WGIL Interview - House Calls are Making a Comeback!
by Joel Newman
and Mandy Kubis
Listen to the WGIL Interview where Joel Newman, Director of Business Development for Western Illinois Home Health Care, and Mandy Kubis, APRN, Home Provider for Western Illinois Home Provider Care, explain Western Illinois Home Provider Care. Our home provider care services offer patient-driven, individualized medical care in the convenience of your own home.
WMOI/WRAM Interview - What is Western Illinois Home Provider Care?
by Joel Newman
and Mandy Kubis
Listen to the WMOI/WRAM Interview where Joel Newman, Director of Business Development for Western Illinois Home Health Care, and Mandy Kubis, APRN, Home Provider for Western Illinois Home Provider Care, explain Western Illinois Home Provider Care.
Western Illinois Home Health Care Announces In-Home Primary Care Division
by Joel Newman
Western Illinois Home Health Care, an independent provider of in-home care, announced today that it has hired Mandy Kubis, APRN, as its first provider to bring Direct Primary Care, transitional support and specialty services to families in West Central Illinois. The new company, Western Illinois Home Provider Care...
Make it Monmouth
by Amanda Newman
Watch our Make it Monmouth video where Amanda Newman, CEO of Western Illinois Home Health Care, describes our family owned and locally operated business..
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Being Alone With Memory Problems
by Amanda Powell
I work with a lot of families struggling to decide if a loved one is safe to be left alone in their home. This is a difficult area because elderly people with cognitive impairments often do not think they have any problem and will disagree with needing help. Families end up upsetting their loved one by suggesting they need help and many times their elderly loved one just will not allow it. So when is it time for a family to push harder or step in and make the decisions?...
Western Illinois Home Health Care Announces Amanda Newman as Chief Executive Officer
by Joel Newman
Western Illinois Home Health Care, the region’s largest independent provider of in-home care, announced today that Amanda Newman has been named the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Barb Byers, the previous Chief Executive Officer, will continue to serve as Board Chair. ...
Coping with Stress During the Pandemic
by Amanda Powell
Who would have thought we would ever be dealing with a virus pandemic in 2020? I know many of us had never imagined anything like this could happen in our lifetime. We have so much technology and sophisticated health care, yet here we are dealing with a virus that has so many risks and unknowns. We think of our elderly population as a vulnerable population already, but never has this population been collectively so vulnerable....
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Social Workers Play an Important Role in Health Care
by Amanda Powell
...Using social workers, along with the other professional healthcare team, offers a wholistic approach to the delivery of health care. It is important for patients and families to understand the importance of social work and welcome this service to help people remain independent and healthy...
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Living Your Best Life During Old Age
by Amanda Powell
For some, there is a real fear about aging. Nobody wants to be defined by their age and many are fearful about not being able to do for yourself and remain independent...
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Personality Disorders and Old Age
by Amanda Powell
Personality disorders can be complicated. Medications are not very effective because they are part of a person’s personality not necessarily an illness...
Payment Options When Looking at Long-Term, In-Home Care
by Amanda Powell
Pricing long term care can be scary. Especially when you might assume that Medicare covers specific services, only to find out it does not. It is important to be educated on all possible options...
Falls Cause High Risk for Hospitalizations and Long-Term Placements
by Amanda Powell
So many elderly people are at high risk for falls and are a leading cause of not being able to remain in your home...
Watch Out For Scams Exploiting the Elderly
by Amanda Powell
Working in the home health care field, we hear of a lot of our clients and patients receiving scam calls...
Mental Health Needs Should be Part of Your Primary Care
by Amanda Powell
There is a clear stigma with mental health related issues in our country...
Working With a Licensed Home Care Agency Protects You and Your Loved One
by Amanda Powell
It is true that a private person may charge a lower hourly rate, but there comes some risks and inconveniences with this...
Psychotropic Drugs and the Elderly
by Amanda Powell
Health care professionals see more and more prescriptions for psychotropic medications with the elderly...
Addiction Problems Among Older Adults
by Amanda Powell
According to Erik Erikson’s theory of development, an older person is faced with achieving ego integrity of despair ...
Dear Home Care Family September 2018 Letter
by Barbara Byers
Days are getting notably shorter by the week and we’re wrapping up summer activities. At Western Illinois Home Health Care, we are so blessed ...
