Announcements, Community, Home Nursing, In Home Care, NDIS, Wellbeing

How A Nursing Assessment Can Support Health At Home

Posted on August 4, 2021November 22, 2023 by Nicole Cook

04
Aug

Inviting someone into a client’s home when they are unwell can be daunting. Our Empower Home Nursing team are skilled at making people feel at ease whilst prioritising their safety and quality of care during all assessments. A home nursing assessment gives the nurse an opportunity to assess the client in their own environment and tailor a specific care plan, to keep them home for longer.

Clients who benefit from home nursing assessments include:

New clients on home care packages
People with deteriorating health
Individuals managing chronic health conditions
Clients with complex care needs
Anyone who has recently returned home after a hospital admission and is struggling

Why is a nursing assessment important?

To assess all aspects of physical, mental and social wellbeing.
To identify areas in which individuals require additional support.
Establishing whether clients are safe and able to cope at home.
To assist in planning and implementing of appropriate care.
Nursing assessments allow clients to participate in their own care by engaging them in the assessment process.

The primary goal of a home nursing assessment is to manage the clients health at home for longer and avoid hospitalisation. Book an appointment now giving your client the freedom to live the life they choose to live.

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.

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

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Announcements, Dietetics, Home Nursing, In Home Care, Massage Therapy, NDIS, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry

How a Multidisciplinary Allied Health Team Can Help People Manage Diabetes

Posted on June 10, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

10
Jun

Many chronic conditions like Diabetes, require more than 1 or 2 allied health team members for good management. Diabetes is an example of a complicated condition where an assessment may reveal the need for referral to a few members of the multidisciplinary team.

Here are a some of the ways that the various professions can help people managing Diabetes.

Nurses

Nurses monitor blood sugar levels and assist with medication management. They also manage the general health of people, including the comorbidities that are common in people with Diabetes, such as high blood pressure, kidney disfunction and eye disorders.

Dietitians

A well-managed diet is a cornerstone of diabetes care. Dietitians can develop individualized meal plans that take the tastes and preferences of people into account, while ensuring that blood glucose levels remain stable.

Podiatrists

Foot care is an essential part of care for people who are struggling to manage their sugar levels. Podiatrists ensure the correct footwear, nail care and skin management of the feet to prevent ulcers and ingrown toenails.

Physiotherapists

Diabetes can result in various complications that reduce mobility and having input from a physiotherapist to promote strength, balance and endurance can improve the independence and health outcomes of people with diabetes at any stage of the disease.

Occupational Therapists

Unfortunately, some of the health consequences of diabetes can result in disability requiring relearning and reablement for some of life’s vital activities of daily living. OT’s can provide rehabilitation to improve the function of people managing some of the more serious effects of diabetes and assist with the adaptions that homes may need to make living independently at home possible and enjoyable.

Massage Therapists

Along with the benefits of relaxation and improved well-being, massage may also be useful in managing the painful neuropathies that occur in people with diabetes. Combined with the effects on circulation and stress relief, massage therapy is an important adjunct to other therapies in the management of diabetes.

If your client is not on top of their diabetes care plan, let Empower Healthcare bring together the expertise and skills of different allied health professionals to support your client in management of their complex condition.

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.

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

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

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Announcements, In Home Care, NDIS, Physiotherapy, Recruitment

InProfile with Douglas Jones, Senior Physiotherapist

Posted on June 2, 2021June 2, 2021 by Nicole Cook

02
Jun

Introducing Doug, our senior physiotherapist based in QLD. He has over 19 years of experience working across the public and private sectors, as well as specialised sectors such as defence and elite sport. He has significant experience working with the elderly and people with a disability throughout various stages of his career, including Queensland Health and various residential aged care facilities.

Having previously owned and operated a successful multi-disciplinary allied health private practice in Emerald, Central Queensland, Doug brings to Empower a strong understanding of commerce and holistic care that will greatly complement his QLD team.

Doug passionately stands by his ethos in “having fun and true engagement with each client and their families…because the better I know and understand the client, the better I can help them to achieve their goals.”

On a more personal note:

A devoted father to two boys, Lachlan (11 years) and Owen (9 years)
Loves playing football (soccer) for his club team and can talk about football for hours!
Enjoys travelling (Pre-COVID) and meeting people from different places
Curious in learning languages and having fun by surprising people by saying something in their mother-tongue when it is not expected. It’s his go-to icebreaker that makes everyone smile.

Doug delivers outstanding physiotherapy services to our clients because of HOW he brings together his skills and knowledge from previous training, work and life experiences, to connect with each person as human beings, to achieve meaningful goals.

