I like historical travelingMakes me feel like I can go back
and walk in the shoes of thosewho have been there before me,
and I'm an avid traveler aroundthe world and enjoy it immensely
(05:35):
.
I've just gotten turned on tosomething new.
And who knew that I was good atit?
And who knew that I was good atit?
But I was given a gift forChristmas which was a miniature
dollhouse kit.
Why do I need a dollhouse kit?
I don't have time for that.
(05:56):
Who?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
has time for that.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Turns out that it is very meticulous.
It requires an infinite amountof patience and very detailed,
and I consider that I'm kind ofhyper.
Anyway, probably got some whatADHD in there somewhere mixed in
there, but that was the onlything that could keep me still
(06:21):
and focused for a number ofhours and it was very cathartic
for me.
So now that's my thing is thatyou know, getting miniature kits
from scratch and they're verytiny, so it's like really taking
the time to do that and I lovehow, what the outcome is, and
(06:41):
gotten quite good at it.
So that's my thing forrelaxation.
Well now, um, so it's odd, mostpeople wouldn't think that, oh,
you're into miniatures.
That's so weird but, it's.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
It's really cool, it's very cool so yeah,
definitely a different aspectyou introduced to me, because I
wouldn't think to do somethinglike that.
I just want to massage, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I like those too, yeah, yeah for sure, uh.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
So tell us about, uh, just um, some of your greatest
accomplishment.
It doesn't have to be an award,just something that you're
proud of, just in general, thatyou've accomplished.
I mean, you talk about thetravel uh, traveling, which is,
is huge.
Someday I hope to get to beingable to travel more, but what
would you say?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
I think one of my greatest accomplishments is
actually establishing the ACHCA,which is the American College
of Healthcare Administrators,and not just establishing it but
growing it.
The American College ofHealthcare Administrators and
not just establishing it, butgrowing it.
This was a fledgling chapterand it's a part of the American
(07:57):
College of HealthcareAdministrators nationally.
So for Florida it was barelythere.
There maybe had three membersthere there maybe had three
members and I was able to growthe membership from three to 385
.
In a year you started.
(08:19):
In a year I started 2019, 2019.
Uh, yes, I was the vicepresident and then became the
president.
Uh, when the president had tostep down and had moved to
another state.
So originally I was like, oh, doI really want to do that?
But it is a passion, because Iidentified this is an area where
we can help just ouradministrators.
There are so many organizationsthat help the facility or the
(08:45):
organization and if you're notworking or you've left the state
, those organizations and thoseassociations don't follow you.
They're there to represent thefacility, the facility.
(09:11):
But what I liked about ACHCAwhich is why I embraced it was
this was an association thatrepresented the nursing home
administrator or a health careleader.
No matter what state you're in,no matter who you work for, it
follows you everywhere, evenGuam and Puerto Rico.
So it was, it was a triumph.
We became more of a presence inthe healthcare field for the
(09:36):
state of Florida and, in fact,hosted one of the national
convocations in Florida, andthat was a great success.
Over 1,800 people attended Wow,across the country.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
So it was really great it was really great and
fun right, you leader ofadvocating for administrators
absolutely amazing.
So what led you to do that?
Or participate or join.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I did not know about them.
I did not know, and that's justhow.
They weren't a presence.
I was approached by the thenpresident, who had contacted me
and said hey, do you want tojoin our board?
Oh well, who are you?
Hey, do you want to join ourboard?
(10:24):
Oh well, who are?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
you.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
So when they told me and he told me, and I was like,
okay, sure, I'll try it, andmanaged to see what the benefits
were and how we can help andeducation, and it's a catalyst
for professional growth and knowcertification, being certified
(10:48):
as a nursing home administrator,being a fellow um of achca, and
its benefits.
So from there, just kind oflearned from there and just
decided, you know what everyoneI know, I'm going to make sure
that they know we're here forthem.
Yeah, and whoever reaches out,I'm that person I'm not person
(11:09):
is going to help you becauseI've been there, you know, and
there's years yeah, that'sreally good.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I'm gonna applaud you again.
Yes, thank you.
So, uh, for ACHA, for anadministrator, let's say, if
they're a new administratorgoing through the AIT process,
even in some cases, if they'relistening here in the audience
what are some resources andbenefits that the organization
(11:40):
offers and how can someonebecome a member?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Oh, wonderful, wonderful.
Well, I will first start withthe ACHCA website.
That's the first place.
I advise everyone and anyone togo, whether they are seasoned
administrators or if they areemerging leaders or in an AIT
program or even just a student.
(12:04):
There are several scholarshipsthat are available on the
website, which is achcaorg, andon that website they have a
career and job board.
They actually have alreadydeveloped and established a
(12:24):
mentorship program for AITs andstudents, as well as emerging
leaders newbies I call them andthat mentorship follows you
through for at least five years.
Wow, I know that one of the bigdiscussions is the limited
(12:49):
amount of AIT programs andpreceptors that are available in
the state of Florida.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Pay one soon.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, yeah, and it's very limited and we used to have
quite a bit.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Limited means like 1% .
Yes, yes, and unfortunatelythat 1%.
Yes, yes and unfortunately,that was defining what limited
means in this case.
Yes, yes, please.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Because, unfortunately, but COVID, when
it first started and became apandemic, and unfortunately this
country as well as many firstworld countries were so
unprepared.
I like to say and I know a lotof people don't like to hear it,
but I always say there was manyfirst world countries that had
(13:35):
third world response tosomething like this.
But as a result, you had a lotof preceptors that either left
the business yes, were one ofour victims early retirement or
(13:57):
decided to do something elsebecause it was that stressful.
And for those who lived andworked through the COVID
pandemic they know exactly whatI'm talking about the constant
fear of what tomorrow is goingto bring.
What's the new rules?
They changed it again.
What are the?
Speaker 2 (14:19):
you know, what do we suppose to do?
It was almost every day, everyday.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Where's the supplies coming from?
Why?
You know this, that it wasextremely stressful and there
was quite a few people um,beknownst to a lot of people.
They did do a study, um wherethere was a high rate of
suicides amongst health care andI'm including physicians,
(14:44):
nurses, those who are on thefront line.
Yeah, a lot of suicides Becauseof the helplessness and the
unknowing of where are we goingwith this.
I don't know if I'm going tocome home and give that to my
family.
You know I'm working 24 hourswith a two-hour break for trying
(15:09):
to save lives and that thathelplessness, that dejectedness,
that despondency made a carvedout quite a bit.
And then we didn't, as as firstworld countries, we did not
anticipate that once we hadmanaged this pandemic, this
(15:33):
awful infectious disease, thisdeadly disease, how we were
going to recuperate employmentlabor wise to ensure that the
holes that have now been vacatedare backfilled.
No one thought about that.
And then what happens is boom,now I've got 15,000 nurses I
(16:00):
need.
Right 18,000 physicians I need,and across the country, if not
across the world.
And we didn't do any training.
We haven't, you know,extradited, we haven't moved up
the training process or put inplace something where we have
someone now that's going to fillthose shoes, and so what we
(16:23):
ended up doing is being short inlabor and then paying everybody
and anything just to fill thoseslots, even paying our current
employees.
I know we're not supposed towork you more than 72 hours in a
row, but I don't have anyoneelse.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
And going back to your point that you made about
administrators retiring, floridaactually led the United States
with the highest rate ofadministrators to leave the
industry.
So either they left the state,started practicing elsewhere,
they retired, as you indicated,or they just chose a different
(17:05):
profession.
All together during the uh,during the pandemic, so yeah,
and that's because florida isalso the most regulated state
yes, in the country yes and alsothe most litigious state in the
country.
So so I want to go back to acha.
You indicated something that Iwant to make sure the audience
out there, youngeradministrators, heard the
(17:29):
mentorship for five years.
Mentorship is huge For me andI'll just share this and I'll be
brief.
For me as a newer administrator, it's like you have your
preceptor, but your preceptor isan administrator as well.
I was lucky enough to havesomeone that was just more than
(17:50):
a preceptor.
He was like family.
It's just still to this day.
We still communicate, buteveryone don't have that
experience Right.
So you need someone else to bementoring you, to sort of guide
you, because as a youngeradministrator, you may be 25, 26
, whatever your age may be, andnow you're taking as a leader in
(18:11):
a skilled nursing facilitywhere your director of nursing
or your mds coordinator or youractivities director they've been
working in the industry 20years, 25 years.
Now this 25 year old coming inhere and want to tell them what
to do Now you know you have tofollow their directives.
That can be very intimidating.
So having someone to consultwith and just speak to and have
(18:35):
that guidance, I think that isbrilliant to have that work.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
That's true support and it is available.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I'm sorry to take you back.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
As a matter of fact, though.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
At Comfort Measures Consulting, we're here to help
you navigate the complexity ofhealth care.
If you're caring for a lovedone as a caregiver, you don't
have resources, you don't knowwhat questions to ask.
You need to have options right.
Give Comfort Measures a call.
Give us a chance.
First consultation is free.
Speak with me, comfort MeasuresConsultant 850-879-2182.
(19:14):
You can also visit our websiteat
wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom.
Talk to you soon, but now we'regoing to interject.
Take a brief moment to have oursurprise moment of the episode.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Okay, hope you're ready for this.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
So I have this is for you.
Here I have a wonderfulpartners that are filmmakers and
they actually actually madeyour favorite movie, which is
the shining.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Oh, my gosh so.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I told them that you love the movie so much and you
wanted to audition for okay.