Older Adults and Intimacy
by Amanda Powell
Intimacy is a close feeling between two people. It is not just sexual activity but emotional, social, spiritual, and physical connection. In our society ...
Senior Care Management: A Valuable Resource
by Amanda Powell
Instead of listing all the tasks I’m able to help the family with, I usually tell them that Senior Care Management is a premium service that can be tailored to meet any needs ...
Delirium, Urinary Tract Infections, and the Elderly
by Amanda Powell
I often hear families say their mom or dad suddenly got dementia or they state their loved one with dementia declined rapidly over just a couple of days...
Take Time to Reminisce
by Amanda Powell
I have talked in the past about doing meaningful activities with loved ones who have dementia. After losing my grandmother recently ...
Opioid Use in Seniors
by Amanda Powell
Many of you have probably heard all of the talk on the news about the opioid epidemic, but how many of you associate that problem with seniors? ...
Tips for Caring for a Person with Dementia
by Amanda Powell
Dementia is syndrome that is usually progressive and is caused by a variety of brain illnesses. It affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform daily tasks...
Medication Management to Remain Independent at Home
by Amanda Powell
Medication adherence is often a deciding factor to a person remaining in their home...
Malnutrition In Older Adults
by Amanda Powell
The number one concern I hear from families about their aging loved one is their nutrition...
Senior Care Management Services Can Help You and Your Loved One
by Amanda Powell
Care management for older adults is a growing trend. This service is especially helpful for out-of-town family members who are concerned about an aging loved one...
Social Isolation Increases Health Risks in Older Adults
by Amanda Powell
I frequently hear people say they’ll do everything they can to stay in their home, but they are often times lonely and struggling to keep up with day-to-day tasks...
Founder's Syndrome: When Handing Over is Hard To Do
by Amanda Powell
It can be hard for some people to give up their jobs, businesses, and hobbies due to aging...
Cost and the Growing Aging Population
by Amanda Powell
Living in rural America, it is hard to imagine overpopulation, but our world is struggling with population growth...
Western Illinois Home Health Care Welcomes Judy Lee as New Senior Care Manager
by Joel Newman
Western Illinois Home Health Care announced today that Judy Lee has joined the agency as Senior Care Manager...
Aging with Technlolgy
by Amanda Powell
As I prepare to start my online Masters in Social Work program in a few weeks, I am running into many challenges with technology. I am in my 30's and thought of myself as pretty tech savvy but now ...
Aging in Place: Making Your Home Safe and Accessible
by Amanda Powell
It is very important that risk factors in a home are looked at and reduced if a senior wants to be successful and remain safely in their home. We all know the majority of seniors have a goal to remain home ...
Moving is Stressful for Older Adults
by Amanda Powell
When you look around at your home that you have lived in for so long, would it seem overwhelming to think about packing and moving? ...
Excercise Keeps Us Happy and Healthy at Home
by Amanda Powell
We frequently see on the news how we need to exercise on a regular basis. Exercise for some people sounds too time consuming and difficult to do, but exercise is important for everyone...
Some Older Adults Ashamed for Being Old
by Amanda Powell
I work with older adults every day and it is not uncommon for me to spend time at visits trying to reassure someone that it is not their fault or they shouldn’t feel ashamed over something related to their age...
Senior Care Management: Offers Valuable Level of Care and Expertise to Familes
by Amanda Powell
I receive calls every day from older adults and their families inquiring about the types of services available in the home or the options they have in transitioning to a higher level of care...
Seniors Are in Need of Mental Health Care
by Amanda Powell
Seniors commit suicide at a higher rate than any other age group. They are facing physical health problems, sometimes memory loss, death of loved ones, loss of social interaction, loss of independence, and at times are no longer able to stay in their home...
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
by Amanda Powell
There are more and more grandparents taking on a parental role for their grandchildren. The national census shows there are 2.7 million grandparents raising grandchildren ...
Transitions from Hospital and/or Nursing Homes Back Home
by Amanda Powell
I get a lot of calls from families who have a loved one who are at a nursing home or hospital and are preparing to go home. There really is a lot to consider ...
Home Care and Veterans
by Amanda Powell
Veterans are often in need of services to help them remain independent at home. Unfortunately, the Veterans Administration system can be overwhelming and hard to navigate ...
Music is Good for Our Brain
by Amanda Powell
Have you ever heard a song and it takes you back to a time or memory in your life? Music is very powerful in remembering moments in your life, which is why it is used with people who suffer from different forms of dementia and other diseases...
