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Author Archives: Nicole Cook

At home catheter care provided by Empower Nurses

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It is possible to live an independent and active life with a catheter and Empower’s nurses are ready to help clients and their families.

Our nurses are trained to deliver best practice catheter care with dignity to help people maintain the life they are accustomed to.

Our skilled nurses are fully trained to deliver care for all three types of catheters:
• Male
• Female
• Suprapubic

For people who rely on catheters, having a routine to care for the catheter is an important part of living a full life without the common complications that a catheter use can cause. Empower nurses deliver person centred, individualised catheter care to every client beginning with a comprehensive assessment at home.

Our nurses assess the level of support, education and care needed and work with clients and their families to set goals and develop management plans to suit their individual needs.

Good catheter care starts with good nursing care.

Our catheter care routines help users:

Reduce Urinary Tract Infections

By regularly emptying bags and performing hygiene activities like good hand washing, people who use catheters can reduce the likelihood of infection. Developing habits of adequate water consumption can also help to reduce bacterial infection risk and keep the system functioning optimally.

Eliminate Leakage

Regular emptying of bags is necessary to reduce the chance of overflow leakage. Having established fluid consumption routines can also help with the management of urine output.

Avoid Kidney damage

Reducing the load on the kidneys by allowing complete bladder voiding protects kidney function.

Live a full life 
A well-established routine can allow people who rely on catheterisation to lead full and active lifestyles with the freedom to work, travel, exercise and socialise knowing that their bodies are well cared for.

Having a plan and support is vital for developing routines when taking care of a catheter system. Our experienced nurses help people to ensure the best care for their catheters while meeting their lifestyle needs and goals. After all, catheterisation should allow people to focus on the things in life that really matter and enable them to live life their own way.

 

Click to read more about our Nurses

Medication management

Wound care

 

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

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Empower’s newest Occupational Therapist brings assistive technology expertise

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Fred Spitson

We are pleased to welcome Occupational Therapist Fred Spitson to Empower Healthcare.

Fred arrives with leadership experience and specialised knowledge of assistive technology prescription.
Having developed his skills in supported independent living, specially designed housing, home modifications and assistive technologies, Fred discovered a passion for prescribing complex equipment and is now bringing his much sought-after skills to add to our suite of Occupational Therapy service offerings.
Fred has experience in assessing for and prescribing standing power wheelchairs; bedding composite; hoists; scooters; bath lifts and light vehicle adaptability equipment. His interest lies in providing people with the tools and skills they need to achieve their goals.

 

I love working with participants and families, showing them what is possible to help improve their independence and help them achieve their goals and aspirations.
With a diverse NDIS and Home Care case load as well as constantly learning and developing in his profession, it’s hard to believe he has time to relax. Luckily, he prefers to stay busy and has recently renovated a house in his downtime.

Welcome to the team

About Empower Healthcare

We Change Lives

Changing lives is what we do.  Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Empower Healthcare was founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. Woo Casino Australia offer huge bonuses and you can find woo casino bonus codes australia. This success fueled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients. Helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 

 …

Embracing Innovation with a world-first in Dementia education: Talk with Ted

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Dementia training

 Half a million Australians are living with dementia today, this number is set to double over the coming years.

Our Empower therapists have the privilege of meeting and working with many clients and their families who are facing the challenges that dementia can bring. That is why we were so happy to learn of a new approach to training healthcare workers in the best strategies for communicating with people living with dementia.

 

Talk with Ted

Talk with Ted is a program developed by Dementia Australia’s Centre for Dementia Learning and Deakin University’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute in collaboration with healthcare workers.The program is based on real life experiences of people living with dementia and Ted is an artificially intelligent avatar who is facing many of the common struggles that people with dementia manage daily.

 

The immersive learning experience teaches a person-centred approach to communicating with the individual and gives our newly graduated clinicians the opportunity to practice and improve their skills. This is just one of the ways we are striving for excellence and constantly looking for ways to help our clinicians deliver high quality healthcare with the best possible outcomes for our clients, their families, and communities.

Our clinicians feedback:

I liked the avatar. Especially when aiming to use the right language – Tony
Gaining empathy and understanding of what it feels like for the residents with dementia – Kristea
Understanding the Human Rights of patients when requesting an action from them – Michelle
The importance of a good introduction – gaining rapport & finding out the person’s interests – Alissa

 

About Empower Healthcare

We Change Lives

Changing lives is what we do.

Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Empower Healthcare was founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care and knew how to do it. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. This success fuelled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 …

Our Multidisciplinary Team Approach To Mobility Assessments

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We can help you take the guesswork and uncertainty out of whether your client would benefit from the success of physiotherapy, an exercise program or assistive equipment to improve their mobility when movement is challenging.