Learn more about our mobile physiotherapy services

The Empower Difference

Changing Lives Through Exceptional Care

Extensive service offerings
Care provided by highly skilled clinicians
A team approach to delivering continuity of care
User friendly referral process
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.

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Dietetics, NDIS, Occupational Therapy

Have you considered Group Therapy?

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Nicole Cook

18
May

Attending group therapy is a great alternative or additional service for people living with a disability or chronic health condition. Therapy groups can help to combat feelings of isolation and boredom while facilitating learning and skill development.

Group Therapy programs are carefully developed to suit the needs of the participants with emphasis on learning, skill development, improved independence, and social support. The Dietitians, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who run therapy groups assess the individual needs of participants and tailor group sessions to benefit all those who attend.

Proven benefits of Group Therapy include:

Interacting with others experiencing similar circumstances enriches the learning experience.
Working and learning in a group allows the opportunity to learn from peers.
Providing a sense of support.
Improved motivation, while decreasing social isolation and depression.
Increased coping skills and mood.
Improved life satisfaction.
Effective skill development that is cost effective and convenient.

Group therapy can be utilised for cooking, activities of daily living, social skills development, exercise, and education.

This fun, social and effective way to learn and improve skills and function can be funded through the NDIS and conveniently provided by mobile therapists in many different settings from group homes, day services and community houses to retirement villages and gyms.

Call 13000 HELPU or 1300 043 578 to find out more about our programs and how to access group therapy services through Empower Healthcare.

Promoting Independence At Home and in the Community

At Empower Healthcare, we are passionate about promoting the independence and quality of life of people living, studying, and working at home and in the community.

We know that our clients have their own goals, dreams and ambitions and that achieving them is a journey that takes time and consistency, that’s why our organisation is shaped around a commitment to continuity of staff for clients. We believe that people get better outcomes when they can build strong relationships and trust with the clinicians who treat them.

Changing Lives With Exceptional Care

We understand that our clients have needs and goals that are as unique as they are. Our focus is on tailoring therapy and nursing support to suit each individual we see. We acknowledge that when choosing us, our clients expect services that place dignity, integrity, and respect at their core. We achieve this by approaching things differently – by delivering innovative, high-quality therapy solutions that constantly evolve to exceed the needs of our clients and their communities. Our service model integrates five service commitments that empower clients to improve their independence, quality of life, and ability to live, work and thrive in their own homes and communities.

Click Here for NDIS

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Announcements, Community, Home Nursing, In Home Care, NDIS, Wellbeing

The 5 types of clients who would benefit from a home nursing assessment and why

Posted on March 26, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

26
Mar

Home health care nursing services can be vital for the wellbeing of clients living at home and wanting to continue to do so. A home nursing assessment is a convenient and easy way to establish the support and medical needs for people who find attending out-patient services difficult, while providing the clinician with valuable information regarding the holistic care needs of clients seen within their unique home environments.

Clients who benefit from home nursing assessments include:

New clients on home care packages,
People with deteriorating health,
Individuals managing chronic health conditions,
Clients with complex care needs,
Anyone who has recently returned home after a hospital admission and is struggling.

Why is a nursing assessment important?

To assess all aspects of physical and social wellbeing.
To identify areas in which individuals require additional support.
Establishing whether clients are safe and able to cope at home.
To assist in planning and implementing of appropriate care.
Nursing assessments allow clients to participate in their own care by engaging them in the assessment process.

Booking a home care nursing assessment can be an important step in giving people living at home the freedom to live the lives they choose to live.

About Empower

We Change Lives

Empower Healthcare is a national allied-health service provider and partner with Home Care package providers, NDIS plan managers & Aged Care organisations to deliver life changing allied health services. We offer a full-service platform from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietetics to osteopathy, massage therapy and most recently, home nursing services and pride ourselves in the delivery of high-quality therapy solutions, value packed services and responsive ethos.

It is a very exciting time with Empower Healthcare building on the success of its Victorian operation and now expanding nationally into NSW & WA. With a growing team of 100+ clinicians, we provide over 1,500 treatments every day and service more than 100 healthcare organisations. Building on this strong foundation, we are well positioned and committed to delivering exceptional care.

Our therapists genuinely care about the people we work with and take the time to build strong relationships that holistically improve social, physical and mental wellbeing to live happier and healthier lives.

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

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Equipment, Exercise, In Home Care, Mobility, NDIS, Physiotherapy, Wellbeing

Why the Otago Exercise Programme may be right for your client

Posted on March 11, 2021December 15, 2023 by Nicole Cook

11
Mar

Physiotherapists working in community settings can improve the independence, safety and quality of life of older people living at home by implementing evidence-based exercise programmes as part of comprehensive home care.

