Posts Tagged ‘caring for special needs kids at home’

1•2•3 Infection Free! IV Catheter Care Program

Friday, September 9th, 2011

We know that caring for a child with an IV in your home can be a daunting process. There’s always that fear of infection in the back of your mind. To help quell some of those fears PHS has created a program called 1•2•3 Infection Free!, the program walks you step-by-step through the process of keeping your child infection free each time you administer an infusion.

Watch the video below as PHS Infusion Nurse Susan Fitzsimmons, RN, CPN, BSN walks through the various components in the PHS 123 Infection Free Kit.

Infection is a risk every child with an IV catheter faces.

PHS created a new program to help you prevent dangerous IV catheter infections at home. The program
is called 1•2•3 Infection Free! and its materials explain:

  • Actions to take each and every time you or any caregiver works with your child’s IV catheter
  • Warning signs for infection at the IV catheter site or in the blood stream
  • Whom to contact if your child shows signs of infection

Materials included in the kit are:

  • Infection Prevention Methods Poster
    • An easy reminder of the most important steps for preventing an IV infection, with pictures on one side
      and more detailed information on the other side
  • My Child’s IV Catheter Care Log
    • A list of infection warning signs for which to check every day and a guide for whom to contact about
      different warning signs. Call us when you need more copies.
  • Emergency Information
    • A card to hang near your child’s bed or on the refrigerator with infection warning signs and the phone
      numbers of whom to contact
  • Badge
    • A list of infection warning signs and contacts that is a perfect size for purse, pocket, diaper bag or
      emergency kit

    Have you used 1•2•3 Infection Free! Does it help you to remember the steps and keep your child infection free? We’d love to hear your feedback on the program.

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Posted in Home health care tips from experts | View Comments

Hope is a powerful medicine

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Philanthropy has been part of the PHS culture since we opened our doors for business in 1990. Since formalizing our giving and volunteering by introducing the Sharing Care program, PHS has formed several valuable partnerships that serve as fantastic resources to our patients and their families.

PHS staff participating and volunteering at HopeKids Annual Suburban Adventure Fundraiser Walk/Run. For more information on the fundraiser and how you can help out visit their website @ www.hopekids.org

Having a chronic illness not only impacts the child with the condition but also the entire family. HopeKids understands this challenge and strives to support these families with the message that hope can be the most powerful medicine of all. HopeKids events provides kids and parents with the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. That invaluable connection helps families feel as though they’re not alone.

HopeKids provides ongoing events & activities and a powerful, unique support community for children with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions free of charge for the whole family. With events such as go-cart racing, football clinics with the University of Minnesota Gopher football team, private movie screenings, twins games and not to mention their annual HopeDay festival that, this year, included a petting zoo, BMX biker shows, super heroes, basketball and kickball games, a dunk-tank and inflatable bouncers, there is no shortage of fun or hope for these children, their siblings and parents.

To learn more about the amazing mission of HopeKids watch this video: HopeKids. Restoring Hope. Transforming Lives.

Each spring PHS employees visit Faith’s Lodge to help clean up the grounds around the lodge and spring clean to prepare for new guests

Living with and caring for a medically-fragile child can be exhausting and dealing with the loss of a child is a heartbreaking experience that takes time, strength, support and hope to continue moving forward; for those times when you’re feeling your weakest, there is Faith’s Lodge. Faith’s Lodge provides a retreat where parents and families facing the serious illness or death of a child can retreat to reflect on the past, renew strength for the present, and build hope for the future.

Faith’s Lodge offers families a place to reflect and regroup and hopefully leave with more hope and energy than when they arrived.  While at Faith’s Lodge families have the opportunity to spend time and connect with other parents who are in a similar situation, giving you a feeling of support and understanding.

Visit their website to learn more about the amenities and the process for applying to stay at Faith’s Lodge. With a suggested donation of only $25.00 per night, Faith’s Lodge is truly a resource to families when they are in need of a break, a getaway, support from someone who understands their situation or just some time to renew their spirit.

Coming up on September 25th is Hope Rocks, an annual event benefiting Faith’s Lodge. PHS is proud to support Faith’s Lodge as a sponsor for the second year. If you are interested in sponsoring or purchasing tickets to the event please visit the Hope Rocks website.

To learn more about how Faith’s Lodge impacts the lives of those who stay watch this video: Faith’s Lodge. A place where hope grows (warning, it’s a tear-jerker)

Have either of these organizations touched your lives? We’d love to hear your story or see photos from events you’ve attended.

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Posted in Help for parents caring for sick kids | View Comments

Living in harmony with your kids’ special needs helpers at home

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

When children with special medical needs come home from the hospital, they don’t come alone.

In addition to equipment and supplies, your kid’s special needs typically require the services of a variety of medical staff, including nurses who may be coming and going, or even in the home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

That may take some getting used to.

Here are some tips from PHS staff and parents on how to live in harmony.

Communicate expectations
Make sure nurses understand what you expect of them. Decide on boundaries early on and keep communicating (things like where nurses should park their vehicles, can they use the refrigerator or should they bring lunch in a cooler, can they use kitchen appliances, or a separate bathroom). If something isn’t working, make changes so the family can maintain some level of privacy.

Take notes on kids special needs
Try using a “Communications Book.” You and the nurses write comments in the notebook throughout the day and are able to communicate through notes left in the book. As nurses change shifts, they read through the book to see how the child is doing that day or if anything has changed since they were last in the home. This keeps everybody on the same page.

Parents can also use the book to communicate an otherwise uncomfortable situation (for example, if one nurse is bad at cleaning up, the parent can write a note asking all nurses to please be better about cleaning up after themselves. That way, the parent doesn’t have to call out a specific person, but rather lets all nurses know they need to be careful and conscientious when they are in someone else’s home).

Make a list
Give the nurses a list of “need to know” situations, such if you wished to be awakened for fever or other signs or symptoms of an impending illness during the night or when to be called during the day.

Don’t let things fester
Address any concerns before they jeopardize your relationship. This is where a communications book comes in very handy, but if you are uncomfortable directly or indirectly confronting a nurse over a certain issue, talk to her/his supervisor.

Understand that personalities may clash. You may be able to overlook that, but if there is a nurse in your home you know will not work with your family, ask the nursing agency for a replacement.

Help the nurses help you
Don’t expect the nurses to know everything about your child. You are the expert; orient them as much as you can and let them be helpful to you.

How do you cope?
How does your family deal with having extra people in your home? Can you share any tips on how to maintain privacy and normalcy?

We’d love to hear from you.

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Posted in Independent living with in-home health care | View Comments