So, uh, we're gonna go throughhere and uh, this is your
audition now.
Okay, my partners, don't makeme look bad, okay, okay, don't
make me look bad.
They could potentially have youin the next, maybe the shining
two okay, you know they have youin there.
So we're gonna roll, we'regonna uh.
(20:10):
So the scene is this is fromthe shiny all right.
Uh, the scene is.
This is from the Shining.
All right, the scene isoverlooking the hotel, sort of
in the main lobby at night.
All right, jack slowlyapproaches Wendy who is
clutching a baseball bat forprotection Okay, she is
trembling, packing away up thestaircase.
(20:32):
Jack's eyes are wild, filledwith madness, his voice is calm,
but there's an unsettlingundertone.
You remember this portion forthe movie yes, all right so
we're gonna uh, I will be jack.
How do you pronounce that lastname, tolerant torrence?
torrence yeah, you got all rightand you're wendy torrence.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Oh, oh, brother Are you?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
ready.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
So I have a mocking tone.
Wendy, darling light of my life, I'm not going to hurt you.
You didn't let me finish mysentence.
I said I'm not going to hurtyou, I'm just going to bash your
brains in.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Okay, look, just stay away from me.
Okay, just stay away, please,jack, I just, I don't wanna hurt
you, I don't wanna hurt you.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Wendy, stop swinging that bat.
You don't know what you'redoing.
Just put it down and we cantalk like civilized people.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Okay, look, just please, please, please, please,
don't do this, just stay back.
I don't wanna hurt you, please.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Hurt me.
You're not gonna hurt me.
No, you always been afraid ofme, haven't you, wendy?
That's okay, I'm just going tomake sure you never leave.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Just stay away, please, just stay away, stop
Please.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
You've been a thorn in my side since the day I got
here.
But don't worry, wendy, it'sall going to be fine.
Just give me the bag.
No, no, no no.
Oh God, oh God, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Oh Jack, Jack, I'm so just give me the back.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Thank, you, you did a great job, wow, thank you.
So, um, buddy, isaac, I'm justmaking up some names right now.
Uh, filmmakers of the shining.
You saw, she is definitelyworthy for the shining to have
her on set, right, good job,thank you for doing that that
was different.
(22:52):
That's nice thank you, I'm gladyou enjoyed it.
You did way better than me.
So, uh, we'll jump right backinto the episode now.
Um, and I want to go into justyour experience and what you had
as a skilled nursingadministrator.
But then they stood out to mewas covenant village of florida.
You led them to a zerodeficiency annual survey result.
(23:13):
Uh, you see these uh type ofresults like for an in between,
I mean rarely.
Uh, just go over some of themethods that you installed there
, uh, the practices.
Of course it wasn't just you,because that's my philosophy as
an administrator it always takesa team.
Yes, let's go over if you,briefly, would just go over that
(23:33):
for a newer administrator.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
I was asked to.
It's located in Plantation,florida, so it's close to Miami,
and I was asked to come downthere because they had gone
through some major changes andownership and when I first
arrived to any building, myfirst thing is to be as
(23:59):
inclusive as possible and I, myphilosophy in life is not a you
know, you hear this, this, thisone phrase where you know if
you're, you know if you're noton the on the bus and you need
to get off you know, because ifyou're not on, for the and you
need to get off.
You know, because if you're noton for the ride, you need to get
off.
And I don't believe in that.
I believe that if you're on thebus, you might just be in the
(24:24):
wrong seat and to identify hey,here's your strengths, here's
your weaknesses.
Now we're going to play on eachother.
I'm learning from you.
This is how I get over on thoseolder adults.
It's been, I've been doing thisfor 45 years.
You little upstart, not going tosay anything to me right well,
(24:45):
yes, I'm going to learn from youwonderful, you've been doing
this for 45 years.
Better than this at this me.
You're an expert in your field.
Empower them.
How can I learn from you?
And by doing that, you are nowcreating a team sensibility of
(25:19):
I'm as important and as valuableas the person who's sitting in
that administrator's chair, andthat person values my opinion
and acts on it and and toinclude them, and because of
that, we were able to build ateam where it was almost nuanced
.
It was almost as if we didn'teven have to speak.
It was all you know.
When the surveyors came in andwe had programs already in.
When the servers came in and wehad programs already in place.
The servers came in and we'reseeing something, we're looking
(25:40):
at something and I would just dothis and right away they're
like and they're gone, you know,and they're doing this and
they're doing that, and we wouldhave co-connection yeah, it's
that whole.
You know what I mean.
Yeah, yeah, right, check thatright.
And we, we honestly did ourbest because we cared about the
(26:07):
resume and the patients.
It wasn't about, well,corporate wants to make this
amount of money or corporatewants us to reach this benchmark
, and that's very often thechallenge of trying to balance
the corporation benchmark andtheir expectations, the
(26:29):
provision of health care to yourclients, your customers, and
then also meeting compliancewith the regulations.
That is a wobbly triangle.
It is, and I think that if youapproach things where it's a
full cycle, it's a full cycle Ifyour employees are satisfied,
(26:54):
if they are contented, if theyare appreciated and if they are
valued.
That gets passed on to thecustomer.
The customer then passes thatinformation on to future
customers and that also meansthe full circle we're making
money, we're making money.
(27:15):
We're making money, we'remeeting the compliance issues
and we're also ensuring thatwe're reaching those benchmarks.
Sometimes there are times whereyou have to stand up and pick
and choose your battles.
There are times and at thatlocation it was you had a
corporation who had no idea howto manage a skilled nursing
(27:39):
facility.
They had wonderful ideas forindependent living and assisted
living that had no clue aboutskilled nursing and had hope
that they could run it the sameway.
Had hope that they could run itthe same way and, um, and I was
very patient and I, I did a lotof uh, I'm visual, I'm a visual
(28:05):
person, so I did a lot ofcharts where I'm like okay, let
me explain how this works.
So you see this five star, okay,I know it just looks like five
stars, yay, but it's not thesame like restaurant or a hotel
and it's based based on, by theway, what you did two years ago,
and let me show you how thisworks.
So this is what we can dodifferently, but it won't
reflect until two years from now, and it was enlightening, and I
(28:31):
think that when we achievedthat, I mean were ecstatic, but
we were in tune, we were workinglike a well-oiled machine and
it was all mutual respect foreach other and you referred to
the CMS guidelines.
Yes, the CMS guidelines for thefive-star and a lot of companies
think that that's the end, allum.
(28:53):
And it's not.
No, but that's because theydon't understand how cms only if
you have a company that you'reusing medicaid or you know
medicaid services does that cmsnow take place, but cms can shut
you down it could yes and, butit's from two years yep two
years prior.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Uh, those, those scores and ratings are
registered.
So, even if a patient isdischarging from a hospital, or
family members out there, ifyou're looking for a facility,
you may look at a facility whileyou're in the hospital.
Up to you with this list of yes, available yeah, rehabs, you
(29:34):
know that you can see in thearea to that you could, you know
, go in there and for yourphysical therapy that rating is
two years prior.
Right, so the current teamthere might be a great team
right but you never write it up.
so I advise, and I want I wantyou to get your opinion too for
caregivers that are not asknowledgeable in the healthcare
(29:56):
field what would you advise acaregiver or family member that
are just new?
Their mother had a life episode, a life event that now they are
going into the hospital andprobably going to need rehab
afterwards.
What would be there?
What would you guide them on inregards to doing the proper
research on a skilled nursingfacility?
Speaker 1 (30:16):
I would first say, yes, you can look at the list,
but definitely go online to cmsor florida finder
floridafindergov I think it isand florida finder will actually
show all of the citations, allof the surveys.
It will tell you what theirquality measures are, their
staffing measures.
It will break it down for you.
(30:38):
It's like 16 pages long and youcan flip through it.
You can also see reviews and Iwould say look at those.
That's how you're going tonarrow down which ones you're
actually going to physicallyvisit.
There you go and I wouldliterally say do not go in the
middle of the day becauseeverybody's there the
(31:00):
administrator, the socialservices person she's giving you
jewels right now everybody'sthere, and they're gonna put
their best foot forward, becausethat's what they're there for
too.
What I would advise is you go inon a weekend.
This is when all the you know,when the cat's away, the mice
will play.
This is what you're going to seeand smell when the powers that
(31:24):
be are not around.
And when you go there on aweekend, you are going to look
First, you're going to smell.
As soon as you walk in, you'resmelling.
But also you need to ask rightaway can I see your binder or
your book of all your previoussurveys?
(31:46):
First, it lets that person know.
You know what you're doing.
Two, you also get to see what'soccurred in the past six months
.
Each facility is required tohave available for perusal all
(32:06):
of their citations, all of theirsurveys, including complaint
surveys.
So at least you can get achance to see.
Okay, you know they've hadthree complaint surveys in the
past six months, and all formismedication family.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
I want to please keep your thought.
I just want to say do youunderstand?
She's saying you're settingpresident from the start?
As soon as you enter thefacility now with your loved one
, your name is now going to beringing throughout the facility.
Oh, you know, Mr James.
His daughter came in hereasking for the binder.
But go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Yeah, absolutely, and because you want them to be on
their toes.
But you also want to see thereal deal.
And then I always tell anyonethat comes into any of the
buildings I manage, I willgladly sit down with you and
talk with you.
