September 16, 2024 • 50 mins
Discover how to significantly reduce the risk of falls and enhance the quality of life for older adults in our latest episode with Jennifer Trevino, an accomplished occupational therapist and founder of Functionality for Life. Jennifer brings over two decades of expertise to the table, sharing invaluable insights into proactive healthcare measures and the profound impact that home safety modifications can have. From her transition from traditional healthcare settings to establishing her own company, this episode is packed with practical advice and personal stories that underscore the importance of early interventions and personalized care.
Jennifer’s journey from aspiring doctor to passionate occupational therapist is nothing short of inspirational. We take a closer look at her impressive credentials, including her certifications as an Occupational Therapist Registered and Licensed (OTRL), a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), and holding an Executive Certification in Home Modifications (ECHM). Join us as Jennifer recounts her experiences from Chicago to Florida, providing a heartfelt narrative about how her faith, family, and volunteer work led her to a fulfilling career in occupational therapy. Listen to her personal anecdotes about her first job in a Chinese restaurant and her academic path that shaped her professional life.
We also dive into essential caregiver resources, innovative home safety solutions, and the critical issue of fall prevention. Jennifer offers valuable tips on how to tailor home modifications to individual needs, recognize signs of caregiver stress, and access helpful organizations like the Area Agency on Aging and Meals on Wheels. With a dash of humor, we explore creative home safety ideas and share light-hearted moments that give you a well-rounded experience. Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation filled with expert advice, personal insights, and practical solutions to enhance the safety and well-being of older adults.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I see people after things happen, and so to me it
was really important to try andget ahead of some of the issues
that are preventable, like falls.
Yes, that's huge.
People don't know what theydon't know.
You get put in a situation.
All of a sudden you get a callMom's in the hospital, dad's in
the hospital.
What do you do?
You go through this quick stay,in a sense because they're on.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
At Comfort Measures Consulting, we're here to help
you navigate the complexity ofhealthcare.
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.
(00:47):
Speak with me, Comfort MeasuresConsultant 850-879-2182.
You can also visit our websiteat wwwcomfort, where we empower
listeners with the knowledge andinformation to age comfortably
(01:09):
Home peace, joy, love, but, mostof all, comfort.
I'm your host and soleproprietor of the let's Get
Comfy podcast, Norman Harris,and today we have an amazing
guest that's going to providewonderful expertise and insight
for you all today is going toprovide wonderful expertise and
insight for you all today.
She's the owner ofFunctionality for Life, which
offers in-home outpatienttherapy services, home safety
(01:31):
and modification consultationservices and dementia
consultation services forcaregivers.
Her organization wasestablished to improve the
safety and quality of life ofolder adults.
To improve the safety andquality of life of older adults.
After working for over 20 yearsas an occupational therapist in
various traditional settingsand seeing the gaps in health
(01:52):
care, this wonderful guestunderstands the importance of
staying in one's own home tobenefit their overall health.
This realization motivated herto broaden her expertise into
in-home therapy, homemodification and dementia care.
By specializing in those areas,she offers and tailor solutions
(02:14):
to the daily challenges facedby clients and caregivers right
in the comfort of their own home.
I present to you the wonderfulMs Jennifer Trevino.
Thank you, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Thank you for having me.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yes, ma'am, so glad that you could join the show
today.
Thank you.
Today, let's Get Comfy podcastwas started to offer information
and resources from individualslike yourself to assist family
members, and one thing that I'ma part of an organization I'm a
part of is organization I'm apart of is Falls Free Florida.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Very good.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yes, ma'am so.
And with focus on assistingindividuals from falls in their
home, aging in place Correct.
So with Falls Free Florida, Ilearned a ton of information in
just the impact of just one fallCorrect, Absolutely.
So I do educations at assistedliving facilities, skilled
nursing facilities, and I'vebeen preaching that message of
(03:10):
all it takes is one fall.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah, and I think people don't realize the impact
one fall can have.
Yes, and so the sooner we canget in there and do things for
people, the better quality oflife people can have.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yes, ma'am.
So if you'll just discuss yourdedication and passion to
healthcare and how it influencedyou to launch your own company,
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I've been like you said.
I've been doing occupationaltherapy for over 20 years and
through that, working inmultiple different settings, I
see people after things happen,and so to me it was really
important to try and get aheadof some of the issues that are
preventable, like falls, youknow, seeing people with broken
hips, having to have hipreplacements, knee replacements
(03:55):
all those types of things can bereally traumatic, and so every
little bit that we can get aheadof those types of things is
where I was trying to make moreimpact.
So that's how I kind of gotinto the home safety components.
And then, as far as theoutpatient mobile, it was more
or less transitioning fromclients that have home health
and are unable to still get outto the clinic but still need
(04:18):
therapy or they need furthertraining in the home, because
occupational therapy works onthe occupations of everyday life
.
And so the best place to work onthose types of things is really
in your home setting, whereyou're performing the majority
of occupations.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yes, yes, totally agreeable.
So when I put out your episoderight, I'm going to launch it
with all of your wonderfulaccomplishments.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Thank, you, so I wanted you to review with our
audience here theseabbreviations.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So O-T-R-L, then there's CAPS, yes, then there's
E-C-H-M, correct Right.
So instead of me explaining itand doing my research, I said
you know what I'm going to haveher explain it on the show?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Wonderful accomplishments, by the way,
thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Otrl is the occupational therapist
registered and licensed.
Okay, okay.
And then the caps is additionaltraining, that is, the
certification for aging in place, oh, okay, specialist.
A yes, ma'am caps, and then theE-C-H-M is the Executive
Certification in HomeModifications.
So a little bit of training inaging in place, a little bit of
(05:29):
training in home modificationsand the occupational therapy
base.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
So that's where all that comes in.
That's why she's a specialistand good at what she does.
Yeah, so we're going totransition here just to go into
the life of Ms Jennifer Trevino.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So if you just let the audience know where are you
from, I am originally fromChicago, so I've been down here
in Florida for about 16 years,now 16 years.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Which one do you like best, chicago or Florida?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Right now it depends what I'm looking for, so
absolutely weather-wise Florida100%.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Even when it's hot, even when it's brutal.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I'll still take the heat over the snow any day,
really okay okay, what aboutfood other?
Things food, absolutely.
I was just gonna say I totallymiss chicago, really.
Yes, so we go back as a familyevery year and it's basically
like a foodie tour what's?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
oh, I was about to say what are you?
Something like the most commonplace you guys make sure to hit
when you go back to chicagochinatown.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I mean it winds up being a little bit of ethnic
yeah running.
So we get our Mexican food, ourChinese food, pizza, deep dish
pizza, because that's somethingyou never get down here.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Just a little bit of everything running around
Italian subs, all the thingsTampa Bay area.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
We have to do better, man, I know we have to do
better, especially in the PascoCounty area.
We need some good food options.
I like crepes.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, they come and bring some new options, you know
but like everything up here inthe past, we can.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
We have to drive to you know um tampa, downtown
tampa areas to find good food.
So that's a 40 minute drive,correct?
So you end up deciding to justcook at home yes, that was one
thing that I learned moving here.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I was like?
Is it worth going out becausethe majority of places are like
chains?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
yes, for sure not that good.
So, um, who had the strongestimpact on just shaping your life
?
Speaker 1 (07:14):
you would say honestly, I would say my faith
has gotten me through themajority of everything.
So god, first and foremost, andthen after that family.
For sure, my family has a hugeimpact on my life.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Okay, oh, all right.
Family, family Siblings.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Actually more of my aunts and grandparents.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
That's good.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
That's good.
It takes a village, they say,to raise.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
It does.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
What kind of student were you just in school?
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I was a nerd.
Really I was a nerd, really.
I was very I loved school.
I was excited to go to schooland I wanted to do well in
school, really.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
So let me see how was I in school.
I did good in school because Iknew I was gonna have
consequences if I didn't.
Oh, okay yeah, yeah, yeah yeah,I would say as far as a student
for me me, if I would have hada plan already after college
where I could just go right intothe workforce, own a family, I
(08:12):
probably would have did thatOkay.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, I didn't like school.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
No, I just did it and I had made good grades, yeah,
everything, I just did it goodbecause I had to.
Okay, yeah, my parents didn'tplay.
Yeah, my parents didn't play,yeah, yeah.
So first job in high school,did you have a job in high
school.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yes, I worked many jobs in high school.
My first job was actually at aChinese food restaurant, Really.
So my friend got me the job andI was able to just answer the
phones, take orders, show theorders, be a server, be a
waitress, do all the things.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So that was the first place you stated too, when you
said, uh, as far as visitinggoing, to food restaurants in
Chicago.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Well, so you like Asian cuisine Chinese.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, so, um, uh.
For me my first job was, let'ssee, working the concession
stand at our local recreationdepartment.
Oh nice, I think I was the best.
I ran that concession stand.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
I got 16.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I did that.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I made the best hot dogs.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes, I knew how to boil them and I used to add a
little salt in my water when Iboiled them A little cayenne.
I already knew about that at 16.
And I love my hot dogs too, andI put extra toppings on it too,
okay, yeah, so uh, what collegedid you attend?
Speaker 1 (09:28):
I went to the university of illinois at
chicago okay, illinois, chicago,that's the fighting the line
line no, fighting line is inurbana.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah, okay, the one in chicago is flames flames good
, okay, uh, did you know yourfuture plans at this time, like,
did you already have aperspective, like from high
school transitioning to college?
What you wanted to do, I?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
kind of did.
I wanted to be a doctororiginally, and when I got into
school and started doing morevolunteering, I actually started
veering more towards therapy.
So I started looking atphysical therapy and the more I
volunteered, the more I realizedthat I really liked
occupational therapy.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Okay, why yeah?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
We were doing all the things.
It wasn't just the exercisecomponent, it was the taking,
the body, you know, and how doesit function in the space.
So, really, you know, how areyou getting in and out of a car,
how are you functioning in thehome space?
All those things and I thoughtit was really neat to put all
those components together totake people from the hospital
(10:26):
environment into the communityand home and really just do well
from there, be healthy in theirown space.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Got it Okay.
Do you have any funny storyfrom whether it's college or
high school?
Just one.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
That just encompasses who Jennifer is.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
I don't know.
Like I said, I was kind of anerd so I don't have a ton of
funny stories.
But there was one time we did agroup project and so we wanted
to figure out okay, how are wegoing to get everybody's
attention?
So we at the time ER was areally popular show.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, okay, you remember that.
Yes, yes, I do.
Yes, I never watched it, though.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
So yes.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
I never watched, but I remember seeing like the
commercials and all that yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah, so we kind of made a little spoof on it and we
made it OTR because we were alloccupational therapists and we
just kind of played up thecharacters and dramatized
everything and over-exaggeratedall the things.
Okay, and just took like an OTspin on it.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Right, right spin on it, but everybody in the class
and the teachers were justlaughing because it was kind of
silly.
