This blog post is co-written by Riva Horenstein, RN, Assistant Director of Intake Assessment at CenterLight Teamcare.
Through an innovative, team-based approach, CenterLight Teamcare provides all-inclusive healthcare and services to our participants, both at home and in our centers. “All-Inclusive Care for Hormonal Health” is the first part of a series outlining how the CenterLight Teamcare Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) helps manage and treat a full range of health issues that impact older adults and their families. This highly personalized care helps keep our participants living safely at home and in their communities.
About Hormonal Health
The body’s endocrine system regulates and controls various bodily functions by producing and secreting hormones, such as growth hormones, insulin, to regulate blood sugar levels and melatonin to regulate sleep. As we age, these hormone levels may not work in the same way, leading to health issues. Hormonal disorders include:
Chronic Kidney Disease
Diabetes
Hypo / Hyperthyroidism
Renal Failure
Dialysis
A Team to support hormonal Health
At CenterLight, participants with hormonal disorders get all the treatment, supplies and other services they need as determined by a full team of professionals made up of members of the Teamcare Interdisciplinary Team and in-network specialists including, but not limited to, the following:
Doctors
Nurses
Social Workers
Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides
Rehabilitation Therapists
Psychologists
Dieticians
Endocrinologists
SERVICES TO SUPPORT ENDOCRINE HEALTH
The team coordinates and manages programs, activities and treatment for our participants and helps monitor their hormonal health, maintain desired levels and keep disorders in check. These include:
AT THE TEAMCARE DAY HEALTH CENTER
Individualized meal plan which may consist of low sugar, high fiber meals and snacks served at the center for participants with diabetes, or a low sodium diet for those with renal failure.
Support groups or workshops and nutrition counseling with a registered dietician on what foods will most help our participants manage their condition and maintain nutrients and energy to promote a healthy hormonal level.
Our rehabilitation team works with participants to make sure they get physical exercise, offers walking groups and coordinates other activities that promote movement. Participants also have access to an open gym, where they can have unlimited use of rehabilitation equipment under the supervision of our physical and occupational therapists.
Exercise is important for hormonal health not just for the maintenance of an ideal body weight. It has also been proven to help reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.*
Medical management, including monitoring of blood sugar and thyroid function.
The Interdisciplinary Team helps with the administration of medications, including diabetes medications and those needed to maintain hormonal balance.
For participants with chronic kidney disease, the team works with the dialysis center.
AT HOME
Exercise programs that participants can do in the comfort of their own home, personalized according to their care plan. For participants who are not able to come to the center on a regular basis, Teamcare rehabilitation therapists make home visits to ensure they are getting the exercise they need to manage and feel better from any endocrine conditions.
Assistance provided by the Home Health Aide, Personal Care Worker, or by their family member/loved one supervised by Teamcare through Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS).
Educational materials to help participants learn how to control and manage any endocrine disorders, and monitoring devices such as a glucose monitor.
Clinician home visits and regular follow up.
Meal planning to help participants and their caregivers follow an ideal diet. The Teamcare staff provides continuous support, education and counseling.
Transportation to and from doctor appointments.
H3329_2019_BLOGEndocrine Approved 09112019
Last updated July 8, 2019
About the Writer
Riva Horenstein has been working at CenterLight for 3 years!