Alzheimer's and the Holidays: Continuing to Make Happy Memories
by Dr. Verna Benner Carson
Do you have happy memories of the holidays? What were those memories and how did your loved one who now has Alzheimer’s play into the creation of traditions...
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Considering Hiring a Private Caregiver? Know the Risks.
by Amanda Powell
I am regularly asked why a family should go with our agency rather than hire a private worker. “It would be a lot cheaper” is a common concern...
Lonliness and Isolation: A Real Problem for Seniors
by Amanda Powell
We take for granted how busy and full of life our young lives are. Even in small rural areas such as ours, our lives are busy as we raise children and go to work. As we get older life slows down...
Anxiety Later in Life
by Amanda Powell
Anxiety might be the most frustrating illness I see in the older adults because it is so hard to explain anxiety and why people have it. I have met people who have ...
Caregiving is a Man's Job, Too
by Amanda Powell
I am lucky that I get to meet people and families every day in my career and see how they function after caregiving challenges arise...
Planning Your In-Home, Long-Term Needs
by Amanda Powell
I talk to people regularly about the misconception that Medicare covers long-term care at home...
Avoid Predatory Scams with These Helpful Tips
by Amanda Powell
Our elderly population is extremely vulnerable to being taken advantage of. I am in the homes of clients regularly and across the board seniors complain to me about the mail they get that they do not understand and about phone calls they receive...
Agression and Alzheimer's Disease
by Amanda Powell
Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes behaviors that may make it difficult for caregivers to continue to provide care at home. I often meet with families who are overwhelmed and aren’t sure ...
Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's Disease and How to Handle Incontinence
by Amanda Powell
Incontinence is a difficult battle for a caregiver, and especially when the person they are caring for suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. This area of care is sensitive, and can be very frustrating for a caregiver...
Bath Time Struggles with Those Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
by Amanda Powell
Most of the caregivers that I meet with who care for a person with Alzheimer’s are dealing with a difficult behavior, and bathing is an activity which can be a struggle...
Getting to Know Your Medicare Benefits
by Amanda Powell
Open enrollment for Medicare is going on now through December 7th, 2014. This is an important time of year for Medicare beneficiaries. It is the time of year that you have the chance to make changes ...
Pain in Older Adults
by Amanda Powell
Older adults that I see are often in pain, and it is alarming to me how many wouldn’t mention it unless directly asked, “do you have pain?”...
Addressing Advanced Directives and End of Life Decisions with Family
by Amanda Powell
It is never easy for a family when they are faced with end of life decisions...
Seniors Dealing with the Loss of Loved Ones
by Amanda Powell
In my work with seniors, I frequently hear “all of my friends are dying” or “all of my family has passed away.” The seniors I work with have often suffered loss of parents, siblings, friends, spouses, and sometimes children...
Planning for the Future
by Amanda Powell
Life is full of decisions. I always tell the seniors that I work with that the decisions they are faced with now are some of the toughest ones they have ever had to make...
Western Illinois Home Health Care Announces Expanded Services to Help Keep Seniors Safe in their Homes
by Joel Newman
Western Illinois Home Health Care (WIHHC), Western Illinois’s largest independent home health agency, announced today a new partnership with Healthcom, Inc. ...
Turning in the Car Keys
by Amanda Powell
Driving is a privilege that we sometimes take for granted. We just jump in our car and go, not thinking about how disruptive it would be to our busy lives if we were not able to drive...
Home Health Care Can Avoid Costly Hospitalizations
by Amanda Powell
I meet with older adults and their families regularly. Most everyone I meet wants to remain in their home as long as possible, and everyone I meet with wants to avoid a hospitalization or a readmission to the hospital...
Home Care Family February 2014 Letter
by Barbara Byers
This winter has been a surprise of challenges with the continuous snow and frigid temperatures. I never thought that our staff may have needed snowmobiles to make their visits. The staff continues to amaze me ...
Falls Undermine Independence
by Amanda Powell
According to the CDC, each year one in every three adults age 65 and older fall. This creates a wide range of injuries, including hip fractures, head traumas and an increased risk of early death...
How to Deal with a Parent or Loved One that Refuses Needed Support
by Amanda Powell
Practically every day I talk with a person or family who is trying to get their loved one to accept help...