Yeah, do you have still any?
Stay close, close connectedwith any friends from college?
Speaker 1 (11:31):
yeah, we actually just had our 25th again my age
25th anniversary this pastweekend really that's really
good.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I think that's one thing.
I feel that, um, like as far ascollege, because with me I was
in when I moved back home totallahassee I went to florida
a&m university.
I was graduating from yeah butI was so focused on like just
finances, so I was working andgoing to school yep so like a
lot of people as a fam, youalumni like they're really die
(12:01):
hard like rattlers, butattlersbut not me, Because my fault, I
didn't enjoy really any likeon-campus festivities like that.
Yeah, but yeah, that's a goodstory.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
That's the same.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
But no, that's because I did.
I played around too much earlyon so by the time I got to
Family View, you know I neededto focus on, you know doing the
right things at the time.
So but yeah, thank you forsharing.
I like to ask those questionsbecause it really sort of goes
into like who you are, whatbuilt you, and it goes and let
(12:36):
the audience know, like you knowmore of you as a person.
So, and I want to further deepdive into that Absolutely, and
just the version I call thispart of the show, the versions
of Jennifer.
So if you just describe to theaudience just you as a sibling,
how would you say?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
As a sibling.
I am a middle child, so I havean older brother and a younger
brother and I think, probablybecause I was the only girl, I
kind of ran the show a littlebit more Really.
Yeah, I had good brothers.
Okay, yeah, I had good brothersOkay, that's good they let me
kind of boss them around, that'sgood though.
But now things have changed.
I'd say it's a lot more, eventhese days, but we definitely
(13:13):
support each other.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
That's really good.
What's the age difference Doyou have?
That yes, my older brother isfour years younger than me, so
we're kind of spread out, butwe're still really close, still
good.
Still, you ain't live in thearea at all.
No, we all live in differentstates.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
California and chicago?
Okay, all right.
And as a daughter, how wouldyou say?
You?
I would say I'm probably theclosest to my parents, probably
because I'm the girl, um, but Icall them every day, check on
them, do what I can.
Being out of state it's alittle bit harder, but but I
check on them every day, I callit their daily.
Well, check yes, you're rightand check to see if there's
anything I can do from afar.
So sometimes I'm their computertech support, other times I'm
(13:53):
just, you know, checking to makesure everything's okay, good,
good, as a friend.
As a friend, I would say that Iam Always there, no judgments,
always there, just to be thereas a support.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And likewise make a call Absolutely Come over.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Show up anytime, doesn't matter, I'm always here
for them.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
That's really good and just your overall impact on
your community.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I would say just being a good neighbor really in
the community, stepping outwherever necessary, always being
approachable to people, sayinghi to people in the community,
making sure people feel welcome.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Wow, so you're a part of your HOA.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I am Really.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I'm not oh man, I got to do better huh.
Really, when do you all meet?
When your HOA meets, they meettoo much for me.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
It depends which meeting.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Yeah, depends which meeting, because there's several
different.
Yeah, that's fine man.
No, I can't do all the meetinglike that.
Yeah, but uh, they do a greatjob and thank you if you're
listening in my community.
Uh, please don't take this toheart, but I appreciate you more
.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Appreciate you and mom yes, as a mom, um, I have
three children, two boys and onegirl, and I would say I'm
dedicated.
No, not quite the same age asmyself, but similar three years
and almost six years.
Okay yeah, so I mean just beingpresent for them.
(15:17):
They've always been my toppriority and so doing whatever
they need.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
That's really good.
So thank you for sharing that,of course.
So what's your mission andpurpose with Functionality for
Life?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
My mission as a company is really just to be the
best at serving people andhelping them to really find
solutions to their everydayproblems, so making sure that
they're able to functionoptimally Right, and the purpose
is definitely really trying toenhance their quality of life.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
There you go and their health issues and if you
can review your services.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
So I do occupational therapy, but not just
traditional in the hospital oranything in the home.
And again, like I said earlier,it's a continuation.
So as far as if they'redischarged from home health or
they just need some therapy butare unable to get to the clinic,
I come to them in the home andthen I also do the home safety,
home modifications, consultation, so I see them again in the
(16:17):
home trying to make sure thattheir space functions for them
optimally, so that they're ableto stay safe and purposeful.
And then I work with thecaregivers as well to make sure
that they're not feelingoverwhelmed, that they're able
to manage things at home.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
That's a very great aspect.
You mentioned about thinking ofthe caregiver.
It's great that yourorganization provides something
like that, because I think a lotof times and I'm learning just
working in the hospital's realmthe focus a lot of time is on
the patient, which isunderstandable, but the journey
is actually walk with thecaregivers.
(16:51):
Sometimes the caregivers can bea daughter, it can be a son or
just someone close a spouse andthey've gone through this
process seven years, eight years, a long, that's a long time,
you know, to have.
You know, and not use the termburden, but just to have that
additional piece that changesyour life.
You know, and then you'rewatching someone you love, you
(17:13):
know, make transformationtransitions as well.
So, um, what are some of theright tools a person can have,
um, to make their day easier,you would say, just as far as
home modification and homesafety in their home?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I think it's very personal, so really depends on
the person and their situation.
There is no right tool,necessarily, but just things
that are going to.
If you're looking at them froma physical aspect, a cognitive
aspect, sensory aspect, forsomebody it might be that they
may need a grab bar in theirbathroom to help study
(17:49):
themselves.
From the cognitive component, Imean something like an Alexa
device can help you make yourlife a little bit easier.
If you're running aroundlooking to jot something down,
need a piece of paper and pen.
By the time you get there youmay forget it, versus just
saying alexa put this to thereminder, you know yep um, or
sensory, you know I may.
(18:09):
I might be something simple,like anything to calm you, a
quiet space in your home,something soft or something you
know, weighted or whatnot.
That would help you that'sreally good.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, that's really good it just depends on the
person and their needs right, soyou make sure you provide
solutions catered to theperson's preferences and their
need.
That's really good.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yeah, looking at the whole person Right?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yes, what are some signs that a caregiver is
overwhelmed?
I know we just mentioned aboutbeing thoughtful and including
the caregiver in the trainingpiece.
What are some of the signs thatyou've seen?
Speaker 1 (18:42):
I think when you feel like you're putting your needs
on the back burner more than not, you're more than overwhelmed.
At that point, I see peopledefinitely being not necessarily
burnt out but stressed out,because it's a lot to take care
of yourself and your loved one24 hours a day, seven days a
(19:04):
week, even if it's just for afew hours at a time.
We all carry a lot of roles.
We're like you said, we'respouses, we're children, we're
parents, we're working our jobs.
We're doing so many things andtrying to help somebody else.
That's a lot to take on, and soare there tools?
Are there ways that you canmanage better?
Yes, but we don't know that.
(19:26):
You don't know what we don'tknow.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
So it's one of those things it's always good to reach
out to try and find if there'sany help.
If there's, whether it's youknow services in the community
or solutions within your ownspace, those are the things you
need to know, cause it can makea huge difference in that
caregiver.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Very much so.
And offering resources I thatcaregiver very, very much so.
And offering resources.
I think a lot of times this isjust my personal opinion.
The resources that areavailable that are sort of free,
yes, uh they.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
They don't get any marketing push no, you have to
go and find out.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I'm constantly learning about those, all the
time just going out and talkingto people, you're like, wow,
these things exist.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Why don't people know about?
This you have to go out andjust keep talking to people.
The more people you talk to,the more you learn.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Exactly what's one of you would say one of your go-to
like resources, just that youadvise caregivers to reach out
to.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
You know, it really depends on the person and what
their needs are, obviously.
But Area Agency on on aging isa good one um over in this
community.
Meals on wheels is a reallygood community um agency.
There's uh different onesonline um findhelporg is a good
one.
Yeah, you can just put in whatyou're looking for and they
(20:41):
populate a whole bunch of thingsthat are, you know, findhelporg
.
It's a really good service, sothere's lots of different
resources.
But again, you kind of justhave to start talking to people
and seeing what people know andpick their brains and you'll
just keep bumping into one thingafter another.
Usually.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Right, and do you have a partnership with the area
agency on aging?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I do, I do.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
I am actually one of their trainers for a couple of
their classes, and then I also apreferred uh vendor for
occupational therapy if you justshed light on just uh the area
on aging, like uh the agency, onjust your partnership with them
, but also just the resources,and have you, if you have any
experience, to share how they'veassisted families yeah, well,
(21:23):
like I said, I'm one of the umteachers for their classes, and
so they offer a falls prevention, which is called a matter of
balance class, and then theyalso offer one for caregivers
for clients with dementia.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
So that's the savvy caregiver training.
So, I trained for both of thoseand I think it's just again,
like we said, the awareness ofthings that are available.
They don't have a ton of peoplesigning up, but there's a huge
need in the community and it'sfree.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
And it's free.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
And so if you're willing to sacrifice a little
bit of time for a short periodwhether it's six weeks or eight
weeks I think it's definitelybeneficial and, as far as
services, they're a resourcelike FindHelp.
So, you can call them.
They have the hotline.
You don't even have to leaveyour home.
You call them and they willtell you what services would
(22:13):
apply to you, based on whetherit's finances or services needed
, and so sometimes it's justreferring to other resources.
It may not be within the agency,but just knowing that somebody
is able to kind of help guideyou a little bit more, it's
worth people reaching out andtouching.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Very much, very much so, very much.
So I learned about was it 211?
Speaker 1 (22:35):
That's a good one too , I saw it Wow.
Yeah, there's a lot ofresources you just don't even
realize.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I don't even realize.
You just give a call and theyprovide resources based on just
where you live.
Live that's local to you, right?
So those are all resources thatwe were advocating for
caregivers and aging, the agingcommunity to actually utilize.
Please do so.
You can look them up on Google.
(22:59):
So anytime that you're layingin bed why you typically on
Twitter or Tik TOK or Facebookor whatever you lie some time,
you know, do some productive.
Look up those uh uh resources,right, it can help you, and you
can help out a family member Ilove one by just providing the
insight, uh, so I challenge youto do that.
(23:20):
10 minutes on something that'sproductive, yeah, yeah, all
right.
So we're going to, we're goingto.
I want to go back, though, tohow we met and why you gave me
an opportunity, you know, tojoin the show.
You know, once again, open arms.
You didn't hesitate, so I justwant to know why on camera too.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Well, we actually met on LinkedIn.
Yes, which?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
is pretty cool.
Linkedin, I tell people all thetime.
I meet a lot of professionalsin healthcare.
They don't have a LinkedIn page.
I don't know why you don't linkthis professional platform.
It actually was my social media.
For many years I didn't evenhave Facebook or my brothers and
sisters used to say man, youlame.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
I didn't have.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Facebook.
I didn't have Instagram oranything, but I had LinkedIn
because I was about business,you know.