But, to be honest, you'll getthe real deal honestly from a
(33:05):
housekeeper, not the CNA, notthe nurse From the housekeeper.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
My housekeeper loves me though.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Why Housekeepers are in and out of those patients'
rooms every day.
They are there.
They are there cleaning, theyare there seeing, they are there
watching.
They know, you know who'salways in bed.
You know that.
They know, know because theysee it who is always having some
(33:37):
erratic thing, or the food ison the floor, or they're
screaming or there's.
You know all sorts of thingsthey know.
I would say you do that even ifyou had to go to a hotel.
I never talk to concierge oranyone else that's working at
the hotel.
You know who I talk to thehousekeeper yes I talk to the
(33:59):
housekeeper or the um, themaintenance guy, because I want
to know okay, so you live aroundhere, yeah, you're local.
Where do you go to eat?
They're going to give you thereal deal about your local area,
not the tourist trap stuff.
And so talking to a housekeeperin in a facility, you will get
(34:24):
more information than you wouldnormally get from the nurse or
the director of nursing or theadministrator, and that's just
kind piggyback on that pointyour housekeepers as well, just
just validating what she'ssaying.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
They are in the rooms cleaning so a lot of times with
the patients or the residentsthere, they're talking with them
, communicating, and so theybuild that relationship and bond
because typically they have anassignment right yes whichever
area of the facility they'regoing to clean, and they
probably have that assignmentevery single day, yes, and when
they're working, and they havethese same patients every single
(35:01):
day.
So they know about the place,they hear the concerns and all
of those things.
But sorry, go ahead yeah, Imean that's.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Those are the tips that I could give.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
That's a wonderful tip you gave to me.
I advise that.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
It makes you more savvy, at least that you can
feel comfortable.
One other tip I always say this, and I only say it because I
experienced this with my owngrandfather, who needed to go to
a rehab unit for somerehabilitation therapy after he
(35:37):
had suffered a stroke.
And someone had asked me well,why did you send your
grandfather there?
And I was like, because I don'twant to send them to a facility
that has this gorgeous gym, allthis equipment oh, isn't that
lovely?
And it's got state-of-the-artthis and state-of-the-art that.
(35:58):
Because he doesn't have that athome.
I want to go to real world rehab.
I want him to be able to get upout of bed and go to the
bathroom.
I want him to be able to train,to get up out of his house, to
go and get his mail.
So I sent him to a facilitywhere they did bedside to
(36:20):
hallway, to door rehab therapy,and it wasn't a fancy facility,
it was a rinky, dinky facility,what I call, what I call a cozy
chic.
But I knew that their therapywould be more productive and
(36:41):
have better outcome for him,because when you do all this
fancy gadget in these wonderfulbig gyms, you go home and it's
like okay, well, I want tocontinue my therapy, but I don't
have that machine here.
So I I always say you know,think about real world and
families as well.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Uh, caregivers out there.
You can also ask the facilityto have your physical therapist
team to do a home eval yes right.
They can go out to your home,look at some uh, advise you on
some home modifications, yes,but also they can assess sort of
what your home like environmentis and sort of cater their
(37:22):
goals of care and their umpractices in regards to your
recovery process, tailor it toyour actual home setting right.
That's a very good insight, butwe go pause here.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yes, okay surprise mom oh no, because you gave some
wonderful tips.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
So I think what I want to do at this point of time
, I want to know one health careuh, you don't have to expand on
it very long, all right, okay,but one health care aspect that
just irks you, you do not likethat doesn't make any sense to
(38:01):
you, and give that to theaudience here today.
I want to know from not missnorth under, but miss north over
, okay.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
Well, oh, I'm going to have to think about which one
, because there's a couple.
I think what irks me is thecost, the cost of health care.
(38:30):
Being from a country and anation that provides and not
just provides it, but practicespreventative medicine for free
and, yeah, nothing is ever freebut, however, we do pay taxes.
But I can see where my taxes go.
(38:50):
If I need to see a physician,if I need to get a certain test,
if I need to go and go fordental work, if I need mental
health care or other programs orresources, I don't have to
scrounge around or go to anotherstate to get it.
I can go straight to that andsee my primary physician and
(39:13):
that's a done deal.
It doesn't matter how expensiveit is, I'm getting that.
So what irks me is that we arein one of the superpowers of the
world and yet ourunderprivileged, our young
(39:34):
people, our elderly, they can'tget this service without it
costing.
I mean, you go to a hospitaland they charge you.
How much?
For two aspirin?
Are you out of your mind?
Why?
Because it is a capitalistcountry.
So is England, but they figuredout a way to provide that care
(39:54):
without it costing an arm and aleg.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
I still don't know where my taxes are going here in
the state of Florida.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Practicing shooting missiles and stuff.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
I don't see it.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Right around the jet flying over and stuff I will pay
willingly.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
if I can see the benefits of my taxes, we'll just
tell you where you're going.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
This is going to practice in military practice.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
That's an irksome thing for me.
That's a good one I like that,okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
So getting to, I speak to caregivers and we
provide knowledge and resourcesfor people to age comfortably.
My target audience here is 35,65 years old, 70 years old,
right, and I want people tobecome more bold about aging and
(40:42):
actually, like you indicated,preventative measures.
Be preventative, why you havethe chance, why are you 35 years
old?
So I want my audience from youto know some resources that are
available in the community.
Uh, that could benefitcaregivers, because a lot of
times our caregivers they get sohoning in on I'm gonna take
care of my own mama.
(41:02):
Yeah, you know, I'm gonna takecare of this is mine and they
then, next thing, you know, theylose their marriage, right, you
lose your dating, life is gone,all of those aspects and things
happen.
So we are here to support youand provide those resources and
I have miss northover, okay I'm,I would always suggest, as a
caregiver, to reach out to yourchurches.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
Your churches are are very heavily involved with a
lot of programs that arespecific for nonprofit
organizations, but if you'relooking also for different
resources along with differentprograms that might meet your
needs respite care, but alsosupport groups definitely,
(41:51):
definitely reach out to yourteaching hospitals.
So you have quite a fewhospitals that are affiliated
with, depending on which area inflorida you are you've got
miami university as an excellentteaching hospital.
You have a university, centralflorida, in orlando, that has an
(42:13):
excellent they work with johnhopkins.
They also work with they workwith the va.
Then you also have usfuniversity of south florida and
they work with the va hospitalas well as what's the name of
that?
Cancer Moffitt.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Moffitt Cancer Center .
Speaker 1 (42:35):
You will be very surprised at what kind of
resources and programs areabsolutely free, free.
Free Because it's a teachinghospital.
And then, of course, you've gotUniversity of Florida, you have
oh gosh, famu, yes, and then Ithink there's a teaching
(42:57):
hospital.
They're everywhere, they'reeverywhere, everywhere.
Baptist Hospital.
They've got one in Jacksonvilleas well as in Naples, so
they're everywhere.
Please do just you don't.
If you don't know where tostart, start by just picking up
the phone and calling thatteaching university and ask them
(43:18):
.
I would like to take part inwhatever resources or programs
you have as a part of yourteaching hospital for this
particular concern I have.
That's good.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
That's really good.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (43:30):
That's really good.
So that's the best way to beable to, because there's a lot
of niched programs and resourcesthat are only specific for
certain areas of Florida.
So, it's not across the stateall the time.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
So for you, what is something new?
Speaker 1 (43:48):
new initiatives, anything that you're working on
right now or in the futurefuture goal um, I am hoping to
continue doing what I'm doing,but branching more out to the
asian countries.
Um, you might find that a lotof spanish-speaking countries
and asian countries rarelyutilize nursing homes because of
(44:12):
their traditional culture,which is you helped take care of
grandma and grandmother at home.
But they're finding that, as aresult of COVID, there is no
children or grandchildren totake care of grandma or grandpa,
and they're finding more andmore so that they have to open
up facilities for grandpa,grandma, mom, dad, great aunt,
(44:38):
uncle.
Um, there was, there's a program, and it's not a program, but
there's a company calledprecision diagnostics and you
can look that up precisiondiagnosis precision diagnosis is
a lab company and what I likeabout what they do they do gene
testing and that is now going tobe one of my focuses.
(45:04):
I actually just took a genetesting and I had my father
complete one and what I likedabout it is this is something
that should be offered at everyhospital, at every doctor's
office, at every facility thathas a dementia unit or anyone
(45:24):
that's on psych services.
Gene testing actually checks tosee what you're missing
nutrition, what works for you,what medications you're on,
whether or not that medicationyou metabolize that medication,
because too often right now,let's give them this, we'll try
(45:46):
it for 30 days, then we'lltitrate it down by 10 milligrams
, but then we'll add this andthen we'll add that and it's
many months, if not years,before they determine oh well,
this is the medication thatworks for him.
Yeah, and why bother, gothrough two years of this
medication, that medicationover-medicating,
(46:07):
under-medicating, wrongmedication, reaction to this
medication and blah, blah, blahwhen you can do some gene
testing and it's free, by theway through precision
diagnostics for the resident ina nursing home.
It's part of that.
They look to medicare andmedicaid that's really good so
why not get something like thatthat can ultimately say yeah,
(46:29):
don't give him this.
He's never going to metabolizethat His body based on his genes
.
It doesn't work for him.
However, these groups ofmedications work for him and if
that's something you can cutthrough all of that that's two
years worth of guessing you cango straight to it.
Why not?