There Really is no Place Like Home
by Amanda Powell
Seniors are often faced with making a decision about the level of care they need and whether or not they can stay in their home. If they are not able to make this decision, the family is often faced ...
Importance of Socialization for Seniors
by Amanda Powell
Human beings are social by nature. We rely on parents as infants and children to provide love, support and even human touch. As adults we need a shoulder to lean on – someone to laugh with and talk to. Even a pat on the back, hug, or touch of the hand can make all the difference...
Caring Strategies for Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
by Amanda Powell
I have had the opportunity to work with many families over the years who are caring for a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or a cognition related disease...
Home Care Family November 2013 Letter
by Barbara Byers
I sat down to write this and realized the holiday season is here! My grandson told me it is here because it is getting colder. I wished at the moment that life was that simple and easy to manage...
Medications and the Elderly
by Amanda Powell
Medicinal science is the wave of the future. Today there seems to be a medication for anything. As we age...
Home Care Family October 2013 Letter
by Barbara Byers
I have a lot of information to share with you this time of year and want to focus this letter on recent developments at our agency...
How to Choose a Home Health Care Agency
by Joel Newman
Aging in place is becoming one of the fastest growing trends in long-term care. While institutionalized care may provide a viable option for many seniors, receiving convenient care in the comfort of their own home is becoming the preferred way to provide services to seniors...
Safety and Accessibility are Essential for Seniors Wanting to Remain at Home
by Amanda Powell
Falls are the number one cause of accidents in people over the age of 65. Falls are also the main cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths in older people...
Caregiving and Stress: How is it Affecting Your Life?
by Amanda Powell
So many people are now caring for an aging loved one. People want to stay in their own home and in their communities, which leads to families and or spouses providing care to prevent institutionalization...
Home Care Family August 2013 Letter
by Barbara Byers
I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer! As I write this letter on the first day of August, it is a reminder to me that our summer is passing and we will be entering a new season of daily experiences and challenges...
Senior Care Management Offers Peace of Mind to Loved Ones
by Amanda Powell
Senior Care Management is a new and growing need across America, primarily due to the dramatic increase in the aging population...
Home Care Family July 2013 Letter
by Barbara Byers
It is hard to believe we are in the middle of summer. We feel so blessed when the warm sunshine and breezes make for a perfect day outdoors. It is the time of year our staff ...
Home Care 101: What You Need to Know About the Fastest Growing Segment in Medical Care
by Joel Newman
When Western Illinois Home Health Care opened its doors over 30 years ago, discharging patients from the hospital with home health care was an afterthought on the road to recovery...
Home Care Family May 2013 Letter
by Barbara Byers
We have entered another season after awaiting the joy of spring warmth and beauty. Easter came early this year, which seemed to extend our wait and anticipation of relief after a long winter. Some of my gifts of joy over this period have been ...
Why Home Care Can Lead the Charge in Chronic Care Management
by Joel Newman
You’ve all heard the story. An elderly man with chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure and COPD goes into the hospital due to a recent flare up with congestive heart failure. He returns home after his stay with new medications – upping his total number of medications to 15...
Agency Progress Edition 2013
by Joel Newman
When Ron and Barb Byers founded Western Illinois Home Health Care in 1981, home care was a new field within the health care spectrum in the United States and unknown to most people in West Central Illinois...
Western Illinois Home Health Care Rolls Out New Chronic Care Model
by Joel Newman
Western Illinois Home Health Care is implementing a new care model to better address patients who struggle with chronic conditions that often diminish their quality of life...
Home Care Family February 2013 Letter
by Barbara Byers
It is hard to imagine time has flown by and it is already 2013. Time is precious and we see that so vividly when we look at our grandchildren and wonder how fast they change. In our own lives, we try to get ahead of time to be prepared for the next event...
Transitions from Hospital to Home
by Joel Newman
Being discharged from the hospital after a stay can sometimes be a stressful endeavor for both the patient and family members...
Powell Joins Our Team
by Joel Newman
Amanda Powell has joined Western Illinois Managed Home Services as their new Senior Care Manager. In this role, Powell will be charged with providing clients with a comprehensive care plan to match the specific needs of individual seniors within the service territory...
Home Health Care Executives Attend Leadership Conference
by Joel Newman
Barb Byers, CEO/President and Alice Stenander, Director of Client Services of Western Illinois Home Health Care recently attended the National Private Duty Association’s annual Leadership Conference...