Why the Otago Exercise Programme?

Proven 35% reduction in falls and injuries resulting from falls.
It is equally effective in men and women.
The programme improves participants’ strength and balance.
Maintains confidence in carrying out everyday activities without falling.
The programme is cost effective and easy to implement at home.

Who benefits from the programme?

Older adults who:

Have a history of a fall.
Rely on walking for independence.
Fear falling and lack the confidence to enjoy activities inside and outside the home.
Have experienced a decrease in function following illness or injury.
Notice reduced strength and balance when performing activities of daily living.

By using this programme, physiotherapists can adapt exercises to meet the unique goals of individuals with complex medical needs at most stages of reablement and walking mobility while using a proven and effective approach to exercise therapy.

“I love using the Otago Exercise Programme with my clients. It’s effective and easy to adapt to the diverse environments I work in. My clients experience increased confidence that comes from improved balance and strength and allows them to participate in their community and remain independent for as long as possible.”

Briony Watt, Physiotherapist

About Empower

We Change Lives

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

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Announcements, Equipment, Exercise, In Home Care, Mobility, NDIS, Occupational Therapy, Wellbeing

Promoting Independence at Home Through Retraining Activities of Daily Living

Posted on March 10, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

10
Mar

For people recovering from injury and surgery, or managing a chronic illness or disability at home, it is often the little things that can be the most frustrating – from hair washing to buttoning a shirt. Research has shown that Activities of Daily Living (ADL) retraining is important for improving an individuals’ sense of self identity, quality of life, and ability to live safely in their own home. Occupational therapists focus on enabling clients to participate in life activities that are important and meaningful to them.

What Are Activities of Daily Living?

ADL’s include all those basic activities we engage in to make sure that we survive and can function in society. These are the little and not so little things we all need to do to take care of ourselves, our families, and our homes. ADL’s include some of the most important skills for independence–but also some of the most challenging.

Some Activities of Daily Living include:

Grooming and hygiene
Functional mobility and getting from place to place.

ADLs could also include activities to support the various roles we play in our lives such as:

Laundry
Cooking
Writing
Using the computer
Gardening
Driving
Leisure activities are also considered activities of daily living as they are essential for quality of life.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help with Retraining in Daily Living Skills?

An at-home rehabilitation program with a skilled occupational therapist can help clients retrain in daily living skills and regain independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Some of the techniques used in occupational therapy for ADL include:

Making recommendations for changes to be made in your home and equipment needed, including shower bars, non-skid surfaces on stairs, built up cutlery and helping patients learn to use new equipment.
Individualised strength-based training using theraputty and hand therapy.
Reteaching basic movements, from getting in and out of bed to getting in and out of the shower or bath.
Working with clients on actual daily life activities to regain fine motor skills and confidence. This includes activities like opening and closing a tube of toothpaste, working on buttons and zips, stacking coins, and picking up small objects.
Doing arts, crafts, cooking and baking–both as a creative release and a fine motor skill booster.
Playing games like cards and chess that involve picking up small pieces as well as using cognitive strategies.

The main goal of retraining Daily Living Skills at home is restoring independence. Ability to complete ADLs is a predictor of safety and independence in the home. Helping clients develop the skills and confidence they need to remain at home is a goal that home care Occupational Therapists aim for every day when working in the community.

Learn More About Our Home Care Occupational Therapy Services

About Empower

We Change Lives

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

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Announcements, Dietetics, In Home Care, NDIS, Residential Aged Care, Wellbeing

Six signs that your client or resident may need a dietitian

Posted on February 11, 2021November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

11
Feb

Malnutrition is often missed in older people.

Appetite and weight tend to decrease slowly as older people who manage their own shopping, food preparation and eating reduce dietary intake without realising it. Family members and carers who see the person regularly may only begin noticing the weight loss after significant physical changes have occurred. While the causes of weight loss are complex, here are a few indicators that someone may need dietary intervention:

Unplanned weight loss in the last 3-6 months
Falling Body Mass Index (BMI)
Reduced nutritional intake
Low levels of nutrients noted during blood analysis
A history of alcohol misuse
Use of medicines including insulin, chemotherapy, antacids, or diuretics.

Dieticians specialise in improving and optimising nutrition by considering the needs and preferences of the individual. Early, practical intervention can help in maintaining general health, activity levels and independence for older people living in the community and in residential aged care.