(46:49):
And I'm finding that that's notthe case, and I don't know why
it's not something I think maybeat a different level, it might
be because you're not going tomake any money.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
I know why, but I don't want to be blackballed yet
yeah, well, you can but that isamazing, yeah, Because that
cuts down for a family thenegative reactions from a
medication.
A lot of times a patient'swhole jaw I've seen just from
(47:22):
experience may swell up.
Oh, that's the new medicationhe's tried, you know, the
physician tried on him, you know.
But that is wonderful,Precision dynamics, right.
It's precision diagnosticsdiagnostics okay, precision
diagnostics.
That is wonderful feedback.
Please look it up.
If you have a loved one thatare suffering any illness, right
(47:42):
uh, for to have that actuallyit's covered under medicare you
said it will be.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
yeah, in nursing home facilities it is covered under
med Medicaid and I believe thereare certain hospitals or for
certain diagnoses under Medicare.
I just think it's somethingthat should be offered Right
Period.
It should be a part of theMedicare and Medicaid program.
This is offered and it's free.
They don't charge the patient,they don't charge what.
(48:08):
They bill it to the state.
They bill it to you know CMS,you know cms.
So let them right.
Everyone's earned that, so letthem take advantage of it.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
So I just thought of this question here.
Um, just hearing you,understanding that you will
travel I have expertise indifferent areas as well just
what are some challenges andhurdles that you encounter, just
for whether it's Europe orwhether it's here?
Just what are some challenges?
Because you seem like you'vebeen in different rooms that a
(48:41):
lot of people won't be able toyou know access or have access
to?
Speaker 1 (48:44):
I.
I think one of my, mychallenges, um and and, and
looking back on it, was the bestmove that I made.
You earn your license and youneed to protect your license,
and I know there are companiesout there that are like I don't
(49:09):
want to hear do that.
It's okay to say no, it is veryokay to say no, but you need to
be able to state that I thinkthis is unethical and I think
that that's the wrong way toapproach something.
Let me give you a differentopportunity.
(49:32):
Don't just say no, right,because then that would be
considered insubordination.
Yes, you need to let them knowthat.
Speaker 2 (49:40):
No, this is unethical .
Speaker 1 (49:41):
I don't agree with this and I think that this is
going to impact my license.
You worked hard for it, youdon't want to lose it, um, and
you know a lot of thesecompanies that don't care
because why I can hire anotherone.
So you know so that's, that wasa challenge, and I, and I made
that decision at one point,which I've never done in my life
, which it was was no, I'm notgoing to do that, and I'd rather
(50:04):
walk away.
Speaker 2 (50:07):
I will say I've had that stand before myself, but I
went home that same day to apply.
So make sure you have a plan Bnow.
Make sure you have a plan B,you know.
So thank you for sharing that,and we're just wrapping up an
episode here.
You showed so many differentgems and resources not things
(50:27):
that I didn't even think of justreaching out to the
universities for caregivers forassistance.
Think of just reaching out tothe universities for caregivers
for assistance.
I always try to target freeresources because those aren't
plastered on the billboards,right, you don't see the
headlines showing thatHillsborough County Aging has
this free course or this freeworkshop related to it?
(50:48):
Yes, there's an association bythe name of falls free florida
coalition.
They actually will go into yourhome and help assist you with
one doing a home assessment,safety assessment, but also help
you get grant.
They have grant funded programswhere you can get upgrades to
your home, right for your aloved one.
(51:08):
Right to add a ramp in?
Yes, right, remove the, the lipthere that's under the door
frame.
A lot of those in the placeslike that, uh, what falls happen
?
Right through the door, rightthere, grab bars adding those uh
type of uh system devices andequipment, uh, to bathrooms.
Uh.
One thing I think I recentlylearned too, uh, by attending a
(51:32):
attending a home assessmentcertification class course, I
learned that the number oneplace where falls happen is
between the toilet and theshower.
Yes, number one.
So there's education andresources out there.
I do advise not telling you what, what to do.
It's just only a recommendation.
(51:54):
Instead of spending hoursscrolling on tiktok, hours
scrolling on facebook, um, buygranny granny her favorite purse
or getting her hair done, dosomething that could benefit her
health long term.
Right, I actually and I'm notjust talking this, I just did
this for the first time thisyear.
(52:14):
I'm just sharing this story.
I'm talking but I with myparents and they was looking at
him like I was crazy but I getfor Mother's Day and Father's
Day.
This year I gave them likehealthy teas, like herbal teas,
cuz I'm in herbs and stuff likethat.
I purchased it for, like thatwas dedicated to maybe fighting
fibroids in your body, so that'ssomething I did for them,
(52:36):
instead of investing in a purseor something like that.
I said you know what, I'll dosomething that can actually
benefit the health overall.
So, um, but, thank you forjoining our episode, but before
we conclude, um, I have, uh, onething here, two surprises for
you.
Oh Lord Special gift to youfrom let's Get Comfy Podcast
(52:56):
family.
Oh, thank you.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, thank you
so much.
Speaker 2 (53:01):
Thank you.
We got Trevor Trevor's on,Thank you.
Thank you, Trevor man, forhelping me out today.
Appreciate it.
Much joy and love.
And then the second surprise isyou said your favorite song was
killing me song.
Oh, I love and I and I and Ijust believe in my heart.
Speaker 1 (53:17):
You have a beautiful voice, oh lord, if you can give
us I never know the words- well,give us 10 seconds of what you
can think of, just 10 secondscan we just do the one, two,
three, four, five?
Speaker 2 (53:28):
what are you gonna do that?
You want to do the challenge?
Well, I won't make her do that,but I do have.
Well, so I do have a backup.
So the backup for you is if youcould go on a date with anyone
okay who would it be and whatwould you want your date to be
like?
Speaker 1 (53:46):
if I could uh.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
Idris.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
Elba, okay, and it would be a ski trip to
Switzerland, cozy cabin.
Speaker 2 (54:01):
All right, now that sounds good, really Everybody
want him, man.
Speaker 1 (54:08):
He's just a lovely guy and he's English Okay.
Speaker 2 (54:16):
Thank you for that one.
So, uh, if you share people uhdifferent websites where they
can find you.
Speaker 1 (54:19):
Yes, ma'am again uh, wwwachcaorg.
Org.
And uh my email at uh northunder at gmailcom and again, as
I, as we reiterated before,precision diagnostics for those
gene testing.
(54:39):
And if you have any questions,please don't hesitate to call me
, or rather email me.
I'll send you my phone numberand you can call me.
Just don't please call me at2am and because I'm sleeping and
I sleep hard.
Number you can call me she willjust don't please call me at 2
am and uh, um, because I'msleeping.
I sleep hard, um.
But yeah, we can do that.
(55:00):
One, two, three, four you wannado it?
Speaker 2 (55:02):
yes let's do it, okay .
Speaker 1 (55:04):
You don't want the beat, yeah we can do the
clapping, I'll let you do theclap, then okay I'm gonna let
you start too, because I neverdid it All right.
So this is the 5-6-7-8challenge.
Speaker 2 (55:14):
We're about to kick it right now here we go
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
Speaker 1 (55:23):
Oh my God, 3-4-5-6-7-8.
Speaker 2 (55:26):
4-5-6-7-8.
5-6-7-8.
6, 5, 6, 7, 8.
6, 7, 8.
7, 8.
8.
8.
Oh, 8 is the same.
Oh, you got it 6, 7, 8.
Speaker 1 (55:38):
5, 6, 7, 8.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Oh, you got it 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Speaker 2 (55:52):
Let's Get Comfy Podcast.
All right, baby.
Check us out on YouTube at thelet's Get Comfy Podcast.
You can also see us on Facebookand Instagram at Comfort
Measures Consulting.
Thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (56:05):
Thank you for watching.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Thank you for watching.
One of my greatest accomplishments is actually
establishing the ACHCA, which isthe American College of
Healthcare Administrators, andnot just establishing it but
growing it.
This was a fledgling chapter.
It's a part of the AmericanCollege of Healthcare
Administrators nationally.
So for Florida it was barelythere.
(00:23):
There maybe had three membersand I was able to grow the
membership from three to 385.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
In a year you started .
Speaker 1 (00:34):
In a year I started.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
What would you guide them on in regards to doing the
proper research on a skillednursing facility?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I would literally say do not go in the middle of the
day, because everybody's there.
The administrator the socialservices person.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
She's giving you jewels right now.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Everybody's there, and they're gonna put their best
foot forward, because that'swhat they're there for too.
What I would advise is you goin on a weekend.
This is when all the you know,when the cat's away, mice will
play this is what you're goingto see and smell when the powers
that be are not around.
But also you need to ask rightaway can I see your binder or
(01:17):
your book of all your previoussurveys?
It lets that person know youknow what you're doing family.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Please keep your thoughts.
I just want to say do youunderstand?
She's saying you're settingprecedent from the start, so as
you enter the facility now withyour loved one, your name is not
going to be ringing throughoutthe facility.
Oh, you know, mr for the binder.
Welcome back, comfy listenersto another episode of the let's
(02:04):
Get Comfy podcast.
Your home of love, peace, joy,but most of all, comfort.
Your florida number one healthcare education station.
I'm your host, norman harris,an owner of comfort measures
consultant, and once again Icome with another another heavy
hitter in health care.
All right, um, this wonderfulindividual is a hospital, uh,
(02:25):
and licensed health careadministrator and consultant,
not only just here in the US,but also in Europe as well the
president of American College ofHealth Care Administration, ms
Karen Northover.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Hello, thank you for joining the show.