Our multidisciplinary team understand that mobility inside the home, within the community and beyond is a requirement for independence and a cornerstone of quality of life at all ages.

To assess mobility, our team may:

  • Perform a thorough subjective assessment to ascertain what aspects of movement a client is finding challenging and what effect that has on their lives.
  • Analyse gait on a variety of surfaces.
  • Evaluate a person’s ability to move in bed, sit and stand up.
  • Assess stair or step climbing, if appropriate.
  • Determine the need for mobility aids.
  • Assess strength, endurance, and balance to understand the causes of loss of mobility.

Once a thorough assessment has been performed, we will work with clients to create goals of treatment and individualised interventions that can help them to reach those objectives.

Here’s five signs that a person may need a mobility assessment:

  • Reduced ability to manage activities of daily living due to problems with walking, standing up or stair climbing.
  • Loss of confidence in leaving the house.
  • Family members or caregivers reporting an increased need to assist with standing-up and walking.
  • A history of falling or fear of falling.
  • Anyone returning home after a period of prolonged hospitalisation due to injury or illness who is experiencing a reduction in function.

With our multidisciplinary and holistic wellbeing approach, Empower’s assessment reports provide clarity and direction to equip you with the knowledge to determine the best care plan going forward.

Go to our online referral to get started.  https://www.empowerhealthcare.com.au/referrals/

The Empower Difference

Changing Lives Through Exceptional Care

We pride ourselves in the delivery of innovative, high-quality, allied health solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of your clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower you to help your clients improve their sense of self-identity, quality of life, and ability to live safely in their environment.

  1. Extensive service offerings
  2. Care provided by highly skilled clinicians
  3. A team approach to delivering continuity of care
  4. User friendly referral process
  5. Superior reports providing clarity on future care needs.

Click on your relevant health care industry sector below to learn more.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

Our Physiotherapy Team is Growing

Kevin Leroy Physiotherapists WEB

New physiotherapists

Empower Healthcare is pleased to welcome two new physiotherapist to the team

Whether help is needed to address short term problems or on an ongoing basis, our friendly and knowledgeable team of physios are ready to help. Bringing everything needed to your door, our therapists will tailor interventions to your goals and we are pleased to welcome two new therapists to the team – Kevin in Queensland and Leroy in Geelong Victoria.


Kevin Physiotherapist Queensland

Kevin is a passionate physiotherapist who brings his positive energy and experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy to the expanding team. Having worked in private practice and clinical education, Kevin is excited to work in Community Care, as he says:
“Community care places a larger emphasis on the clients themselves rather than the physio”

“When I walk into a client’s home, I can see what their environment is like, what they enjoy doing and what their goals at home are. I can truly appreciate what they need and formulate a plan that is client-focused. Plus, I love getting to know people in an environment they are comfortable in!It can be daunting when a patient walks into a clinic and talks to a physio they’ve never met before. This factor is eliminated when we bring the service to the home.”

Outside of work, Kevin is equally energetic and community minded as he captains a volleyball team and volunteers his free time. He loves staying active and helping his clients do the same.


Leroy Physiotherapist Geelong Victoria


Leroy is a physiotherapist with an additional qualification in Exercise and Sport Science. This makes him perfectly suited to delivering exceptional rehabilitative and pain management services for clients living at home or in residential aged care.

Leroy has a passion for improving the quality of life of his clients through movement and strengthening, while also having experience in managing chronic complex pain conditions.

When asked what he loves most about his work, Leroy says:
“An aspect I love about physiotherapy is the caring interactions with patients and development of therapeutic relationships over time. We often get to spend more time with people than many other healthcare professionals, so we have a broader understanding of who they are, their lives, their goals in and outside of therapy and what really makes them tick.”

Having grown up on a farm, Leroy has always enjoyed staying active and healthy and in his spare time keeps his body fit in his home gym, while keeping his mind fit gaming with friends.

Welcome to the team



About Empower Healthcare

We Change Lives

Changing lives is what we do.  Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Empower Healthcare was founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. Woo Casino Australia offer huge bonuses and you can find woo casino bonus codes australia. This success fueled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients. Helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 

 …

Walking (Gait) Aid Prescriptions with our Physiotherapists

Gait aid image NDIS and RAC

Gait aid all

 

At Empower, we make delivering the best care and outcomes our highest priority and that is why we ensure that every cent spent from our client’s packages is having the greatest impact on improving their quality of life.

This is especially true when it comes to decisions about equipment. Our physiotherapists know that walking aid prescription is about so much more than walking. The correct walking aid allows independence, security and dignity. Unfortunately, the incorrect aid, or an aid poorly fitted, can have the opposite effect.