But now you know, I'm expanding, of course, with the brand and
just the organization.
So you can't have a businesswithout social media, but
LinkedIn is a wonderful tool.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
It is a good tool.
Yeah, no, no worries.
I mean, like I said, that's howwe met, so I think it's just
getting that opportunity to seethat we worked in the same field
.
And again, like I said, themore you get out and talk, the
more you learn about otherthings that are in the community
, how we can help each other,serve the people, and so it's
that you know servant heart thatyou have as well that led us to
(24:43):
say how can we help each otherand really, you know, just kind
of talk and learn to spread theinformation about our services.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Right, right, yeah, thank you.
Thank you for giving me thechance.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Absolutely, and you didn't hesitate with getting a
date down.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
You're actually more, you know, responsive.
Responsive as far as back andforth that I was.
So I apologize, I'm learning,I'm learning so, but I
appreciate that and it's good tosee someone like yourself that
are doing something so impactful, because I've seen, as a former
skilled nursing administratoroperating that role, how a
(25:18):
patient will go into thehospital due to a fall right and
end up in a skilled nursingfacility, whether it's for just
short-term rehab or due to along-term, you know sort of
issue because of a fall.
Yeah, and their families are ina position where they don't
have, they don't know whatresources they have right.
They don't know what things thatthey could have done to even
(25:38):
prevent it before.
For one, but two is like, whatresources do we have to reach
out to to assist us with momtransitioning back home?
Yes, right, some facilitieslike if you don't offer, or if
you don't if a family don't askhey, can we have a therapist go
out to do a home assessment?
Because some skilled nurses inmy facilities, my therapy team,
(26:01):
they would go into the home anddo a home inspection.
But if a lot of times thefamilies don't know to ask that,
you don't get that service.
So I just think that it'swonderful what you do.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
It's that awareness component that's huge.
People don't know what theydon't know.
You get put in a situation allof a sudden you're you know.
You get a call mom's in thehospital, dad's in the hospital,
what do you do?
You go through this quick, youknow, stay in a sense, because
they're only able to treat youfor so long.
You need to go somewhere afterthat.
If they were functioning ontheir own at home before that,
where do they go now?
They still need help.
So there's so many questions,so many things they need to be
(26:37):
thinking about and they don'tknow who to turn to.
They're given some resources,but there's still so many more
because there's that continuumof care beyond just that
transition home.
How do they stay functionalpast that in their own space?
And when it's too questionable,then they do look at facilities
because they can provide theservices that they can't have at
home, necessarily withoutfunding or whatnot.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
So yep, you're 100, correct.
So, um, these questions, thelast set of questions I'm going
to ask you is I titled it Laughand Learn, okay, right?
So it's going to be a weirdtype of question, but I want
that response.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
All right.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
All right, All right.
So first, the question I havefor you during this segment is
if you could invent one gadgetor gadget for home safety, what
would it be or what would itlook like?
What would it assist with?
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Just your innovation type of you know, I thought
about what would be a goodinvention and they already have
something similar.
People wear this little waistbelt thing, okay, and if they
fall, it pops out.
No, but I wanted to make itlike a bubble for the whole
person.
Oh so if they're falling, it'llprotect them from breaking
anything right right so you'retalking about the little band
(27:50):
where it pops out like the hipprotectors.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Yeah, because hips and heads are the top two,
correct?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
so if it could be like a bubble around the person,
so this way they wouldn't hurtthemselves.
Wow, that's what I'd like to becool, very cool.
I don't think anybody won'twear bubble, but no, no, I don't
know anybody will wear bubblebutts.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
No, no, I don't know if they would have to do like
another band, like wear anotherband.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I know it pops up around and it pops up like that.
I know Crazy right.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yeah, so what's one of the funniest
misunderstandings you'veencountered in explaining
in-home outpatient therapy?
Speaker 1 (28:24):
I think because it's a mouthful.
People don't even know what itmeans, so I don't know if it's
funny.
I think it's just really morean explanation of where it fits
and why it's necessary thananything else.
Because, OT, occupationaltherapy is just usually
misunderstood.
People aren't looking for jobsin their older age.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Oh yeah, they don't want occupational therapy.
Teach me how to find a job,exactly, yeah, exactly.
What's one of the weirdest uhitems you've seen?
Used uh for like eitherphysical therapy in the home or
occupational therapy um.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
You know, people have used multiple different things.
Necessity is the mother ofinvention and so.
I actually learned from aclient.
They had a walker behind theirtoilet and I was like, why would
you put that over by the toilet?
What's going on there?
and I realized they used it tohelp themselves push up from the
(29:19):
toilet oh kind of like a toiletsafety frame, and so I mean it
was the free version of ofputting what they had to use, so
it's actually really helpfulokay, uh, and if you can, uh, if
you were, if you had to explainoccupational therapy, um to a
child as a cartoon, what wouldyou?
Speaker 2 (29:40):
how would you explain that?
Speaker 1 (29:42):
that is a tough one um yes, I would say, a good
cartoon would probably be dorathe explorer dora the explorer,
why you?
Remember during dora, so theywould pull out backpack, exactly
, they'd call him backpack.
Backpack would come out andseveral different choices would
populate right, different tools,and I think ot tends to provide
(30:06):
a lot of tools yes and so we'rethat backpack with little
solutions I like that.
So that's how I think it wouldbe one way to explain it that's
a good one.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
yeah, yes, all right.
So for the audience, um, youindicate that you are one of the
service and solutions youprovide.
Is, uh, dementia Correct, ifyou can sort of just review the
services for that?
Speaker 1 (30:28):
For dementia care.
I actually am a skills careprovider, so it's a specific
evidence-based program thatworks with the caregivers for
clients with dementia and wepretty much work through their
readiness, trying to figure outwhat their problems are.
What are some solutions, howare they implementing that and
kind of working through so thatthey feel more empowered in
(30:51):
order to, you know, continue towork with their loved one and
make sure that they're able toproblem solve, as problems keep
arising, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
All right.
So if your home safetyconsultation, so if you can go
through that process, if you'redoing a home safety sort of
consultation for a family member, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
So normally I would learn a little bit about what
are their issues as far as theirhealth concerns beforehand, and
then when I go meet them at thehome, we kind of just do a walk
around in the space.
In the space, and I like tohave people show me how to do
things, because sometimes how wethink we do things versus how
we actually move in our spacecan be completely different.
(31:32):
Like, do you push yourself toget up?
Do you grab onto something?
How do you move in your space?
Those are the things that I'mreally looking at and analyzing
in order to make sure that wecan find the right fit for you,
and placement of things reallymatters in how we move.
Now do you sort of curate ormake your solutions to match,
(31:54):
like if you have a patient thatmay be having a cognitive
decline still, in the home howwould you sort of make sure your
services fit a patient of suchthat's something that I
definitely look at when I do thehome safety assessments making
sure that we're fitting theperson not just for now right,
but thinking about in the future, even if it's not just
cognitive.
there's a lot of progressivehealthcare, you know health
(32:16):
issues um, like Parkinson's orother other diseases that
continue to, unfortunately,change the abilities of the
person over time.
So we want to make sure thatwe're not just putting something
that fits for right now, but wewant to think about how are
they going to look in anotheryear from now, another five
years from now, and what are weputting in their space so that
they're able to function for theentire duration as much as
(32:38):
possible on their own?
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Right, right.
So if someone out in theaudience, if they had a concern,
as you just sort of indicated,what would you advise them to do
Like, as far as reaching you,how would they do so and what
would be your steps to sort ofassisting them?
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Absolutely.
I mean, I'm always availablefor questions.
So I think the easiest way isjust to reach out by phone or go
on my websitefunctionalityforlifecom and make
sure that you can contact me.
I will call you back.
We can go over some.
You know what are yourquestions and how can I help you
best, and sometimes it may justbe helping them, you know refer
(33:17):
them to different services IfI'm not the right fit.
I want to make sure that theyhave whatever they need.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
So if, let's say, a caregiver gave you a call like
uh, you said hey, my name isSusan.
I saw you on let's get comfypodcast Cause I watch every
episode and uh, and I want tojust see if you could just come
and help my, my dad he justhaving multiple falls at home.
And if you could just come, Ijust want your help.
How would you go about helpassisting a patient like that?
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Well, first and foremost, if they're having
medical issues, insurance maycover it.
So I want to check to see ifthey have what insurance they
have, if it would be possible toyou know, get that covered,
contact the doctor, figure outwhat is actually going on
medically, what are all theconditions, and then, from there
, you know, talk to the familyand say you know what are your
biggest concerns, and then goand do the home assessment.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Home assessment.
Okay yeah, so far as yourservices, you can be covered.
Yes, okay yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
I'm a Medicare provider All right and so if
there is a medical necessity fortherapy, it definitely would
still be covered.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Right, right, that's really good.
That's really good optionscovered on the Medicare.
Yeah, right, right, that'sreally good, that's really good
options covered on the Medicare.
And what's some unexpected, Iguess, things that you encounter
, or a family can encounter,that they don't even consider
right when they're looking athome assessments, or some things
that you point out that theymissed right there in front of
(34:44):
them.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
I think honestly, a lot of the time it's the obvious
how we're moving in our space.
We do things out of routine,out of habits, it's just
whatever's comfortable for us.
But there may be an easier wayto do something and it's a
subtle change.
So, like I said, I really, kindof occupational therapists, are
expert at task analysis and sowe go through and kind of have
(35:09):
you function.
Just, you know, I'll asksomebody, from the time that you
wake up to the time that you goto bed, tell me a little bit
about your day, and let's movearound your house as if you were
just getting ready in themorning, getting yourself ready
for a meal, doing those types ofthings.
And so it might be placement ofsomething in your space, you
know, making sure that you'renot having to reach for
(35:30):
something way up high or waydown low, that you might fall
and lose your balance doing that.
It could be, you know, justmaking something a little bit
easier, having sensor lightsinstead of having to walk over
to the switch and find it in thedark.
You know you might, just thelight may just come on.
So it's just little things thatyou can do in your space and
how you move, making sure thatyou're doing things safely.
(35:53):
So, again, we just do thingsout of the way that we do things
.
We don't think about it, butsometimes, when our health is an
issue, if there's an easiersolution I mean just simply
moving to the edge of the chairto help yourself stand up can
make a heavy burden a lightburden, and so, as a caregiver
or as a client, there's littlesolutions that are out there,
(36:16):
and so why not ask somebody who,who does that every day?
Speaker 2 (36:20):
I actually learned that process too, about like the
way you sit in the chair.
A mom with knee surgery,absolutely so, just just foot
placement all those things likethat impacts the way you just
stand up, right, right.
So in a preventive from apreventative perspective, yes,
if you could just give a messageto sort of individuals that are
(36:43):
middle aged, right, that mayhave parents that are aging, and
just for them to sort of say,hey, mom, dad, I watched the
show or I saw Ms Trevino and youknow what I think, have you
guys ever heard of doing athought about doing a home
assessment?