Thank you, yes ma'am.
Thank you, pleasure right.
Thank you, pleasure, pleasureto be here.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Thank you so much for joining me for this wonderful
conversation.
I've been knowing you.
I would say just e-knowing you.
They don't say that, do they?
I just made that up.
I'm incorporating that.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I've been e-knowing you you know via LinkedIn
finally, but in person now inperson.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
it's 2019.
So so glad to have you and, aswe get started, I just would
like for you to introduceyourself to the audience.
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Sure, sure, sure.
Well, hello everyone.
I am so honored to be invitedto join you on this podcast.
Be invited to join you on thispodcast.
I was born and raised inEngland and now count myself as
a dual citizen.
(03:35):
I do work here in the UnitedStates and have done for the
past 20, almost 30 years.
I do have the opportunity to goback and forth to Europe, so
because of that dual citizenship, I'm able to work in several
different arenas and differentcountries, all under health care
, and I received my, mybachelor's degree from UCF one
(04:01):
of the first for their firstprogram and then went on to
receive a master's withUniversity of Charleston and
received a gerontologycertification and Montessori
dementia professionalpractitioner through Oxford in
(04:22):
London.
So I am a hands-on individual,so I truly, truly enjoy what I
do around the world and this isan opportunity to speak about
how we can better provideresources and care not just to
(04:46):
our customers, our patients, butalso to our staff, our
employees, our team members, atevery level.
So yeah, thank you, thank youfor having me here.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Of course, wonderful introduction.
Good thing I didn't have tointroduce myself Comparing to
that, but yeah, so have tointroduce myself.
I was comparing to that, butyeah, so tell us about your
interests, what you enjoy doing.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I love.
I like movies, I'm a movie buffand I actually enjoy traveling.
I like historical travelingMakes me feel like I can go back
and walk in the shoes of thosewho have been there before me,
and I'm an avid traveler aroundthe world and enjoy it immensely
(05:35):
.
I've just gotten turned on tosomething new.
And who knew that I was good atit?
And who knew that I was good atit?
But I was given a gift forChristmas which was a miniature
dollhouse kit.
Why do I need a dollhouse kit?
I don't have time for that.
(05:56):
Who?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
has time for that.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Turns out that it is very meticulous.
It requires an infinite amountof patience and very detailed,
and I consider that I'm kind ofhyper.
Anyway, probably got some whatADHD in there somewhere mixed in
there, but that was the onlything that could keep me still
(06:21):
and focused for a number ofhours and it was very cathartic
for me.
So now that's my thing is thatyou know, getting miniature kits
from scratch and they're verytiny, so it's like really taking
the time to do that and I lovehow, what the outcome is, and
(06:41):
gotten quite good at it.
So that's my thing forrelaxation.
Well now, um, so it's odd, mostpeople wouldn't think that, oh,
you're into miniatures.
That's so weird but, it's.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
It's really cool, it's very cool so yeah,
definitely a different aspectyou introduced to me, because I
wouldn't think to do somethinglike that.
I just want to massage, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I like those too, yeah, yeah for sure, uh.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
So tell us about, uh, just um, some of your greatest
accomplishment.
It doesn't have to be an award,just something that you're
proud of, just in general, thatyou've accomplished.
I mean, you talk about thetravel uh, traveling, which is,
is huge.
Someday I hope to get to beingable to travel more, but what
would you say?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
I think one of my greatest accomplishments is
actually establishing the ACHCA,which is the American College
of Healthcare Administrators,and not just establishing it but
growing it.
The American College ofHealthcare Administrators and
not just establishing it, butgrowing it.
This was a fledgling chapterand it's a part of the American
(07:57):
College of HealthcareAdministrators nationally.
So for Florida it was barelythere.
There maybe had three membersthere there maybe had three
members and I was able to growthe membership from three to 385
.
In a year you started.
(08:19):
In a year I started 2019, 2019.
Uh, yes, I was the vicepresident and then became the
president.
Uh, when the president had tostep down and had moved to
another state.
So originally I was like, oh, doI really want to do that?
But it is a passion, because Iidentified this is an area where
we can help just ouradministrators.
There are so many organizationsthat help the facility or the
(08:45):
organization and if you're notworking or you've left the state
, those organizations and thoseassociations don't follow you.
They're there to represent thefacility, the facility.
(09:11):
But what I liked about ACHCAwhich is why I embraced it was
this was an association thatrepresented the nursing home
administrator or a health careleader.
No matter what state you're in,no matter who you work for, it
follows you everywhere, evenGuam and Puerto Rico.
So it was, it was a triumph.
We became more of a presence inthe healthcare field for the
(09:36):
state of Florida and, in fact,hosted one of the national
convocations in Florida, andthat was a great success.
Over 1,800 people attended Wow,across the country.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
So it was really great it was really great and
fun right, you leader ofadvocating for administrators
absolutely amazing.
So what led you to do that?
Or participate or join.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I did not know about them.
I did not know, and that's justhow.
They weren't a presence.
I was approached by the thenpresident, who had contacted me
and said hey, do you want tojoin our board?
Oh well, who are you?
Hey, do you want to join ourboard?
(10:24):
Oh well, who are?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
you.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
So when they told me and he told me, and I was like,
okay, sure, I'll try it, andmanaged to see what the benefits
were and how we can help andeducation, and it's a catalyst
for professional growth and knowcertification, being certified
(10:48):
as a nursing home administrator,being a fellow um of achca, and
its benefits.
So from there, just kind oflearned from there and just
decided, you know what everyoneI know, I'm going to make sure
that they know we're here forthem.
Yeah, and whoever reaches out,I'm that person I'm not person
(11:09):
is going to help you becauseI've been there, you know, and
there's years yeah, that'sreally good.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I'm gonna applaud you again.
Yes, thank you.
So, uh, for ACHA, for anadministrator, let's say, if
they're a new administratorgoing through the AIT process,
even in some cases, if they'relistening here in the audience
what are some resources andbenefits that the organization
(11:40):
offers and how can someonebecome a member?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Oh, wonderful, wonderful.
Well, I will first start withthe ACHCA website.
That's the first place.
I advise everyone and anyone togo, whether they are seasoned
administrators or if they areemerging leaders or in an AIT
program or even just a student.
(12:04):
There are several scholarshipsthat are available on the
website, which is achcaorg, andon that website they have a
career and job board.
They actually have alreadydeveloped and established a
(12:24):
mentorship program for AITs andstudents, as well as emerging
leaders newbies I call them andthat mentorship follows you
through for at least five years.
Wow, I know that one of the bigdiscussions is the limited
(12:49):
amount of AIT programs andpreceptors that are available in
the state of Florida.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Pay one soon.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, yeah, and it's very limited and we used to have
quite a bit.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Limited means like 1% .
Yes, yes, and unfortunatelythat 1%.
Yes, yes and unfortunately,that was defining what limited
means in this case.
Yes, yes, please.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Because, unfortunately, but COVID, when
it first started and became apandemic, and unfortunately this
country as well as many firstworld countries were so
unprepared.
I like to say and I know a lotof people don't like to hear it,
but I always say there was manyfirst world countries that had
(13:35):
third world response tosomething like this.
But as a result, you had a lotof preceptors that either left
the business yes, were one ofour victims early retirement or
(13:57):
decided to do something elsebecause it was that stressful.
And for those who lived andworked through the COVID
pandemic they know exactly whatI'm talking about the constant
fear of what tomorrow is goingto bring.
What's the new rules?
They changed it again.
What are the?
Speaker 2 (14:19):
you know, what do we suppose to do?
It was almost every day, everyday.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Where's the supplies coming from?
Why?
You know this, that it wasextremely stressful and there
was quite a few people um,beknownst to a lot of people.
They did do a study, um wherethere was a high rate of
suicides amongst health care andI'm including physicians,
(14:44):
nurses, those who are on thefront line.
Yeah, a lot of suicides Becauseof the helplessness and the
unknowing of where are we goingwith this.
I don't know if I'm going tocome home and give that to my
family.
You know I'm working 24 hourswith a two-hour break for trying
(15:09):
to save lives and that thathelplessness, that dejectedness,
that despondency made a carvedout quite a bit.
And then we didn't, as as firstworld countries, we did not
anticipate that once we hadmanaged this pandemic, this
(15:33):
awful infectious disease, thisdeadly disease, how we were
going to recuperate employmentlabor wise to ensure that the
holes that have now been vacatedare backfilled.
No one thought about that.
And then what happens is boom,now I've got 15,000 nurses I
(16:00):
need.
Right 18,000 physicians I need,and across the country, if not
across the world.
And we didn't do any training.
We haven't, you know,extradited, we haven't moved up
the training process or put inplace something where we have
someone now that's going to fillthose shoes, and so what we
(16:23):
ended up doing is being short inlabor and then paying everybody
and anything just to fill thoseslots, even paying our current
employees.
I know we're not supposed towork you more than 72 hours in a
row, but I don't have anyoneelse.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
And going back to your point that you made about
administrators retiring, floridaactually led the United States
with the highest rate ofadministrators to leave the
industry.
So either they left the state,started practicing elsewhere,
they retired, as you indicated,or they just chose a different
(17:05):
profession.
All together during the uh,during the pandemic, so yeah,
and that's because florida isalso the most regulated state
yes, in the country yes and alsothe most litigious state in the
country.
So so I want to go back to acha.