What is a walking (gait) aid?

Walking aids are also referred to as gait aids. A gait aid is one of several devices a client may be issued in order to improve their walking pattern, balance or safety while mobilising independently. Gait aids fall into multiple categories and include the following:
• Walking sticks or canes
• Crutches
• Walkers
• Standing Aids: to assist with manual handling often used with in rehabilitation.
• Single Point Stick – SPS
• 4-Point Stick – 4PS
• Pick Up Frame – PUF
• 2-Wheel Frame – 2WF/TWF
• 3-Wheel Frame – 3WF
• 4-Wheel Frame – 4WF
• Gutter Frame – GF
• Crutches
• Rollator
• Platform Frame – PF
• Forearm Support Walker
• Posterior Support Frame

How do physiotherapists view gait aids?

A physiotherapist’s goal is to attain the greatest level of function with the smallest amount of equipment. Physios see gait aids as a valuable tool in ensuring safety and independence while working to improve and maintain mobility through strengthening and rehabilitation. The long-term result is more mobility with less reliance on equipment.

 

Why do we use our physiotherapists for gait aid prescription?

The prescription of gait aids by physiotherapists represents best practice and falls squarely within the scope of practice of physiotherapists who train specifically in the areas of biomechanics, gait analysis, gait rehabilitation and balance.  Our physios work towards greater independence and mobility, armed with the experience and latest evidence-based techniques to help people rediscover the joy of movement without fear.

 

How can assessments by physiotherapists help to optimise home care packages?

• By reducing or delaying the reliance on expensive mobility equipment, physios free up funds for rehabilitation or other needs that may otherwise have fallen outside the budget.
• Involving physios in gait aid prescription and rehabilitation is proven to reduce falls in the elderly. This reduces the long-term consequences and expenses of injuries.
• Physiotherapists have a deep understanding of the woo by morrock predicted outcomes of various medical and physical conditions and can advise which gait aids may only be needed temporarily and could be hired rather than bought.
• Expertly fitted aids allow for greater independence and function, empowering people to live safely at home for longer.

A case study:

Peta was discharged from hospital after spending 3 weeks recovering from surgery. Once home, she found that she was very unsteady and fearful of falling after spending so much time in bed. Her case manager contacted Empower Healthcare for an assessment for a gait aid and a physiotherapist visited her at home and conducted a complete physical and functional assessment. The physio determined that the main cause her balance difficulties was deconditioning due to a long period of convalescence and prescribed an exercise program. They also recommended that a 4-wheeled walker be hired, rather than purchased as Peta was most likely to improve to her previous level of function. After 3 months, the walker was returned as Peta no longer needed it. She also did not need any modifications to her home as she was able to move around freely and confidently once more.
The right walking (gait) aid can be life changing and saving so give Empower a call to book a walking aid assessment with one of our physiotherapists.

Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 

 …

Massage Therapist Kristy brings a therapeutic touch 

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Kristy Massage Therapist

Working with the ex-service community for over a decade has given Kristy has a passion for aged care and lots of respect for the aging community.

Kristy has noticed

a huge need for greater pain management in the form of non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical approaches.

Manual therapy in the form of massage provides many benefits for clients physical and mental health including decreased depression and agitation, resulting in feelings of wellbeing and comfort.

The COVID pandemic has highlighted the need for therapeutic touch as a way to connect and manage pain. Working in residential and community-based care during lockdowns has allowed Kristy the opportunity to connect with the most vulnerable and isolated members of our society who at times are in desperate need for human interaction.

 

Kristy has experience with high care, dementia, individual and group exercise therapy programs promoting strength and balance. Pain management therapy is also a specialist area for Kristy having implemented and managed a wellness centre promoting wellbeing and quality of life of countless residents.  It is one of her proudest achievements to date.

 

Unfortunately, due to Covid, the organisation made the heartbreaking decision to close the clinic and like many others during the pandemic, this gave Kristy the opportunity to embark on a new career path. Kristy studied remedial massage therapy whilst working part time as a community based Allied Health Assistant and has now joined the team here at Empower Healthcare.

 

Personally, Kristy enjoys painting pet portraits and lives with her husband, dog Jester and cat Artemis.

 

Kristy joins a team of highly trained massage therapist who use a therapeutic approach to massage. They offer a broad range of individualised massage treatments chosen to accommodate the mobility status, preferences and needs of the people they see at home.

 

Our clinicians bring their own equipment with them and can massage the client on a massage table, on their bed, or in high supported sitting with a range of relaxing oils and creams, or the personal products preferred by the client.

 

Kristy is looking forward to working with the Mornington and surrounds community helping her clients to live their best lives.