Like, just speak to thataudience there, just to say hey
you know, let's be proactiveinstead of something happening
(37:04):
and then we doing this.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
Yeah, I think the easiest thing to do is to be
proactive, because a lot of thetime when we're reactive, it's
major changes Right.
Not only are you having to dealwith your health change, you're
trying to mentally you knowgrasp what's going on in life
and how everything has changed,Whereas if you're proactive,
(37:26):
you're trying to just makethings easier for yourself.
Yes, you're trying to just makethings easier for yourself.
The costs are usually much lessif you're ahead of the game
because you can do it slowly, asopposed to major changes in
your own space.
You know you don't have to doan entire bathroom renovation
necessarily, but maybe you'restarting to put items in place
like the grab bar that's a towelbar already, so that you don't
have the fall you know I meansubtle changes.
(37:48):
So anything that you can do, Imean I do it myself in my own
home, especially when I'mthinking as far as
recommendations for clients.
I know that it's good because Iuse it in my own space.
There we go, when I walk intomy office, the lights just go on
.
I already have the sensorlights, so it's little changes
that you can do ahead of timethat will keep you functioning
as optimal as possible for aslong as possible.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Right, right and and again the impact of, or just
have you here on the show.
But the reason why I wanted toplace emphasis on a segment like
this on the show as well isbecause falls none injury
related falls right and injuryrelated falls are the highest
healthcare costs for agingadults.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
So, as far as insurance billing, Medicare is
the highest cost for emergencyvisits for insurance providers.
Falls related to falls.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
Because they're repeated sometimes.
Once you have that first fall,then unfortunately other smaller
falls tend to occur, or there'ssmaller falls beforehand that
they're not reporting and theydon't want people to know
they're concerned that thenthings will change for them if
they tell someone when inreality.
If they ask for a little bit ofhelp because they know those
changes are occurring, theycould prevent the bigger fall
(39:03):
exactly, yeah, a lot of parentsout there.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Be transparent with your kids.
Yeah, you know you're aging, Iknow you probably don't want to
worry them or bother them, butif you're listening, you have
your children for a reason,right?
Yeah, uh, they're concernedabout you so a lot.
I heard a family member onetime.
They said, yeah, mom had a fall.
But uh, you know, she didn'ttell me she had it over a year
(39:27):
ago.
Yeah, her first fall.
She didn't say because shedidn't, she didn't think nothing
.
She had it over a year ago.
Yeah, her first fall.
She didn't say cause she didn't, she didn't think nothing of it
.
It was nothing big deal.
But now, uh, nine months later,10 months later, she's falling.
She's had three falls in thelast two months.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
Yeah, right, start accumulating, start accumulating
because you tend to build up afear of falling as well.
So you may move differently inyour space.
Your confidence changes, andhow you move really affects if
you're going to fall or not.
I mean, falls are preventable,but we don't think anything of
it.
We're embarrassed, we don'twant to tell our family, we
(40:00):
don't want to tell our doctorwhat are they going to do, and
so we tend to hide those thingsuntil it becomes so problematic
that you have to go to thehospital.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Right, right, exactly , and with your piece that you
offer is occupational therapy aswell as physical therapy.
It's one thing I was speakingto my dad about.
That is I say we tend to spendmoney on things easily that
really don't impact right Ourlife and our livelihood more
(40:33):
readily.
We quickly do that.
If it's something for your boat, you want a fishing pole, you'd
be willing to spend money onthose things New shoes, clothes
but if you're getting older,aging and you want to get
therapy, then that's a cause Idon't want to pay for no therapy
.
I don't need no therapy, I'mgood right now.
That's preventative measures.
(40:54):
A lot of people don't thinkabout that.
They haven't worked out.
They've really been to a gymand exercising 20 to 30 years
Long time.
It's so hard.
At 60 years old you haven'tworked out continuously for 30
years.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
The idea is daunting.
Exactly, yeah, but at the sametoken, when your health is I
mean even just having a cold,your health you realize it's
priceless.
Yes, and you'll do anythingafter the fact when things are
compromised versus beforehand.
Yes.
So again, knowing that yourhealth is priceless, where do
you prioritize?
(41:29):
Where your money goes andtaking care of yourself.
We have a hard time with thewhole caregiver bit.
We put others before ourselves,yes, but our health is so
important to be able to helpothers, to be there for others.
If we're not doing well, ourother people aren't doing well,
right?
Yep, so we want to prioritizeand spend a little bit on
(41:50):
ourselves on ourselves.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes, and that's another piece of you.
Say that like preventative.
Yeah, uh, doing it ahead oftime.
Yeah, even now with my kidsthey hate it I do, uh what I
call immune shots okay yeah,they hate those non-negotiable
yeah I do immune shot, like atleast once a week, like so it's
like lemon, the apple cidervinegar, cinnamon, yeah, uh,
(42:12):
what else I do?
Uh, lime in there and we do thelike the shots, and they hate
it.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
But yeah, you want to build up their house.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Build up.
Yes, ma'am, for sure.
So, um, so now, uh, I have asegment here, so you have it's
called.
That's my Answer, okay, right,so this is going to be a few
funny questions.
You have five seconds to answerit, okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
If you had to watch boxing or MMA, which one would
you watch?
Boxing, I don't understand MMAenough.
You don't.
Okay, I know more about boxing.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
All right.
What's your biggest regret inlife?
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Just one being afraid being afraid yeah, not taking
chances on myself, not believingin myself enough sooner.
Yeah, definitely, I should havestepped up sooner all right,
that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
Um, let's say, uh, okay, so here's a good one.
Uh, would you like to?
Would you rather rather miss ashower for a month?
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Ooh.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Right Terrible or Miss a shower for a month or not
have income for a month.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Oh goodness, Both of those are really important.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah, that's what I'm saying, yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
I don't know that I can go without a shower for a
month.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
A month a whole month .
Speaker 1 (43:29):
That's pretty gross, that one.
Hopefully I I don't know that Ican go without a shower for a
month, A month a whole month,that's pretty gross.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
Hopefully I've saved enough so I can live off of my
wedding and not have to give upshowering.
Okay, all right, all right.
So what's something that pissesyou off Just because you seem
very nice?
Speaker 1 (43:43):
and sweet, but I just want what bores you.
Lying.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
Lying.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Yeah, really Lying um lying lying.
Yeah, really lying 100.
And I mean it's not justnecessarily the little lies, but
the bigger lies if we're nottruthful, whether it's good or
bad, regardless of the outcome.
I always tell people I like tohave the hard conversations.
You know, if you're not honestwith yourself or others, it'll
show somewhere.
So you might as well just behonest up front and let's deal
(44:08):
with the issue little less allright uh favorite, uh song
favorite song?
that's a good question.
I don't really have a favoritesong.
There's a lot of songs that Ilike, um which one do you find
yourself singing?
Right now I've been listening alot to something called be all
right yeah, you sing a littlebit for us, or?
(44:29):
Oh, here I prefer three littlebirds three little birds.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Yeah, I don't know how to go.
Can you sing it?
Speaker 1 (44:35):
oh, no, no sing only in the car, only in the car,
okay.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Um, if you could uh go on a date with uh one
individual, who would it be?
And they pay for everything.
Speaker 1 (44:48):
A good question.
Um, hmm well, I think I wouldobviously go with god first.
God to figure out.
Yeah, help me.
But people wise, let's see.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
Yeah, you gotta choose about what is the artist
talk to.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
I would like to talk to oprah oprah yeah okay yeah
that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
um, are you going on a date for, uh, information
purposes?
Yeah, yeah, I wouldn't say thatat all.
I wouldn't say that at all.
Uh, do you have a favorite rapsong?
I do not, no, no, okay.
Do you know cardi b or beyonce?
Do you know either one?
Yes, who?
Those?
Which artist would you choose?
(45:31):
Beyonce, beyonce, okay, let'ssee, and I'll wrap it up If you
could eat or choose one food ordish that you had to eat every
single day, what would it be?
Speaker 1 (45:42):
Goodness, I don't like the same thing over and
over and over again.
Just one, I guess a pasta,because I could do different
sauces or things.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
Yeah, that's one, so there's a little bit of creation
still.
You make good decisions.
I can see that, yes.
And the last one is if youcould snoop through one person's
private life, who would thatperson be and not get caught?
Speaker 1 (46:07):
I don't really want to snoop in anybody's life,
honestly no celebrity, no anyone, nobody not really really
you're not a nosy person, I amnot.
You mind your own business.
I do, because that's one thingI've learned.
Regardless of who you are orwhat you've done or where you've
been in life, life tends to befull circle and we all kind of
(46:28):
wind up in the same boat as weage.
We're very similar in so manydifferent ways.
So all those little things thatshape us into being who we are,
we still kind of come back tosimilar occupations, similar,
you know, just different,different things going on in
life.
We're all going throughproblems, we're all going
through issues.
What we show people you know maynot be the reality a lot of the
(46:49):
time.
So snooping around and tryingto figure all that stuff out
honestly keep the drama to thecurb.
I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
Well, I can think of a lot of reality more than
anything else.
That's really good.
That's a good point of view.
You make me feel so bad.
I have like a list of peopleProbably Chris Brown Okay, let's
see.
Cardi B I want to snoop throughher life.
Okay, let's see DeSantisGovernor DeSantis, I want to
(47:24):
snoop through his life.
Donald Trump Okay, let's see.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Barack.
Speaker 2 (47:32):
Obama, let's see.
See, that's like five.
I just named a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Jamie Foxx why do you want to snoop?
Speaker 2 (47:40):
that's my question to you just to see what they do
every day.
That's all, I think everybody'sreal people.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
at the end of the day .
You know what I mean, and Ithink you're going to see them
doing a lot of the same thingsyou and I do, probably so, but
and it's not as exciting as youthink.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
Really.
Yeah, I don't know.
I think money can make a littlebit more excitement.
Speaker 1 (48:00):
A little bit more.
I have family that has been indifferent positions of influence
.
Speaker 2 (48:11):
And I think in reality, everybody just wants to
be regular, regular, be regular.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
You don't want the security or the publicity or all
that other stuff around you allthe time, you just want to be
yourself so I didn't get to getout of my immature ways.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
That's just immature, it's just curiosity.
It's curiosity, right?
Okay, um, but I think I endedthere.
Oh no, I have to ask you thisone.
Okay, I have, because it'ssunday.
So I have to ask you.
So if you, if on today, onSunday, if you had to take five
shots, okay.
Or would you do three longislands on a Sunday too?
Speaker 1 (48:44):
On a Sunday.
I probably do five shots, getit done.
I'm not a big drinker, let'sjust be done with it.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Well, this final note for the audience just tell them
about just what you, whatthey're going to get when they
give a call to you.
Speaker 1 (49:03):
I think when you call me, you get me.