You indicated something that Iwant to make sure the audience
out there, youngeradministrators, heard the
(17:29):
mentorship for five years.
Mentorship is huge For me andI'll just share this and I'll be
brief.
For me as a newer administrator, it's like you have your
preceptor, but your preceptor isan administrator as well.
I was lucky enough to havesomeone that was just more than
(17:50):
a preceptor.
He was like family.
It's just still to this day.
We still communicate, buteveryone don't have that
experience Right.
So you need someone else to bementoring you, to sort of guide
you, because as a youngeradministrator, you may be 25, 26
, whatever your age may be, andnow you're taking as a leader in
(18:11):
a skilled nursing facilitywhere your director of nursing
or your mds coordinator or youractivities director they've been
working in the industry 20years, 25 years.
Now this 25 year old coming inhere and want to tell them what
to do Now you know you have tofollow their directives.
That can be very intimidating.
So having someone to consultwith and just speak to and have
(18:35):
that guidance, I think that isbrilliant to have that work.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
That's true support and it is available.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I'm sorry to take you back.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
As a matter of fact, though.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
At Comfort Measures Consulting, we're here to help
you navigate the complexity ofhealth care.
If you're caring for a lovedone as a caregiver, you don't
have resources, you don't knowwhat questions to ask.
You need to have options right.
Give Comfort Measures a call.
Give us a chance.
First consultation is free.
Speak with me, comfort MeasuresConsultant 850-879-2182.
(19:14):
You can also visit our websiteat
wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom.
Talk to you soon, but now we'regoing to interject.
Take a brief moment to have oursurprise moment of the episode.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Okay, hope you're ready for this.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
So I have this is for you.
Here I have a wonderfulpartners that are filmmakers and
they actually actually madeyour favorite movie, which is
the shining.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Oh, my gosh so.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I told them that you love the movie so much and you
wanted to audition for okay.
So, uh, we're gonna go throughhere and uh, this is your
audition now.
Okay, my partners, don't makeme look bad, okay, okay, don't
make me look bad.
They could potentially have youin the next, maybe the shining
two okay, you know they have youin there.
So we're gonna roll, we'regonna uh.
(20:10):
So the scene is this is fromthe shiny all right.
Uh, the scene is.
This is from the Shining.
All right, the scene isoverlooking the hotel, sort of
in the main lobby at night.
All right, jack slowlyapproaches Wendy who is
clutching a baseball bat forprotection Okay, she is
trembling, packing away up thestaircase.
(20:32):
Jack's eyes are wild, filledwith madness, his voice is calm,
but there's an unsettlingundertone.
You remember this portion forthe movie yes, all right so
we're gonna uh, I will be jack.
How do you pronounce that lastname, tolerant torrence?
torrence yeah, you got all rightand you're wendy torrence.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Oh, oh, brother Are you?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
ready.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
So I have a mocking tone.
Wendy, darling light of my life, I'm not going to hurt you.
You didn't let me finish mysentence.
I said I'm not going to hurtyou, I'm just going to bash your
brains in.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Okay, look, just stay away from me.
Okay, just stay away, please,jack, I just, I don't wanna hurt
you, I don't wanna hurt you.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Wendy, stop swinging that bat.
You don't know what you'redoing.
Just put it down and we cantalk like civilized people.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Okay, look, just please, please, please, please,
don't do this, just stay back.
I don't wanna hurt you, please.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Hurt me.
You're not gonna hurt me.
No, you always been afraid ofme, haven't you, wendy?
That's okay, I'm just going tomake sure you never leave.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Just stay away, please, just stay away, stop
Please.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
You've been a thorn in my side since the day I got
here.
But don't worry, wendy, it'sall going to be fine.
Just give me the bag.
No, no, no no.
Oh God, oh God, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Oh Jack, Jack, I'm so just give me the back.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Thank, you, you did a great job, wow, thank you.
So, um, buddy, isaac, I'm justmaking up some names right now.
Uh, filmmakers of the shining.
You saw, she is definitelyworthy for the shining to have
her on set, right, good job,thank you for doing that that
was different.
(22:52):
That's nice thank you, I'm gladyou enjoyed it.
You did way better than me.
So, uh, we'll jump right backinto the episode now.
Um, and I want to go into justyour experience and what you had
as a skilled nursingadministrator.
But then they stood out to mewas covenant village of florida.
You led them to a zerodeficiency annual survey result.
(23:13):
Uh, you see these uh type ofresults like for an in between,
I mean rarely.
Uh, just go over some of themethods that you installed there
, uh, the practices.
Of course it wasn't just you,because that's my philosophy as
an administrator it always takesa team.
Yes, let's go over if you,briefly, would just go over that
(23:33):
for a newer administrator.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
I was asked to.
It's located in Plantation,florida, so it's close to Miami,
and I was asked to come downthere because they had gone
through some major changes andownership and when I first
arrived to any building, myfirst thing is to be as
(23:59):
inclusive as possible and I, myphilosophy in life is not a you
know, you hear this, this, thisone phrase where you know if
you're, you know if you're noton the on the bus and you need
to get off you know, because ifyou're not on, for the and you
need to get off.
You know, because if you're noton for the ride, you need to get
off.
And I don't believe in that.
I believe that if you're on thebus, you might just be in the
(24:24):
wrong seat and to identify hey,here's your strengths, here's
your weaknesses.
Now we're going to play on eachother.
I'm learning from you.
This is how I get over on thoseolder adults.
It's been, I've been doing thisfor 45 years.
You little upstart, not going tosay anything to me right well,
(24:45):
yes, I'm going to learn from youwonderful, you've been doing
this for 45 years.
Better than this at this me.
You're an expert in your field.
Empower them.
How can I learn from you?
And by doing that, you are nowcreating a team sensibility of
(25:19):
I'm as important and as valuableas the person who's sitting in
that administrator's chair, andthat person values my opinion
and acts on it and and toinclude them, and because of
that, we were able to build ateam where it was almost nuanced
.
It was almost as if we didn'teven have to speak.
It was all you know.
When the surveyors came in andwe had programs already in.
When the servers came in and wehad programs already in place.
The servers came in and we'reseeing something, we're looking
(25:40):
at something and I would just dothis and right away they're
like and they're gone, you know,and they're doing this and
they're doing that, and we wouldhave co-connection yeah, it's
that whole.
You know what I mean.
Yeah, yeah, right, check thatright.
And we, we honestly did ourbest because we cared about the
(26:07):
resume and the patients.
It wasn't about, well,corporate wants to make this
amount of money or corporatewants us to reach this benchmark
, and that's very often thechallenge of trying to balance
the corporation benchmark andtheir expectations, the
(26:29):
provision of health care to yourclients, your customers, and
then also meeting compliancewith the regulations.
That is a wobbly triangle.
It is, and I think that if youapproach things where it's a
full cycle, it's a full cycle Ifyour employees are satisfied,
(26:54):
if they are contented, if theyare appreciated and if they are
valued.
That gets passed on to thecustomer.
The customer then passes thatinformation on to future
customers and that also meansthe full circle we're making
money, we're making money.
(27:15):
We're making money, we'remeeting the compliance issues
and we're also ensuring thatwe're reaching those benchmarks.
Sometimes there are times whereyou have to stand up and pick
and choose your battles.
There are times and at thatlocation it was you had a
corporation who had no idea howto manage a skilled nursing
(27:39):
facility.
They had wonderful ideas forindependent living and assisted
living that had no clue aboutskilled nursing and had hope
that they could run it the sameway.
Had hope that they could run itthe same way and, um, and I was
very patient and I, I did a lotof uh, I'm visual, I'm a visual
(28:05):
person, so I did a lot ofcharts where I'm like okay, let
me explain how this works.
So you see this five star, okay,I know it just looks like five
stars, yay, but it's not thesame like restaurant or a hotel
and it's based based on, by theway, what you did two years ago,
and let me show you how thisworks.
So this is what we can dodifferently, but it won't
reflect until two years from now, and it was enlightening, and I
(28:31):
think that when we achievedthat, I mean were ecstatic, but
we were in tune, we were workinglike a well-oiled machine and
it was all mutual respect foreach other and you referred to
the CMS guidelines.
Yes, the CMS guidelines for thefive-star and a lot of companies
think that that's the end, allum.
(28:53):
And it's not.
No, but that's because theydon't understand how cms only if
you have a company that you'reusing medicaid or you know
medicaid services does that cmsnow take place, but cms can shut
you down it could yes and, butit's from two years yep two
years prior.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Uh, those, those scores and ratings are
registered.
So, even if a patient isdischarging from a hospital, or
family members out there, ifyou're looking for a facility,
you may look at a facility whileyou're in the hospital.
Up to you with this list of yes, available yeah, rehabs, you
(29:34):
know that you can see in thearea to that you could, you know
, go in there and for yourphysical therapy that rating is
two years prior.
Right, so the current teamthere might be a great team
right but you never write it up.
so I advise, and I want I wantyou to get your opinion too for
caregivers that are not asknowledgeable in the healthcare
(29:56):
field what would you advise acaregiver or family member that
are just new?
Their mother had a life episode, a life event that now they are
going into the hospital andprobably going to need rehab
afterwards.
What would be there?
What would you guide them on inregards to doing the proper
research on a skilled nursingfacility?
Speaker 1 (30:16):
I would first say, yes, you can look at the list,
but definitely go online to cmsor florida finder
floridafindergov I think it isand florida finder will actually
show all of the citations, allof the surveys.