CLICK to Read more about What Your Clients Can Expect From A Home Massage

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 

About Empower Healthcare

We Change Lives

Changing lives is what we do.  Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. This success fueled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology – https://aussie-online-casinos.com/best-paying-online-pokies/.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients. Helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.

 

 

 …

Dietitian Meg eats, sleeps, and dreams healthy eating

Meg web

Meg dietetian

Dietitian Meg eats, sleeps, and dreams healthy eating

Meg qualified as a Dietitian in Queensland and moved to Melbourne to pursue her passion for food. She spends her spare time visiting markets, trying new cuisines and exploring the incredible food offering. Meg eats, sleeps, and dreams healthy eating and having suffered her own gut health problems for ten years she has a special interest in gut health.

 

Gut health issues require specialised recipes to suit the gut health requirements but more specifically focusing on how to change a diet whilst maintaining a healthy variety of nutrients. Meg enjoys helping people alter their favourite recipes and meals to suit their own gut health requirements whilst still enjoying their favourite foods.

 

Working as a Community Dietitian offers variety because each client is different.  They have their own unique goals, challenges and lifestyles, and the solutions are not a one-size fits all approach. Meg and all Empower dietitians take the time to sit and listen to clients about their needs and wants when it comes to nutritional support, offering a unique person-centred approach.

 

Meg says
Working in the community provides a rare opportunity to see someone’s living conditions whilst taking their diet history. This helps tailor any recommendations to ensure they are suited to their current living environment.

 

Empower Dietitians improve the independence and quality of life of our clients by providing reliable and trusted food and nutritional support to live their lives the way they want.

 

Let Us Help You with Your Dietetics Needs

As a registered NDIS provider with experience in the assessment & treatment of a variety of conditions and strong partnerships with leading equipment and home modification providers, we can facilitate all your allied health needs provisioned under the NDIS.

We assist NDIS participants from 15 onwards.

Our convenient, NDIS services range from provide clients with high quality occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and dietetics, and in the comfort of their own environment including timely and effective communication to support the administration of your clients’ funds.

We want your participants to experience the best allied health services, and stay independent, happy, healthy in their own home.

Our NDIS Dietitians Help With Wellbeing

Our team of experienced NDIS dietitians provide diet advice to improve health and manage specific conditions with weight loss or gain, difficulty in eating food and managing food allergies.

Here’s how our NDIS dietitians help with wellbeing:

  • Improve overall health and mental happiness
  • Education around good food choices
  • Introduce tasty and nutritious meal ideas for fussy eaters
  • Reduce mealtime stress and create positive experiences
  • Improve gut health, manage appetite and weight problems

Our NDIS dietitian offers everything a mainstream dietitian does, plus a whole lot more, such as:

  • Supporting diets for people who experience difficulties with chewing and swallowing
  • Fussy eating or resistant/picky eating
  • Excessive weight gain which impacts physical or social function
  • Stressful mealtimes and other mealtime challenges such as food refusal, not coming to the table, eating with distractions or avoidance to eat socially
  • Bowel issues (e.g. constipation, diarrhoea, coeliac disease, limited fluid/fibre intake)

Download Empower Dietetics Flyer

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Download Empower’s NDIS Flyer

How To Arrange Dietetic Services With Empower

Our friendly support team to get started on (03) 9583 1364

NDIS Capacity Building Funding activities with Empower

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Capacity Building Funding

As you know we are a registered NDIS provider with experience in assessment and treatment to help a person with a disability gain independence, increase mobility and improve their wellbeing

Did you know Capacity Building funding can come from your participants NDIS package and are in addition to core support funding.

NDIS states:
“Capacity building supports are those that help you to maintain your independence and skill building.”
As one of the more specialised support items in an NDIS plan, Capacity Building will allow your participants to access flexible, understanding, and personalised care to ensure they can achieve their goals.

 

There are a wide range of different activities and goals your participants can achieve using their capacity building funds, here are a few that Empower can help with;

 

Dietetics:
o cooking lessons with support workers
o grocery tours
o label reading

 

Occupational Therapy
o self-care tasks such as showering, dressing & grooming independently
o house cleaning and organising your home, so you can find what you need, when you need it
o taking public transport with confidence
o supporting you to self-advocate at home, work and within the community

 

Physiotherapy
o build up mobility to return to work
o improved endurance to walk to local store
o develop balance and strength
o enhance current skill set to enable easier completion of daily tasks such as transferring out of bed or getting into car

 

Speak to your Empower contact today to find out more. Funding can only be used to purchase approved individual supports that fall within that Capacity Building category.
Capacity Building categories can be found here:

 

About Empower Healthcare

We Change Lives

Changing lives is what we do.  Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. This success fueled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients. Helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.

 

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 

 …