I'm very honest and transparentabout whatever it is.
I'm really here to serve and beavailable in whatever way
possible as far as the healthaspect.
So people have called me formany different things and I
(49:23):
always just try to be a resource.
If it's not something that Ican help you with, I definitely
want to try and help you inwhatever way to guide you in the
direction that you may need.
So I think that's what you getand as far as whether it's
services I can help with,absolutely I'm available for
that.
Speaker 2 (49:38):
Thank you, yeah, thank you.
Well, comfortly listeners.
We had a great episode with MsTrevino here.
I thank her for her expertiseand the knowledge that she
shared A little even on thepersonal side as well.
So so glad to have her on theshow.
Thank you and tune in to ournext episode.
Thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (50:02):
Yes.
I see people after things happen, and so to me it
was really important to try andget ahead of some of the issues
that are preventable, like falls.
Yes, that's huge.
People don't know what theydon't know.
You get put in a situation.
All of a sudden you get a callMom's in the hospital, dad's in
the hospital.
What do you do?
You go through this quick stay,in a sense because they're on.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
At Comfort Measures Consulting, we're here to help
you navigate the complexity ofhealthcare.
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.
(00:47):
Speak with me, Comfort MeasuresConsultant 850-879-2182.
You can also visit our websiteat wwwcomfort, where we empower
listeners with the knowledge andinformation to age comfortably
(01:09):
Home peace, joy, love, but, mostof all, comfort.
I'm your host and soleproprietor of the let's Get
Comfy podcast, Norman Harris,and today we have an amazing
guest that's going to providewonderful expertise and insight
for you all today is going toprovide wonderful expertise and
insight for you all today.
She's the owner ofFunctionality for Life, which
offers in-home outpatienttherapy services, home safety
(01:31):
and modification consultationservices and dementia
consultation services forcaregivers.
Her organization wasestablished to improve the
safety and quality of life ofolder adults.
To improve the safety andquality of life of older adults.
After working for over 20 yearsas an occupational therapist in
various traditional settingsand seeing the gaps in health
(01:52):
care, this wonderful guestunderstands the importance of
staying in one's own home tobenefit their overall health.
This realization motivated herto broaden her expertise into
in-home therapy, homemodification and dementia care.
By specializing in those areas,she offers and tailor solutions
(02:14):
to the daily challenges facedby clients and caregivers right
in the comfort of their own home.
I present to you the wonderfulMs Jennifer Trevino.
Thank you, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Thank you for having me.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yes, ma'am, so glad that you could join the show
today.
Thank you.
Today, let's Get Comfy podcastwas started to offer information
and resources from individualslike yourself to assist family
members, and one thing that I'ma part of an organization I'm a
part of is organization I'm apart of is Falls Free Florida.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Very good.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yes, ma'am so.
And with focus on assistingindividuals from falls in their
home, aging in place Correct.
So with Falls Free Florida, Ilearned a ton of information in
just the impact of just one fallCorrect, Absolutely.
So I do educations at assistedliving facilities, skilled
nursing facilities, and I'vebeen preaching that message of
(03:10):
all it takes is one fall.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah, and I think people don't realize the impact
one fall can have.
Yes, and so the sooner we canget in there and do things for
people, the better quality oflife people can have.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yes, ma'am.
So if you'll just discuss yourdedication and passion to
healthcare and how it influencedyou to launch your own company,
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I've been like you said.
I've been doing occupationaltherapy for over 20 years and
through that, working inmultiple different settings, I
see people after things happen,and so to me it was really
important to try and get aheadof some of the issues that are
preventable, like falls, youknow, seeing people with broken
hips, having to have hipreplacements, knee replacements
(03:55):
all those types of things can bereally traumatic, and so every
little bit that we can get aheadof those types of things is
where I was trying to make moreimpact.
So that's how I kind of gotinto the home safety components.
And then, as far as theoutpatient mobile, it was more
or less transitioning fromclients that have home health
and are unable to still get outto the clinic but still need
(04:18):
therapy or they need furthertraining in the home, because
occupational therapy works onthe occupations of everyday life
.
And so the best place to work onthose types of things is really
in your home setting, whereyou're performing the majority
of occupations.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yes, yes, totally agreeable.
So when I put out your episoderight, I'm going to launch it
with all of your wonderfulaccomplishments.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Thank, you, so I wanted you to review with our
audience here theseabbreviations.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So O-T-R-L, then there's CAPS, yes, then there's
E-C-H-M, correct Right.
So instead of me explaining itand doing my research, I said
you know what I'm going to haveher explain it on the show?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Wonderful accomplishments, by the way,
thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Otrl is the occupational therapist
registered and licensed.
Okay, okay.
And then the caps is additionaltraining, that is, the
certification for aging in place, oh, okay, specialist.
A yes, ma'am caps, and then theE-C-H-M is the Executive
Certification in HomeModifications.
So a little bit of training inaging in place, a little bit of
(05:29):
training in home modificationsand the occupational therapy
base.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
So that's where all that comes in.
That's why she's a specialistand good at what she does.
Yeah, so we're going totransition here just to go into
the life of Ms Jennifer Trevino.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So if you just let the audience know where are you
from, I am originally fromChicago, so I've been down here
in Florida for about 16 years,now 16 years.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Which one do you like best, chicago or Florida?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Right now it depends what I'm looking for, so
absolutely weather-wise Florida100%.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Even when it's hot, even when it's brutal.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I'll still take the heat over the snow any day,
really okay okay, what aboutfood other?
Things food, absolutely.
I was just gonna say I totallymiss chicago, really.
Yes, so we go back as a familyevery year and it's basically
like a foodie tour what's?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
oh, I was about to say what are you?
Something like the most commonplace you guys make sure to hit
when you go back to chicagochinatown.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I mean it winds up being a little bit of ethnic
yeah running.
So we get our Mexican food, ourChinese food, pizza, deep dish
pizza, because that's somethingyou never get down here.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Just a little bit of everything running around
Italian subs, all the thingsTampa Bay area.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
We have to do better, man, I know we have to do
better, especially in the PascoCounty area.
We need some good food options.
I like crepes.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, they come and bring some new options, you know
but like everything up here inthe past, we can.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
We have to drive to you know um tampa, downtown
tampa areas to find good food.
So that's a 40 minute drive,correct?
So you end up deciding to justcook at home yes, that was one
thing that I learned moving here.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I was like?
Is it worth going out becausethe majority of places are like
chains?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
yes, for sure not that good.
So, um, who had the strongestimpact on just shaping your life
?
Speaker 1 (07:14):
you would say honestly, I would say my faith
has gotten me through themajority of everything.
So god, first and foremost, andthen after that family.
For sure, my family has a hugeimpact on my life.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Okay, oh, all right.
Family, family Siblings.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Actually more of my aunts and grandparents.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
That's good.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
That's good.
It takes a village, they say,to raise.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
It does.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
What kind of student were you just in school?
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I was a nerd.
Really I was a nerd, really.
I was very I loved school.
I was excited to go to schooland I wanted to do well in
school, really.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
So let me see how was I in school.
I did good in school because Iknew I was gonna have
consequences if I didn't.
Oh, okay yeah, yeah, yeah yeah,I would say as far as a student
for me me, if I would have hada plan already after college
where I could just go right intothe workforce, own a family, I
(08:12):
probably would have did thatOkay.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, I didn't like school.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
No, I just did it and I had made good grades, yeah,
everything, I just did it goodbecause I had to.
Okay, yeah, my parents didn'tplay.
Yeah, my parents didn't play,yeah, yeah.
So first job in high school,did you have a job in high
school.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yes, I worked many jobs in high school.
My first job was actually at aChinese food restaurant, Really.
So my friend got me the job andI was able to just answer the
phones, take orders, show theorders, be a server, be a
waitress, do all the things.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So that was the first place you stated too, when you
said, uh, as far as visitinggoing, to food restaurants in
Chicago.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Well, so you like Asian cuisine Chinese.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, so, um, uh.
For me my first job was, let'ssee, working the concession
stand at our local recreationdepartment.
Oh nice, I think I was the best.
I ran that concession stand.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
I got 16.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I did that.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I made the best hot dogs.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes, I knew how to boil them and I used to add a
little salt in my water when Iboiled them A little cayenne.
I already knew about that at 16.
And I love my hot dogs too, andI put extra toppings on it too,
okay, yeah, so uh, what collegedid you attend?
Speaker 1 (09:28):
I went to the university of illinois at
chicago okay, illinois, chicago,that's the fighting the line
line no, fighting line is inurbana.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah, okay, the one in chicago is flames flames good
, okay, uh, did you know yourfuture plans at this time, like,
did you already have aperspective, like from high
school transitioning to college?
What you wanted to do, I?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
kind of did.
I wanted to be a doctororiginally, and when I got into
school and started doing morevolunteering, I actually started
veering more towards therapy.
So I started looking atphysical therapy and the more I
volunteered, the more I realizedthat I really liked
occupational therapy.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Okay, why yeah?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
We were doing all the things.
It wasn't just the exercisecomponent, it was the taking,
the body, you know, and how doesit function in the space.
So, really, you know, how areyou getting in and out of a car,
how are you functioning in thehome space?
All those things and I thoughtit was really neat to put all
those components together totake people from the hospital
(10:26):
environment into the communityand home and really just do well
from there, be healthy in theirown space.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Got it Okay.
Do you have any funny storyfrom whether it's college or
high school?
Just one.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
That just encompasses who Jennifer is.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
I don't know.
Like I said, I was kind of anerd so I don't have a ton of
funny stories.
But there was one time we did agroup project and so we wanted
to figure out okay, how are wegoing to get everybody's
attention?
So we at the time ER was areally popular show.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, okay, you remember that.
Yes, yes, I do.
Yes, I never watched it, though.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
So yes.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
I never watched, but I remember seeing like the
commercials and all that yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah, so we kind of made a little spoof on it and we
made it OTR because we were alloccupational therapists and we
just kind of played up thecharacters and dramatized
everything and over-exaggeratedall the things.
Okay, and just took like an OTspin on it.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Right, right spin on it, but everybody in the class
and the teachers were justlaughing because it was kind of
silly.
Yeah, do you have still any?
Stay close, close connectedwith any friends from college?
Speaker 1 (11:31):
yeah, we actually just had our 25th again my age
25th anniversary this pastweekend really that's really
good.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I think that's one thing.
I feel that, um, like as far ascollege, because with me I was
in when I moved back home totallahassee I went to florida
a&m university.
I was graduating from yeah butI was so focused on like just
finances, so I was working andgoing to school yep so like a
lot of people as a fam, youalumni like they're really die
(12:01):
hard like rattlers, butattlersbut not me, Because my fault, I
didn't enjoy really any likeon-campus festivities like that.
Yeah, but yeah, that's a goodstory.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
That's the same.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
But no, that's because I did.