It will tell you what theirquality measures are, their
staffing measures.
It will break it down for you.
(30:38):
It's like 16 pages long and youcan flip through it.
You can also see reviews and Iwould say look at those.
That's how you're going tonarrow down which ones you're
actually going to physicallyvisit.
There you go and I wouldliterally say do not go in the
middle of the day becauseeverybody's there the
(31:00):
administrator, the socialservices person she's giving you
jewels right now everybody'sthere, and they're gonna put
their best foot forward, becausethat's what they're there for
too.
What I would advise is you go inon a weekend.
This is when all the you know,when the cat's away, the mice
will play.
This is what you're going to seeand smell when the powers that
(31:24):
be are not around.
And when you go there on aweekend, you are going to look
First, you're going to smell.
As soon as you walk in, you'resmelling.
But also you need to ask rightaway can I see your binder or
your book of all your previoussurveys?
(31:46):
First, it lets that person know.
You know what you're doing.
Two, you also get to see what'soccurred in the past six months
.
Each facility is required tohave available for perusal all
(32:06):
of their citations, all of theirsurveys, including complaint
surveys.
So at least you can get achance to see.
Okay, you know they've hadthree complaint surveys in the
past six months, and all formismedication family.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
I want to please keep your thought.
I just want to say do youunderstand?
She's saying you're settingpresident from the start?
As soon as you enter thefacility now with your loved one
, your name is now going to beringing throughout the facility.
Oh, you know, Mr James.
His daughter came in hereasking for the binder.
But go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Yeah, absolutely, and because you want them to be on
their toes.
But you also want to see thereal deal.
And then I always tell anyonethat comes into any of the
buildings I manage, I willgladly sit down with you and
talk with you.
But, to be honest, you'll getthe real deal honestly from a
(33:05):
housekeeper, not the CNA, notthe nurse From the housekeeper.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
My housekeeper loves me though.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Why Housekeepers are in and out of those patients'
rooms every day.
They are there.
They are there cleaning, theyare there seeing, they are there
watching.
They know, you know who'salways in bed.
You know that.
They know, know because theysee it who is always having some
(33:37):
erratic thing, or the food ison the floor, or they're
screaming or there's.
You know all sorts of thingsthey know.
I would say you do that even ifyou had to go to a hotel.
I never talk to concierge oranyone else that's working at
the hotel.
You know who I talk to thehousekeeper yes I talk to the
(33:59):
housekeeper or the um, themaintenance guy, because I want
to know okay, so you live aroundhere, yeah, you're local.
Where do you go to eat?
They're going to give you thereal deal about your local area,
not the tourist trap stuff.
And so talking to a housekeeperin in a facility, you will get
(34:24):
more information than you wouldnormally get from the nurse or
the director of nursing or theadministrator, and that's just
kind piggyback on that pointyour housekeepers as well, just
just validating what she'ssaying.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
They are in the rooms cleaning so a lot of times with
the patients or the residentsthere, they're talking with them
, communicating, and so theybuild that relationship and bond
because typically they have anassignment right yes whichever
area of the facility they'regoing to clean, and they
probably have that assignmentevery single day, yes, and when
they're working, and they havethese same patients every single
(35:01):
day.
So they know about the place,they hear the concerns and all
of those things.
But sorry, go ahead yeah, Imean that's.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Those are the tips that I could give.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
That's a wonderful tip you gave to me.
I advise that.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
It makes you more savvy, at least that you can
feel comfortable.
One other tip I always say this, and I only say it because I
experienced this with my owngrandfather, who needed to go to
a rehab unit for somerehabilitation therapy after he
(35:37):
had suffered a stroke.
And someone had asked me well,why did you send your
grandfather there?
And I was like, because I don'twant to send them to a facility
that has this gorgeous gym, allthis equipment oh, isn't that
lovely?
And it's got state-of-the-artthis and state-of-the-art that.
(35:58):
Because he doesn't have that athome.
I want to go to real world rehab.
I want him to be able to get upout of bed and go to the
bathroom.
I want him to be able to train,to get up out of his house, to
go and get his mail.
So I sent him to a facilitywhere they did bedside to
(36:20):
hallway, to door rehab therapy,and it wasn't a fancy facility,
it was a rinky, dinky facility,what I call, what I call a cozy
chic.
But I knew that their therapywould be more productive and
(36:41):
have better outcome for him,because when you do all this
fancy gadget in these wonderfulbig gyms, you go home and it's
like okay, well, I want tocontinue my therapy, but I don't
have that machine here.
So I I always say you know,think about real world and
families as well.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Uh, caregivers out there.
You can also ask the facilityto have your physical therapist
team to do a home eval yes right.
They can go out to your home,look at some uh, advise you on
some home modifications, yes,but also they can assess sort of
what your home like environmentis and sort of cater their
(37:22):
goals of care and their umpractices in regards to your
recovery process, tailor it toyour actual home setting right.
That's a very good insight, butwe go pause here.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yes, okay surprise mom oh no, because you gave some
wonderful tips.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
So I think what I want to do at this point of time
, I want to know one health careuh, you don't have to expand on
it very long, all right, okay,but one health care aspect that
just irks you, you do not likethat doesn't make any sense to
(38:01):
you, and give that to theaudience here today.
I want to know from not missnorth under, but miss north over
, okay.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
Well, oh, I'm going to have to think about which one
, because there's a couple.
I think what irks me is thecost, the cost of health care.
(38:30):
Being from a country and anation that provides and not
just provides it, but practicespreventative medicine for free
and, yeah, nothing is ever freebut, however, we do pay taxes.
But I can see where my taxes go.
(38:50):
If I need to see a physician,if I need to get a certain test,
if I need to go and go fordental work, if I need mental
health care or other programs orresources, I don't have to
scrounge around or go to anotherstate to get it.
I can go straight to that andsee my primary physician and
(39:13):
that's a done deal.
It doesn't matter how expensiveit is, I'm getting that.
So what irks me is that we arein one of the superpowers of the
world and yet ourunderprivileged, our young
(39:34):
people, our elderly, they can'tget this service without it
costing.
I mean, you go to a hospitaland they charge you.
How much?
For two aspirin?
Are you out of your mind?
Why?
Because it is a capitalistcountry.
So is England, but they figuredout a way to provide that care
(39:54):
without it costing an arm and aleg.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
I still don't know where my taxes are going here in
the state of Florida.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Practicing shooting missiles and stuff.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
I don't see it.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Right around the jet flying over and stuff I will pay
willingly.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
if I can see the benefits of my taxes, we'll just
tell you where you're going.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
This is going to practice in military practice.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
That's an irksome thing for me.
That's a good one I like that,okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
So getting to, I speak to caregivers and we
provide knowledge and resourcesfor people to age comfortably.
My target audience here is 35,65 years old, 70 years old,
right, and I want people tobecome more bold about aging and
(40:42):
actually, like you indicated,preventative measures.
Be preventative, why you havethe chance, why are you 35 years
old?
So I want my audience from youto know some resources that are
available in the community.
Uh, that could benefitcaregivers, because a lot of
times our caregivers they get sohoning in on I'm gonna take
care of my own mama.
(41:02):
Yeah, you know, I'm gonna takecare of this is mine and they
then, next thing, you know, theylose their marriage, right, you
lose your dating, life is gone,all of those aspects and things
happen.
So we are here to support youand provide those resources and
I have miss northover, okay I'm,I would always suggest, as a
caregiver, to reach out to yourchurches.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
Your churches are are very heavily involved with a
lot of programs that arespecific for nonprofit
organizations, but if you'relooking also for different
resources along with differentprograms that might meet your
needs respite care, but alsosupport groups definitely,
(41:51):
definitely reach out to yourteaching hospitals.
So you have quite a fewhospitals that are affiliated
with, depending on which area inflorida you are you've got
miami university as an excellentteaching hospital.
You have a university, centralflorida, in orlando, that has an
(42:13):
excellent they work with johnhopkins.
They also work with they workwith the va.
Then you also have usfuniversity of south florida and
they work with the va hospitalas well as what's the name of
that?
Cancer Moffitt.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Moffitt Cancer Center .
Speaker 1 (42:35):
You will be very surprised at what kind of
resources and programs areabsolutely free, free.
Free Because it's a teachinghospital.
And then, of course, you've gotUniversity of Florida, you have
oh gosh, famu, yes, and then Ithink there's a teaching
(42:57):
hospital.
They're everywhere, they'reeverywhere, everywhere.
Baptist Hospital.
They've got one in Jacksonvilleas well as in Naples, so
they're everywhere.
Please do just you don't.
If you don't know where tostart, start by just picking up
the phone and calling thatteaching university and ask them
(43:18):
.
I would like to take part inwhatever resources or programs
you have as a part of yourteaching hospital for this
particular concern I have.
That's good.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
That's really good.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (43:30):
That's really good.
So that's the best way to beable to, because there's a lot
of niched programs and resourcesthat are only specific for
certain areas of Florida.
So, it's not across the stateall the time.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
So for you, what is something new?
Speaker 1 (43:48):
new initiatives, anything that you're working on
right now or in the futurefuture goal um, I am hoping to
continue doing what I'm doing,but branching more out to the
asian countries.
Um, you might find that a lotof spanish-speaking countries
and asian countries rarelyutilize nursing homes because of
(44:12):
their traditional culture,which is you helped take care of
grandma and grandmother at home.