About Empower

We Change Lives

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

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Announcements, Dietetics, In Home Care, NDIS, Residential Aged Care, Wellbeing

Six ways a dietitian can help your ageing clients

Posted on January 27, 2021February 3, 2021 by Nicole Cook

27
Jan

Malnutrition is a common cause of loss of vitality and poor health outcomes in older people.

Reduced dietary intake of essential nutrients and calories often occurs as a result of a combination of conditions and factors that can make food preparation and eating difficult and unappealing for older adults. Getting to the bottom of why someone may be developing nutrient and calorie deficits and implementing strategies to improve diet and quality of life can take time and expertise.

A dietitian can assist in the management of at-risk older people living in the community and residential aged care settings by:

1. Screening to ascertain the BMI and nutritional intake of people experiencing unwanted weight loss.- Comprehensive assessments to determine the causes of malnutrition.

2. Implementing “Food First” strategies like eating small but frequent, high energy, high protein snacks and meals.

3. Implementing nutrition support for malnourished people who are unable to maintain body weight by food intake alone.

4. Developing practical and appropriate meal plans and schedules to improve daily nutritional intake.

5. Supporting people in the community to access meal and food services that meet their individual tastes, dietary needs, and abilities.

6. Improve the quality of life of ageing clients by increasing the energy they have available to participate in social and community activities.

Diet and food preferences are personal and often sensitive matters, dieticians work with individuals to create the best personalized and enjoyable solutions for people struggling to maintain adequate nutrient intake.

Empower’s dietetic services is available across all of our service channels, residential aged care, home care and NDIS. Please click on the relevant link below to learn more.

About Empower

We Change Lives

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Community, Home Nursing, In Home Care, NDIS

Taking Time to Listen Leads to a Successful Diabetes Management Plan for Annie

Posted on December 1, 2020November 27, 2023 by Nicole Cook

01
Dec

Annie 28, lives with her family and was born with a rare genetic disorder. She loves to draw, listen to music and was very excited about her upcoming birthday. Her father Jeff is her primary carer and recently placed Annie in a Group Respite House to give himself a break from his caring role.

Annie has diabetes and requires support in managing her condition as well as insulin administration. Empower Healthcare’s Nursing Team were engaged to provide morning and evening nursing services.

On the second night of Annie’s respite care, Michelle, our Nursing Manager received a call from the staff at the respite house at 9:30pm, to advise that Annie was refusing to eat and her blood glucose levels had dropped below the acceptable limits. Unfortunately to make things more complicated, Annie was refusing to talk and so they requested a nurse to attend.

Michelle went with one goal in mind – to get Annie to eat and drink so her blood sugar levels returned to normal. “On arrival Annie was sitting at the kitchen table. I went in and sat down with her and asked her why she wasn’t eating. Anne didn’t give a reason, so I prompted her further and asked if the reason she was refusing was because she wanted to go home. Annie admitted that this was the reason why she was refusing to eat. I gently explained to her that if she didn’t eat, her blood glucose levels would drop further resulting in admission to hospital.

I sat with Annie and asked about her family and she told me about her Mum and Dad and her brothers and sisters. When I asked if she liked dogs, her face lit up and I showed her photos of my dogs and she started talking about her dog. Without realising, Annie began to eat her dinner and drink a cup of coffee.

By finding out who Annie is as a person; her interests, important personal events, food likes and dislikes, I was able to connect with her, show genuine interest through my responses to overcome her refusal to eat and identify a better approach that safely manages her diabetes.

Our Nursing Team assisted in the management of Annie’s diabetes, and provided education to carers to assist them to feel more confident to support Annie with the management of her condition.

Jeff was so impressed with how we dealt with the situation that he asked us to continue providing nursing care at Annie’s home. Annie has responded really well to Empower’s nurses and the team have built a great rapport with her.”

At Empower, we listen to our clients about the way they like to communicate. What clients say is vital as a healthcare worker. Paying attention to what the person is saying and working out what it really means, opens the door to establishing collaborative, person-centric and meaningful health goals.

Our Service Guarantee

“Our promise: We respond faster. Whether it’s our short waiting lists, same day reporting or simple referral process, you can rest assured that your client is in the best hands.”

We have listened to our clients and they don’t have the time to micro-manage their portfolio. They want to partner with someone that is reliable and dependable with transparent pricing structures.

Adam Gilroy Smith, CEO reveals, “Empower has grown by 100% over the past year based on our service model across Home Care, NDIS and Residential Aged Care. By listening to our clients and the challenges they face, we adapt, stay well positioned and respond fast to deliver exceptional care. The launch of our new service model is another example of Empower Healthcare’s ability to be agile in a rapidly changing environment.”

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

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