I played around too much earlyon so by the time I got to
Family View, you know I neededto focus on, you know doing the
right things at the time.
So but yeah, thank you forsharing.
I like to ask those questionsbecause it really sort of goes
into like who you are, whatbuilt you, and it goes and let
(12:36):
the audience know, like you knowmore of you as a person.
So, and I want to further deepdive into that Absolutely, and
just the version I call thispart of the show, the versions
of Jennifer.
So if you just describe to theaudience just you as a sibling,
how would you say?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
As a sibling.
I am a middle child, so I havean older brother and a younger
brother and I think, probablybecause I was the only girl, I
kind of ran the show a littlebit more Really.
Yeah, I had good brothers.
Okay, yeah, I had good brothersOkay, that's good they let me
kind of boss them around, that'sgood though.
But now things have changed.
I'd say it's a lot more, eventhese days, but we definitely
(13:13):
support each other.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
That's really good.
What's the age difference Doyou have?
That yes, my older brother isfour years younger than me, so
we're kind of spread out, butwe're still really close, still
good.
Still, you ain't live in thearea at all.
No, we all live in differentstates.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
California and chicago?
Okay, all right.
And as a daughter, how wouldyou say?
You?
I would say I'm probably theclosest to my parents, probably
because I'm the girl, um, but Icall them every day, check on
them, do what I can.
Being out of state it's alittle bit harder, but but I
check on them every day, I callit their daily.
Well, check yes, you're rightand check to see if there's
anything I can do from afar.
So sometimes I'm their computertech support, other times I'm
(13:53):
just, you know, checking to makesure everything's okay, good,
good, as a friend.
As a friend, I would say that Iam Always there, no judgments,
always there, just to be thereas a support.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And likewise make a call Absolutely Come over.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Show up anytime, doesn't matter, I'm always here
for them.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
That's really good and just your overall impact on
your community.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I would say just being a good neighbor really in
the community, stepping outwherever necessary, always being
approachable to people, sayinghi to people in the community,
making sure people feel welcome.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Wow, so you're a part of your HOA.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I am Really.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I'm not oh man, I got to do better huh.
Really, when do you all meet?
When your HOA meets, they meettoo much for me.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
It depends which meeting.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Yeah, depends which meeting, because there's several
different.
Yeah, that's fine man.
No, I can't do all the meetinglike that.
Yeah, but uh, they do a greatjob and thank you if you're
listening in my community.
Uh, please don't take this toheart, but I appreciate you more
.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Appreciate you and mom yes, as a mom, um, I have
three children, two boys and onegirl, and I would say I'm
dedicated.
No, not quite the same age asmyself, but similar three years
and almost six years.
Okay yeah, so I mean just beingpresent for them.
(15:17):
They've always been my toppriority and so doing whatever
they need.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
That's really good.
So thank you for sharing that,of course.
So what's your mission andpurpose with Functionality for
Life?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
My mission as a company is really just to be the
best at serving people andhelping them to really find
solutions to their everydayproblems, so making sure that
they're able to functionoptimally Right, and the purpose
is definitely really trying toenhance their quality of life.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
There you go and their health issues and if you
can review your services.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
So I do occupational therapy, but not just
traditional in the hospital oranything in the home.
And again, like I said earlier,it's a continuation.
So as far as if they'redischarged from home health or
they just need some therapy butare unable to get to the clinic,
I come to them in the home andthen I also do the home safety,
home modifications, consultation, so I see them again in the
(16:17):
home trying to make sure thattheir space functions for them
optimally, so that they're ableto stay safe and purposeful.
And then I work with thecaregivers as well to make sure
that they're not feelingoverwhelmed, that they're able
to manage things at home.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
That's a very great aspect.
You mentioned about thinking ofthe caregiver.
It's great that yourorganization provides something
like that, because I think a lotof times and I'm learning just
working in the hospital's realmthe focus a lot of time is on
the patient, which isunderstandable, but the journey
is actually walk with thecaregivers.
(16:51):
Sometimes the caregivers can bea daughter, it can be a son or
just someone close a spouse andthey've gone through this
process seven years, eight years, a long, that's a long time,
you know, to have.
You know, and not use the termburden, but just to have that
additional piece that changesyour life.
You know, and then you'rewatching someone you love, you
(17:13):
know, make transformationtransitions as well.
So, um, what are some of theright tools a person can have,
um, to make their day easier,you would say, just as far as
home modification and homesafety in their home?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I think it's very personal, so really depends on
the person and their situation.
There is no right tool,necessarily, but just things
that are going to.
If you're looking at them froma physical aspect, a cognitive
aspect, sensory aspect, forsomebody it might be that they
may need a grab bar in theirbathroom to help study
(17:49):
themselves.
From the cognitive component, Imean something like an Alexa
device can help you make yourlife a little bit easier.
If you're running aroundlooking to jot something down,
need a piece of paper and pen.
By the time you get there youmay forget it, versus just
saying alexa put this to thereminder, you know yep um, or
sensory, you know I may.
(18:09):
I might be something simple,like anything to calm you, a
quiet space in your home,something soft or something you
know, weighted or whatnot.
That would help you that'sreally good.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, that's really good it just depends on the
person and their needs right, soyou make sure you provide
solutions catered to theperson's preferences and their
need.
That's really good.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yeah, looking at the whole person Right?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yes, what are some signs that a caregiver is
overwhelmed?
I know we just mentioned aboutbeing thoughtful and including
the caregiver in the trainingpiece.
What are some of the signs thatyou've seen?
Speaker 1 (18:42):
I think when you feel like you're putting your needs
on the back burner more than not, you're more than overwhelmed.
At that point, I see peopledefinitely being not necessarily
burnt out but stressed out,because it's a lot to take care
of yourself and your loved one24 hours a day, seven days a
(19:04):
week, even if it's just for afew hours at a time.
We all carry a lot of roles.
We're like you said, we'respouses, we're children, we're
parents, we're working our jobs.
We're doing so many things andtrying to help somebody else.
That's a lot to take on, and soare there tools?
Are there ways that you canmanage better?
Yes, but we don't know that.
(19:26):
You don't know what we don'tknow.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
So it's one of those things it's always good to reach
out to try and find if there'sany help.
If there's, whether it's youknow services in the community
or solutions within your ownspace, those are the things you
need to know, cause it can makea huge difference in that
caregiver.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Very much so.
And offering resources I thatcaregiver very, very much so.
And offering resources.
I think a lot of times this isjust my personal opinion.
The resources that areavailable that are sort of free,
yes, uh they.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
They don't get any marketing push no, you have to
go and find out.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I'm constantly learning about those, all the
time just going out and talkingto people, you're like, wow,
these things exist.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Why don't people know about?
This you have to go out andjust keep talking to people.
The more people you talk to,the more you learn.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Exactly what's one of you would say one of your go-to
like resources, just that youadvise caregivers to reach out
to.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
You know, it really depends on the person and what
their needs are, obviously.
But Area Agency on on aging isa good one um over in this
community.
Meals on wheels is a reallygood community um agency.
There's uh different onesonline um findhelporg is a good
one.
Yeah, you can just put in whatyou're looking for and they
(20:41):
populate a whole bunch of thingsthat are, you know, findhelporg
.
It's a really good service, sothere's lots of different
resources.
But again, you kind of justhave to start talking to people
and seeing what people know andpick their brains and you'll
just keep bumping into one thingafter another.
Usually.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Right, and do you have a partnership with the area
agency on aging?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I do, I do.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
I am actually one of their trainers for a couple of
their classes, and then I also apreferred uh vendor for
occupational therapy if you justshed light on just uh the area
on aging, like uh the agency, onjust your partnership with them
, but also just the resources,and have you, if you have any
experience, to share how they'veassisted families yeah, well,
(21:23):
like I said, I'm one of the umteachers for their classes, and
so they offer a falls prevention, which is called a matter of
balance class, and then theyalso offer one for caregivers
for clients with dementia.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
So that's the savvy caregiver training.
So, I trained for both of thoseand I think it's just again,
like we said, the awareness ofthings that are available.
They don't have a ton of peoplesigning up, but there's a huge
need in the community and it'sfree.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
And it's free.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
And so if you're willing to sacrifice a little
bit of time for a short periodwhether it's six weeks or eight
weeks I think it's definitelybeneficial and, as far as
services, they're a resourcelike FindHelp.
So, you can call them.
They have the hotline.
You don't even have to leaveyour home.
You call them and they willtell you what services would
(22:13):
apply to you, based on whetherit's finances or services needed
, and so sometimes it's justreferring to other resources.
It may not be within the agency,but just knowing that somebody
is able to kind of help guideyou a little bit more, it's
worth people reaching out andtouching.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Very much, very much so, very much.
So I learned about was it 211?
Speaker 1 (22:35):
That's a good one too , I saw it Wow.
Yeah, there's a lot ofresources you just don't even
realize.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I don't even realize.
You just give a call and theyprovide resources based on just
where you live.
Live that's local to you, right?
So those are all resources thatwe were advocating for
caregivers and aging, the agingcommunity to actually utilize.
Please do so.
You can look them up on Google.
(22:59):
So anytime that you're layingin bed why you typically on
Twitter or Tik TOK or Facebookor whatever you lie some time,
you know, do some productive.
Look up those uh uh resources,right, it can help you, and you
can help out a family member Ilove one by just providing the
insight, uh, so I challenge youto do that.
(23:20):
10 minutes on something that'sproductive, yeah, yeah, all
right.
So we're going to, we're goingto.
I want to go back, though, tohow we met and why you gave me
an opportunity, you know, tojoin the show.
You know, once again, open arms.
You didn't hesitate, so I justwant to know why on camera too.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Well, we actually met on LinkedIn.
Yes, which?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
is pretty cool.
Linkedin, I tell people all thetime.
I meet a lot of professionalsin healthcare.
They don't have a LinkedIn page.
I don't know why you don't linkthis professional platform.
It actually was my social media.
For many years I didn't evenhave Facebook or my brothers and
sisters used to say man, youlame.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
I didn't have.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Facebook.
I didn't have Instagram oranything, but I had LinkedIn
because I was about business,you know.
But now you know, I'm expanding, of course, with the brand and
just the organization.
So you can't have a businesswithout social media, but
LinkedIn is a wonderful tool.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
It is a good tool.
Yeah, no, no worries.
I mean, like I said, that's howwe met, so I think it's just
getting that opportunity to seethat we worked in the same field
.
And again, like I said, themore you get out and talk, the
more you learn about otherthings that are in the community
, how we can help each other,serve the people, and so it's
that you know servant heart thatyou have as well that led us to
(24:43):
say how can we help each otherand really, you know, just kind
of talk and learn to spread theinformation about our services.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Right, right, yeah, thank you.
Thank you for giving me thechance.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Absolutely, and you didn't hesitate with getting a
date down.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
You're actually more, you know, responsive.
Responsive as far as back andforth that I was.