But they're finding that, as aresult of COVID, there is no
children or grandchildren totake care of grandma or grandpa,
and they're finding more andmore so that they have to open
up facilities for grandpa,grandma, mom, dad, great aunt,
(44:38):
uncle.
Um, there was, there's a program, and it's not a program, but
there's a company calledprecision diagnostics and you
can look that up precisiondiagnosis precision diagnosis is
a lab company and what I likeabout what they do they do gene
testing and that is now going tobe one of my focuses.
(45:04):
I actually just took a genetesting and I had my father
complete one and what I likedabout it is this is something
that should be offered at everyhospital, at every doctor's
office, at every facility thathas a dementia unit or anyone
(45:24):
that's on psych services.
Gene testing actually checks tosee what you're missing
nutrition, what works for you,what medications you're on,
whether or not that medicationyou metabolize that medication,
because too often right now,let's give them this, we'll try
(45:46):
it for 30 days, then we'lltitrate it down by 10 milligrams
, but then we'll add this andthen we'll add that and it's
many months, if not years,before they determine oh well,
this is the medication thatworks for him.
Yeah, and why bother, gothrough two years of this
medication, that medicationover-medicating,
(46:07):
under-medicating, wrongmedication, reaction to this
medication and blah, blah, blahwhen you can do some gene
testing and it's free, by theway through precision
diagnostics for the resident ina nursing home.
It's part of that.
They look to medicare andmedicaid that's really good so
why not get something like thatthat can ultimately say yeah,
(46:29):
don't give him this.
He's never going to metabolizethat His body based on his genes
.
It doesn't work for him.
However, these groups ofmedications work for him and if
that's something you can cutthrough all of that that's two
years worth of guessing you cango straight to it.
Why not?
(46:49):
And I'm finding that that's notthe case, and I don't know why
it's not something I think maybeat a different level, it might
be because you're not going tomake any money.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
I know why, but I don't want to be blackballed yet
yeah, well, you can but that isamazing, yeah, Because that
cuts down for a family thenegative reactions from a
medication.
A lot of times a patient'swhole jaw I've seen just from
(47:22):
experience may swell up.
Oh, that's the new medicationhe's tried, you know, the
physician tried on him, you know.
But that is wonderful,Precision dynamics, right.
It's precision diagnosticsdiagnostics okay, precision
diagnostics.
That is wonderful feedback.
Please look it up.
If you have a loved one thatare suffering any illness, right
(47:42):
uh, for to have that actuallyit's covered under medicare you
said it will be.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
yeah, in nursing home facilities it is covered under
med Medicaid and I believe thereare certain hospitals or for
certain diagnoses under Medicare.
I just think it's somethingthat should be offered Right
Period.
It should be a part of theMedicare and Medicaid program.
This is offered and it's free.
They don't charge the patient,they don't charge what.
(48:08):
They bill it to the state.
They bill it to you know CMS,you know cms.
So let them right.
Everyone's earned that, so letthem take advantage of it.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
So I just thought of this question here.
Um, just hearing you,understanding that you will
travel I have expertise indifferent areas as well just
what are some challenges andhurdles that you encounter, just
for whether it's Europe orwhether it's here?
Just what are some challenges?
Because you seem like you'vebeen in different rooms that a
(48:41):
lot of people won't be able toyou know access or have access
to?
Speaker 1 (48:44):
I.
I think one of my, mychallenges, um and and, and
looking back on it, was the bestmove that I made.
You earn your license and youneed to protect your license,
and I know there are companiesout there that are like I don't
(49:09):
want to hear do that.
It's okay to say no, it is veryokay to say no, but you need to
be able to state that I thinkthis is unethical and I think
that that's the wrong way toapproach something.
Let me give you a differentopportunity.
(49:32):
Don't just say no, right,because then that would be
considered insubordination.
Yes, you need to let them knowthat.
Speaker 2 (49:40):
No, this is unethical .
Speaker 1 (49:41):
I don't agree with this and I think that this is
going to impact my license.
You worked hard for it, youdon't want to lose it, um, and
you know a lot of thesecompanies that don't care
because why I can hire anotherone.
So you know so that's, that wasa challenge, and I, and I made
that decision at one point,which I've never done in my life
, which it was was no, I'm notgoing to do that, and I'd rather
(50:04):
walk away.
Speaker 2 (50:07):
I will say I've had that stand before myself, but I
went home that same day to apply.
So make sure you have a plan Bnow.
Make sure you have a plan B,you know.
So thank you for sharing that,and we're just wrapping up an
episode here.
You showed so many differentgems and resources not things
(50:27):
that I didn't even think of justreaching out to the
universities for caregivers forassistance.
Think of just reaching out tothe universities for caregivers
for assistance.
I always try to target freeresources because those aren't
plastered on the billboards,right, you don't see the
headlines showing thatHillsborough County Aging has
this free course or this freeworkshop related to it?
(50:48):
Yes, there's an association bythe name of falls free florida
coalition.
They actually will go into yourhome and help assist you with
one doing a home assessment,safety assessment, but also help
you get grant.
They have grant funded programswhere you can get upgrades to
your home, right for your aloved one.
(51:08):
Right to add a ramp in?
Yes, right, remove the, the lipthere that's under the door
frame.
A lot of those in the placeslike that, uh, what falls happen
?
Right through the door, rightthere, grab bars adding those uh
type of uh system devices andequipment, uh, to bathrooms.
Uh.
One thing I think I recentlylearned too, uh, by attending a
(51:32):
attending a home assessmentcertification class course, I
learned that the number oneplace where falls happen is
between the toilet and theshower.
Yes, number one.
So there's education andresources out there.
I do advise not telling you what, what to do.
It's just only a recommendation.
(51:54):
Instead of spending hoursscrolling on tiktok, hours
scrolling on facebook, um, buygranny granny her favorite purse
or getting her hair done, dosomething that could benefit her
health long term.
Right, I actually and I'm notjust talking this, I just did
this for the first time thisyear.
(52:14):
I'm just sharing this story.
I'm talking but I with myparents and they was looking at
him like I was crazy but I getfor Mother's Day and Father's
Day.
This year I gave them likehealthy teas, like herbal teas,
cuz I'm in herbs and stuff likethat.
I purchased it for, like thatwas dedicated to maybe fighting
fibroids in your body, so that'ssomething I did for them,
(52:36):
instead of investing in a purseor something like that.
I said you know what, I'll dosomething that can actually
benefit the health overall.
So, um, but, thank you forjoining our episode, but before
we conclude, um, I have, uh, onething here, two surprises for
you.
Oh Lord Special gift to youfrom let's Get Comfy Podcast
(52:56):
family.
Oh, thank you.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, thank you
so much.
Speaker 2 (53:01):
Thank you.
We got Trevor Trevor's on,Thank you.
Thank you, Trevor man, forhelping me out today.
Appreciate it.
Much joy and love.
And then the second surprise isyou said your favorite song was
killing me song.
Oh, I love and I and I and Ijust believe in my heart.
Speaker 1 (53:17):
You have a beautiful voice, oh lord, if you can give
us I never know the words- well,give us 10 seconds of what you
can think of, just 10 secondscan we just do the one, two,
three, four, five?
Speaker 2 (53:28):
what are you gonna do that?
You want to do the challenge?
Well, I won't make her do that,but I do have.
Well, so I do have a backup.
So the backup for you is if youcould go on a date with anyone
okay who would it be and whatwould you want your date to be
like?
Speaker 1 (53:46):
if I could uh.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
Idris.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
Elba, okay, and it would be a ski trip to
Switzerland, cozy cabin.
Speaker 2 (54:01):
All right, now that sounds good, really Everybody
want him, man.
Speaker 1 (54:08):
He's just a lovely guy and he's English Okay.
Speaker 2 (54:16):
Thank you for that one.
So, uh, if you share people uhdifferent websites where they
can find you.
Speaker 1 (54:19):
Yes, ma'am again uh, wwwachcaorg.
Org.
And uh my email at uh northunder at gmailcom and again, as
I, as we reiterated before,precision diagnostics for those
gene testing.
(54:39):
And if you have any questions,please don't hesitate to call me
, or rather email me.
I'll send you my phone numberand you can call me.
Just don't please call me at2am and because I'm sleeping and
I sleep hard.
Number you can call me she willjust don't please call me at 2
am and uh, um, because I'msleeping.
I sleep hard, um.
But yeah, we can do that.
(55:00):
One, two, three, four you wannado it?
Speaker 2 (55:02):
yes let's do it, okay .
Speaker 1 (55:04):
You don't want the beat, yeah we can do the
clapping, I'll let you do theclap, then okay I'm gonna let
you start too, because I neverdid it All right.
So this is the 5-6-7-8challenge.
Speaker 2 (55:14):
We're about to kick it right now here we go
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
Speaker 1 (55:23):
Oh my God, 3-4-5-6-7-8.
Speaker 2 (55:26):
4-5-6-7-8.
5-6-7-8.
6, 5, 6, 7, 8.
6, 7, 8.
7, 8.
8.
8.
Oh, 8 is the same.
Oh, you got it 6, 7, 8.
Speaker 1 (55:38):
5, 6, 7, 8.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Oh, you got it 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Speaker 2 (55:52):
Let's Get Comfy Podcast.
All right, baby.
Check us out on YouTube at thelet's Get Comfy Podcast.
You can also see us on Facebookand Instagram at Comfort
Measures Consulting.
Thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (56:05):
Thank you for watching.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Thank you for watching.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com