SPRING 2015

Surrounding

You With the

Care You Need to

Remain at Home

George Smith is the comeback kid around PACE, much to the delight of his family, friends and caregivers.

“He’s had a remarkable turn around,”

said his sister, Shirley. “We didn’t expect him to live. Dr. VanO has been a great doctor for him,” Shirley said of Dr. Keith VanOosterhout, medical director at PACE. (continued on p.2)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE PACE CAN MAKE!

PACE Executive Director Therese Saggau

(left) with Carol and Bud Hatfield.

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD CONGRATS TO THE PACE TEAM!

“I know that PACE stands for Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly, but at our home PACE stands for Prayers Answered Con-tinuously Every Day,” Carol Hatfield said. She expressed that appreciation in nominating PACE for the Excellence in Customer Service Award. PACE was chosen to receive the award from the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce.

“PACE has achieved the perfect balance of an efficient, professional organization com-bined with a personal and compassionate ap-proach second to none,” Carol added. “Our family and our entire community are truly blessed that they are here.” “The award was given to the entire PACE team for going above and beyond while serving our participants,” said PACE Executive Director

Therese Saggau. “It is the goal of PACE employ-ees to provide award winning service and care to PACE participants every day.”

Dr. Keith VanOosterhout has received the

Anthony V. DeVito II Memorial Award through the University of Michigan Geriatrics Center and Institute of Gerontology. The award recog-nizes outstanding service to geriatrics education in Michigan communities. Dr. VanO works with medical students at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University. He started a geriatric focus as part of the Medical Residency program at Lakeland Health. His humanitarian spirit has prompted several trips abroad to educate international communi-ties on geriatric care in Ecuador, Kenya, and Kosovo. (continued on p.2)

GERIATRICS SERVICE AWARD CONGRATS DR. VANO!

George leads exercises at PACE.

“We got him to sit up and do exercises on the edge of the bed,” she said. Sindy and Carrie en-couraged George to resume attendance at PACE. “As he improved he became less and less depend-ent on others to help him. “Dr. VanO worked miracles with George’s medical care,” Sindy said. “He was able to get George’s systems functioning normally again with medication management—and the grace of God.” “I was in a wheelchair for almost a year,” George says. “Carrie and them got me walking. Pretty soon I graduated. Don’t need a wheelchair.” Within weeks of walking on his own, George’s strength increased to the point of being able to join in the standing group exercise sessions at PACE. “He’s done so well that now he leads the group,” Carrie said. “We’ll say: ‘OK, George. What’s next?’ He knows the routine,” and bellows instructions for the next step! In January, George moved into an adult foster care home in New Buffalo. Born in Union Pier, George is a longtime resident of New Buffalo, where his face is one of the most familiar in town. Before his illness, he often sat outside on his lawn chair waving at the passersby. George’s outgoing manner and his fine singing voice are also well known at St. Mary’s Church in New Buffalo. “He is an icon of New Buffalo,” said his sister, Shirley. “Everyone knows him.”

When George first came to PACE in February 2014 he required maximum assistance for his care. At least two aides were needed to assist with his activities of daily living and transfers, recalls Sindy, PACE occupational therapist. Before enrolling in PACE, George did not have adequate medical care, according to Dr. VanO. “He was experiencing heart failure, his wound care was not consistently maintained, and medications were not taken appropriately.” By spring his condition was grave and George began to receive hospice care. When his unex-pected improvement occurred he was transferred to Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. George’s recovery is “a testimony to coordina-tion of care between PACE and two partners — Lakeland Health and Hospice at Home,” said Dr. VanO. “Thanks to PACE, two hospital stays and the Hanson Hospice Center, we were able to fo-cus his care, relieving his symptoms of distress. By relieving his physical stress, his body was able to compensate and partially correct his medical illness.” “It really was a team effort, including the PACE therapy services,” said Dr. VanO. When PACE staff members first visited George at Pine Ridge he was not able to roll over or sit up in bed without help, recalls Carrie, physical therapist.

GEORGE’S GREAT TURN-AROUND (continued from p.1)

In 2012, after years of working on the planning of PACE of Southwest Michigan, Dr. VanO became its founding Medical Director. “We are very fortunate to have Dr. VanO as our Medical Director,” said Therese Saggau, Executive Director at PACE. “His geriatric expertise and commitment to geriatric care has been a tremendous benefit to PACE participants and to the PACE program overall.”

CONGRATULATIONS, DR. VAN OOSTERHOUT! (continued from p.1) “Dr. VanO” is known for his quiet yet visionary leadership. He has cared for the aging population of Berrien County for 33

years. For more than 20 years he has held leadership roles in the aging services field. Formerly, he managed the Lakeland Specialty Hospital and two long-term care facilities. Dr. VanO also worked to establish the area’s first Hospice program, a ser-vice to which he remains

committed. Dr. Keith VanOosterhout with

a PACE participant

WHEN TO CALL ▪ WHO TO CALL

Non-Emergency issues- call PACE at 269-408-4322 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for: Incontinence supply refills, nausea for more than 24 hours, decreased appetite, mild pain, rash or skin tears, injury without bleeding, no bowel movement in over 3 days, suspected abuse or neglect.

Urgent issues- call PACE day or night at 269-408-4322 for the following: sudden onset of severe pain, shortness of breath, increased confusion, throwing up or loose stools, low blood sugar (less than 80), high blood sugar (more than 350), falls with or without injury, fever of 101 degrees or more, new bleeding of any type, or if your caregiver did not show up for their evening shift.

Emergencies- call 911, then notify PACE at 269-408-4322 for the following: crushing chest pain, passing out, black out or seizure; fall with an obvious broken bone; sudden onset of numbness or weakness of the face arm or leg especially on one side of your body or combined with slurred speech; sudden severe headache associated with a change in vision.

FOR NON-EMERGENCY ISSUES, CALL PACE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.

Time Slips is a new storytelling activity at PACE. It can be adapted to each participants’ recreational level. Some participants look at a pic-ture and then write a story about what it brings to mind. They can discuss the picture in small groups and together make up a story about what they see. Time Slips is also an opportunity for reminiscing. Participants can share past personal experiences that are related to the picture. Time Slips benefits each participant in individual ways as they express their creativity and connect with oth-ers.

Lindsey, PACE Activity Coordinator, leads a

group of participants in a new activity called

“TimeSlips.”

PACE ADDS AN ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR

WELCOME, LINDSEY! 2014 FIELD

TRIPS

We went

bowling,

had a picnic at

Riverside Park

and

went to the

country for

harvest

time!

PACE OUT & ABOUT