So I apologize, I'm learning,I'm learning so, but I
appreciate that and it's good tosee someone like yourself that
are doing something so impactful, because I've seen, as a former
skilled nursing administratoroperating that role, how a
(25:18):
patient will go into thehospital due to a fall right and
end up in a skilled nursingfacility, whether it's for just
short-term rehab or due to along-term, you know sort of
issue because of a fall.
Yeah, and their families are ina position where they don't
have, they don't know whatresources they have right.
They don't know what things thatthey could have done to even
(25:38):
prevent it before.
For one, but two is like, whatresources do we have to reach
out to to assist us with momtransitioning back home?
Yes, right, some facilitieslike if you don't offer, or if
you don't if a family don't askhey, can we have a therapist go
out to do a home assessment?
Because some skilled nurses inmy facilities, my therapy team,
(26:01):
they would go into the home anddo a home inspection.
But if a lot of times thefamilies don't know to ask that,
you don't get that service.
So I just think that it'swonderful what you do.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
It's that awareness component that's huge.
People don't know what theydon't know.
You get put in a situation allof a sudden you're you know.
You get a call mom's in thehospital, dad's in the hospital,
what do you do?
You go through this quick, youknow, stay in a sense, because
they're only able to treat youfor so long.
You need to go somewhere afterthat.
If they were functioning ontheir own at home before that,
where do they go now?
They still need help.
So there's so many questions,so many things they need to be
(26:37):
thinking about and they don'tknow who to turn to.
They're given some resources,but there's still so many more
because there's that continuumof care beyond just that
transition home.
How do they stay functionalpast that in their own space?
And when it's too questionable,then they do look at facilities
because they can provide theservices that they can't have at
home, necessarily withoutfunding or whatnot.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
So yep, you're 100, correct.
So, um, these questions, thelast set of questions I'm going
to ask you is I titled it Laughand Learn, okay, right?
So it's going to be a weirdtype of question, but I want
that response.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
All right.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
All right, All right.
So first, the question I havefor you during this segment is
if you could invent one gadgetor gadget for home safety, what
would it be or what would itlook like?
What would it assist with?
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Just your innovation type of you know, I thought
about what would be a goodinvention and they already have
something similar.
People wear this little waistbelt thing, okay, and if they
fall, it pops out.
No, but I wanted to make itlike a bubble for the whole
person.
Oh so if they're falling, it'llprotect them from breaking
anything right right so you'retalking about the little band
(27:50):
where it pops out like the hipprotectors.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Yeah, because hips and heads are the top two,
correct?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
so if it could be like a bubble around the person,
so this way they wouldn't hurtthemselves.
Wow, that's what I'd like to becool, very cool.
I don't think anybody won'twear bubble, but no, no, I don't
know anybody will wear bubblebutts.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
No, no, I don't know if they would have to do like
another band, like wear anotherband.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I know it pops up around and it pops up like that.
I know Crazy right.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yeah, so what's one of the funniest
misunderstandings you'veencountered in explaining
in-home outpatient therapy?
Speaker 1 (28:24):
I think because it's a mouthful.
People don't even know what itmeans, so I don't know if it's
funny.
I think it's just really morean explanation of where it fits
and why it's necessary thananything else.
Because, OT, occupationaltherapy is just usually
misunderstood.
People aren't looking for jobsin their older age.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Oh yeah, they don't want occupational therapy.
Teach me how to find a job,exactly, yeah, exactly.
What's one of the weirdest uhitems you've seen?
Used uh for like eitherphysical therapy in the home or
occupational therapy um.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
You know, people have used multiple different things.
Necessity is the mother ofinvention and so.
I actually learned from aclient.
They had a walker behind theirtoilet and I was like, why would
you put that over by the toilet?
What's going on there?
and I realized they used it tohelp themselves push up from the
(29:19):
toilet oh kind of like a toiletsafety frame, and so I mean it
was the free version of ofputting what they had to use, so
it's actually really helpfulokay, uh, and if you can, uh, if
you were, if you had to explainoccupational therapy, um to a
child as a cartoon, what wouldyou?
Speaker 2 (29:40):
how would you explain that?
Speaker 1 (29:42):
that is a tough one um yes, I would say, a good
cartoon would probably be dorathe explorer dora the explorer,
why you?
Remember during dora, so theywould pull out backpack, exactly
, they'd call him backpack.
Backpack would come out andseveral different choices would
populate right, different tools,and I think ot tends to provide
(30:06):
a lot of tools yes and so we'rethat backpack with little
solutions I like that.
So that's how I think it wouldbe one way to explain it that's
a good one.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
yeah, yes, all right.
So for the audience, um, youindicate that you are one of the
service and solutions youprovide.
Is, uh, dementia Correct, ifyou can sort of just review the
services for that?
Speaker 1 (30:28):
For dementia care.
I actually am a skills careprovider, so it's a specific
evidence-based program thatworks with the caregivers for
clients with dementia and wepretty much work through their
readiness, trying to figure outwhat their problems are.
What are some solutions, howare they implementing that and
kind of working through so thatthey feel more empowered in
(30:51):
order to, you know, continue towork with their loved one and
make sure that they're able toproblem solve, as problems keep
arising, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
All right.
So if your home safetyconsultation, so if you can go
through that process, if you'redoing a home safety sort of
consultation for a family member, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
So normally I would learn a little bit about what
are their issues as far as theirhealth concerns beforehand, and
then when I go meet them at thehome, we kind of just do a walk
around in the space.
In the space, and I like tohave people show me how to do
things, because sometimes how wethink we do things versus how
we actually move in our spacecan be completely different.
(31:32):
Like, do you push yourself toget up?
Do you grab onto something?
How do you move in your space?
Those are the things that I'mreally looking at and analyzing
in order to make sure that wecan find the right fit for you,
and placement of things reallymatters in how we move.
Now do you sort of curate ormake your solutions to match,
(31:54):
like if you have a patient thatmay be having a cognitive
decline still, in the home howwould you sort of make sure your
services fit a patient of suchthat's something that I
definitely look at when I do thehome safety assessments making
sure that we're fitting theperson not just for now right,
but thinking about in the future, even if it's not just
cognitive.
there's a lot of progressivehealthcare, you know health
(32:16):
issues um, like Parkinson's orother other diseases that
continue to, unfortunately,change the abilities of the
person over time.
So we want to make sure thatwe're not just putting something
that fits for right now, but wewant to think about how are
they going to look in anotheryear from now, another five
years from now, and what are weputting in their space so that
they're able to function for theentire duration as much as
(32:38):
possible on their own?
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Right, right.
So if someone out in theaudience, if they had a concern,
as you just sort of indicated,what would you advise them to do
Like, as far as reaching you,how would they do so and what
would be your steps to sort ofassisting them?
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Absolutely.
I mean, I'm always availablefor questions.
So I think the easiest way isjust to reach out by phone or go
on my websitefunctionalityforlifecom and make
sure that you can contact me.
I will call you back.
We can go over some.
You know what are yourquestions and how can I help you
best, and sometimes it may justbe helping them, you know refer
(33:17):
them to different services IfI'm not the right fit.
I want to make sure that theyhave whatever they need.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
So if, let's say, a caregiver gave you a call like
uh, you said hey, my name isSusan.
I saw you on let's get comfypodcast Cause I watch every
episode and uh, and I want tojust see if you could just come
and help my, my dad he justhaving multiple falls at home.
And if you could just come, Ijust want your help.
How would you go about helpassisting a patient like that?
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Well, first and foremost, if they're having
medical issues, insurance maycover it.
So I want to check to see ifthey have what insurance they
have, if it would be possible toyou know, get that covered,
contact the doctor, figure outwhat is actually going on
medically, what are all theconditions, and then, from there
, you know, talk to the familyand say you know what are your
biggest concerns, and then goand do the home assessment.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Home assessment.
Okay yeah, so far as yourservices, you can be covered.
Yes, okay yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
I'm a Medicare provider All right and so if
there is a medical necessity fortherapy, it definitely would
still be covered.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Right, right, that's really good.
That's really good optionscovered on the Medicare.
Yeah, right, right, that'sreally good, that's really good
options covered on the Medicare.
And what's some unexpected, Iguess, things that you encounter
, or a family can encounter,that they don't even consider
right when they're looking athome assessments, or some things
that you point out that theymissed right there in front of
(34:44):
them.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
I think honestly, a lot of the time it's the obvious
how we're moving in our space.
We do things out of routine,out of habits, it's just
whatever's comfortable for us.
But there may be an easier wayto do something and it's a
subtle change.
So, like I said, I really, kindof occupational therapists, are
expert at task analysis and sowe go through and kind of have
(35:09):
you function.
Just, you know, I'll asksomebody, from the time that you
wake up to the time that you goto bed, tell me a little bit
about your day, and let's movearound your house as if you were
just getting ready in themorning, getting yourself ready
for a meal, doing those types ofthings.
And so it might be placement ofsomething in your space, you
know, making sure that you'renot having to reach for
(35:30):
something way up high or waydown low, that you might fall
and lose your balance doing that.
It could be, you know, justmaking something a little bit
easier, having sensor lightsinstead of having to walk over
to the switch and find it in thedark.
You know you might, just thelight may just come on.
So it's just little things thatyou can do in your space and
how you move, making sure thatyou're doing things safely.
(35:53):
So, again, we just do thingsout of the way that we do things
.
We don't think about it, butsometimes, when our health is an
issue, if there's an easiersolution I mean just simply
moving to the edge of the chairto help yourself stand up can
make a heavy burden a lightburden, and so, as a caregiver
or as a client, there's littlesolutions that are out there,
(36:16):
and so why not ask somebody who,who does that every day?
Speaker 2 (36:20):
I actually learned that process too, about like the
way you sit in the chair.
A mom with knee surgery,absolutely so, just just foot
placement all those things likethat impacts the way you just
stand up, right, right.
So in a preventive from apreventative perspective, yes,
if you could just give a messageto sort of individuals that are
(36:43):
middle aged, right, that mayhave parents that are aging, and
just for them to sort of say,hey, mom, dad, I watched the
show or I saw Ms Trevino and youknow what I think, have you
guys ever heard of doing athought about doing a home
assessment?
Like, just speak to thataudience there, just to say hey
you know, let's be proactiveinstead of something happening
(37:04):
and then we doing this.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
Yeah, I think the easiest thing to do is to be
proactive, because a lot of thetime when we're reactive, it's
major changes Right.
Not only are you having to dealwith your health change, you're
trying to mentally you knowgrasp what's going on in life
and how everything has changed,Whereas if you're proactive,
(37:26):
you're trying to just makethings easier for yourself.
Yes, you're trying to just makethings easier for yourself.
The costs are usually much lessif you're ahead of the game
because you can do it slowly, asopposed to major changes in
your own space.
You know you don't have to doan entire bathroom renovation
necessarily, but maybe you'restarting to put items in place
like the grab bar that's a towelbar already, so that you don't
have the fall you know I meansubtle changes.
(37:48):
So anything that you can do, Imean I do it myself in my own
home, especially when I'mthinking as far as
recommendations for clients.
I know that it's good because Iuse it in my own space.
There we go, when I walk intomy office, the lights just go on
.
I already have the sensorlights, so it's little changes
that you can do ahead of timethat will keep you functioning
as optimal as possible for aslong as possible.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Right, right and and again the impact of, or just
have you here on the show.
But the reason why I wanted toplace emphasis on a segment like
this on the show as well isbecause falls none injury
related falls right and injuryrelated falls are the highest
healthcare costs for agingadults.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
So, as far as insurance billing, Medicare is
the highest cost for emergencyvisits for insurance providers.
Falls related to falls.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
Because they're repeated sometimes.
Once you have that first fall,then unfortunately other smaller
falls tend to occur, or there'ssmaller falls beforehand that
they're not reporting and theydon't want people to know
they're concerned that thenthings will change for them if
they tell someone when inreality.
If they ask for a little bit ofhelp because they know those
changes are occurring, theycould prevent the bigger fall
(39:03):
exactly, yeah, a lot of parentsout there.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Be transparent with your kids.
Yeah, you know you're aging, Iknow you probably don't want to
worry them or bother them, butif you're listening, you have
your children for a reason,right?
Yeah, uh, they're concernedabout you so a lot.
I heard a family member onetime.
They said, yeah, mom had a fall.
But uh, you know, she didn'ttell me she had it over a year
(39:27):
ago.
Yeah, her first fall.
She didn't say because shedidn't, she didn't think nothing
.
She had it over a year ago.
Yeah, her first fall.
She didn't say cause she didn't, she didn't think nothing of it
.
It was nothing big deal.
But now, uh, nine months later,10 months later, she's falling.
She's had three falls in thelast two months.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
Yeah, right, start accumulating, start accumulating
because you tend to build up afear of falling as well.
So you may move differently inyour space.
Your confidence changes, andhow you move really affects if
you're going to fall or not.
I mean, falls are preventable,but we don't think anything of
it.
We're embarrassed, we don'twant to tell our family, we
(40:00):
don't want to tell our doctorwhat are they going to do, and
so we tend to hide those thingsuntil it becomes so problematic
that you have to go to thehospital.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Right, right, exactly , and with your piece that you
offer is occupational therapy aswell as physical therapy.
It's one thing I was speakingto my dad about.
That is I say we tend to spendmoney on things easily that
really don't impact right Ourlife and our livelihood more
(40:33):
readily.
We quickly do that.
If it's something for your boat, you want a fishing pole, you'd
be willing to spend money onthose things New shoes, clothes
but if you're getting older,aging and you want to get
therapy, then that's a cause Idon't want to pay for no therapy
.
I don't need no therapy, I'mgood right now.
That's preventative measures.
(40:54):
A lot of people don't thinkabout that.
They haven't worked out.
They've really been to a gymand exercising 20 to 30 years
Long time.
It's so hard.
At 60 years old you haven'tworked out continuously for 30
years.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
The idea is daunting.
Exactly, yeah, but at the sametoken, when your health is I
mean even just having a cold,your health you realize it's
priceless.
Yes, and you'll do anythingafter the fact when things are
compromised versus beforehand.
Yes.
So again, knowing that yourhealth is priceless, where do
you prioritize?
(41:29):
Where your money goes andtaking care of yourself.
We have a hard time with thewhole caregiver bit.
We put others before ourselves,yes, but our health is so
important to be able to helpothers, to be there for others.
If we're not doing well, ourother people aren't doing well,
right?
Yep, so we want to prioritizeand spend a little bit on
(41:50):
ourselves on ourselves.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes, and that's another piece of you.
Say that like preventative.
Yeah, uh, doing it ahead oftime.
Yeah, even now with my kidsthey hate it I do, uh what I
call immune shots okay yeah,they hate those non-negotiable
yeah I do immune shot, like atleast once a week, like so it's
like lemon, the apple cidervinegar, cinnamon, yeah, uh,
(42:12):
what else I do?
Uh, lime in there and we do thelike the shots, and they hate
it.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
But yeah, you want to build up their house.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Build up.
Yes, ma'am, for sure.
So, um, so now, uh, I have asegment here, so you have it's
called.
That's my Answer, okay, right,so this is going to be a few
funny questions.
You have five seconds to answerit, okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
If you had to watch boxing or MMA, which one would
you watch?
Boxing, I don't understand MMAenough.
You don't.
Okay, I know more about boxing.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
All right.
What's your biggest regret inlife?
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Just one being afraid being afraid yeah, not taking
chances on myself, not believingin myself enough sooner.
Yeah, definitely, I should havestepped up sooner all right,
that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
Um, let's say, uh, okay, so here's a good one.
Uh, would you like to?
Would you rather rather miss ashower for a month?
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Ooh.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Right Terrible or Miss a shower for a month or not
have income for a month.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Oh goodness, Both of those are really important.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah, that's what I'm saying, yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
I don't know that I can go without a shower for a
month.
Speaker 2 (43:28):
A month a whole month .
Speaker 1 (43:29):
That's pretty gross, that one.
Hopefully I I don't know that Ican go without a shower for a
month, A month a whole month,that's pretty gross.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
Hopefully I've saved enough so I can live off of my
wedding and not have to give upshowering.
Okay, all right, all right.
So what's something that pissesyou off Just because you seem
very nice?
Speaker 1 (43:43):
and sweet, but I just want what bores you.
Lying.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
Lying.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Yeah, really Lying um lying lying.
Yeah, really lying 100.
And I mean it's not justnecessarily the little lies, but
the bigger lies if we're nottruthful, whether it's good or
bad, regardless of the outcome.
I always tell people I like tohave the hard conversations.
You know, if you're not honestwith yourself or others, it'll
show somewhere.
So you might as well just behonest up front and let's deal
(44:08):
with the issue little less allright uh favorite, uh song
favorite song?
that's a good question.
I don't really have a favoritesong.
There's a lot of songs that Ilike, um which one do you find
yourself singing?
Right now I've been listening alot to something called be all
right yeah, you sing a littlebit for us, or?
(44:29):
Oh, here I prefer three littlebirds three little birds.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Yeah, I don't know how to go.
Can you sing it?
Speaker 1 (44:35):
oh, no, no sing only in the car, only in the car,
okay.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Um, if you could uh go on a date with uh one
individual, who would it be?
And they pay for everything.
Speaker 1 (44:48):
A good question.
Um, hmm well, I think I wouldobviously go with god first.
God to figure out.
Yeah, help me.
But people wise, let's see.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
Yeah, you gotta choose about what is the artist
talk to.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
I would like to talk to oprah oprah yeah okay yeah
that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
um, are you going on a date for, uh, information
purposes?
Yeah, yeah, I wouldn't say thatat all.
I wouldn't say that at all.
Uh, do you have a favorite rapsong?
I do not, no, no, okay.
Do you know cardi b or beyonce?
Do you know either one?
Yes, who?
Those?
Which artist would you choose?
(45:31):
Beyonce, beyonce, okay, let'ssee, and I'll wrap it up If you
could eat or choose one food ordish that you had to eat every
single day, what would it be?
Speaker 1 (45:42):
Goodness, I don't like the same thing over and
over and over again.
Just one, I guess a pasta,because I could do different
sauces or things.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
Yeah, that's one, so there's a little bit of creation
still.
You make good decisions.
I can see that, yes.
And the last one is if youcould snoop through one person's
private life, who would thatperson be and not get caught?
Speaker 1 (46:07):
I don't really want to snoop in anybody's life,
honestly no celebrity, no anyone, nobody not really really
you're not a nosy person, I amnot.
You mind your own business.
I do, because that's one thingI've learned.
Regardless of who you are orwhat you've done or where you've
been in life, life tends to befull circle and we all kind of
(46:28):
wind up in the same boat as weage.
We're very similar in so manydifferent ways.
So all those little things thatshape us into being who we are,
we still kind of come back tosimilar occupations, similar,
you know, just different,different things going on in
life.
We're all going throughproblems, we're all going
through issues.
What we show people you know maynot be the reality a lot of the
(46:49):
time.
So snooping around and tryingto figure all that stuff out
honestly keep the drama to thecurb.
I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
Well, I can think of a lot of reality more than
anything else.
That's really good.
That's a good point of view.
You make me feel so bad.
I have like a list of peopleProbably Chris Brown Okay, let's
see.
Cardi B I want to snoop throughher life.
Okay, let's see DeSantisGovernor DeSantis, I want to
(47:24):
snoop through his life.
Donald Trump Okay, let's see.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Barack.
Speaker 2 (47:32):
Obama, let's see.
See, that's like five.
I just named a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Jamie Foxx why do you want to snoop?
Speaker 2 (47:40):
that's my question to you just to see what they do
every day.
That's all, I think everybody'sreal people.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
at the end of the day .
You know what I mean, and Ithink you're going to see them
doing a lot of the same thingsyou and I do, probably so, but
and it's not as exciting as youthink.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
Really.
Yeah, I don't know.
I think money can make a littlebit more excitement.
Speaker 1 (48:00):
A little bit more.
I have family that has been indifferent positions of influence
.
Speaker 2 (48:11):
And I think in reality, everybody just wants to
be regular, regular, be regular.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
You don't want the security or the publicity or all
that other stuff around you allthe time, you just want to be
yourself so I didn't get to getout of my immature ways.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
That's just immature, it's just curiosity.
It's curiosity, right?
Okay, um, but I think I endedthere.
Oh no, I have to ask you thisone.
Okay, I have, because it'ssunday.
So I have to ask you.
So if you, if on today, onSunday, if you had to take five
shots, okay.
Or would you do three longislands on a Sunday too?
Speaker 1 (48:44):
On a Sunday.
I probably do five shots, getit done.
I'm not a big drinker, let'sjust be done with it.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Well, this final note for the audience just tell them
about just what you, whatthey're going to get when they
give a call to you.
Speaker 1 (49:03):
I think when you call me, you get me.
I'm very honest and transparentabout whatever it is.
I'm really here to serve and beavailable in whatever way
possible as far as the healthaspect.
So people have called me formany different things and I
(49:23):
always just try to be a resource.
If it's not something that Ican help you with, I definitely
want to try and help you inwhatever way to guide you in the
direction that you may need.
So I think that's what you getand as far as whether it's
services I can help with,absolutely I'm available for
that.
Speaker 2 (49:38):
Thank you, yeah, thank you.
Well, comfortly listeners.
We had a great episode with MsTrevino here.
I thank her for her expertiseand the knowledge that she
shared A little even on thepersonal side as well.
So so glad to have her on theshow.
Thank you and tune in to ournext episode.
Thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (50:02):
Yes.
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