BrightStar Care - February 2019

BrightStar Care - February 2019

CARING IN DuPage

FEB 2019

630.260.5300 www.brightstarcare.com/wheaton

THE JIM AND JUDY SHOW— WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

M ost everyone is familiar with what we call “The Jim and Judy Show,” but for those who aren’t, my wife and I struck out on our own to create something meaningful for our community. 2009 wasn’t exactly a booming time for the American economy, but Judy’s heart to serve and my desire to be in an honorable pursuit proved to be enough for us to not just get off the ground, but also thrive. We clung to these passions and continued to find ways to serve every step of the way through our journey. While most of you might be familiar with how we got off the ground, you might not be up to speed with where operations went from there. I remember reading an article years ago about do’s and don’ts for couples working in a business together. When your professional and personal lives are woven together so tightly, it’s easy to get overwhelmed — any advice was welcome. Essentially, the counseling boiled down to the idea that if each person had their own responsibilities outside of each other, the dynamic usually functioned well. Where breakdowns start to happen is where overlap occurs. For the most part, Judy and I were in different arms of the business, but just like all couples, sparks flew on occasion. However, when you have a woman like Judy in your life, it’s easy to work through any complications.

Judy is a little bit older than me, so when she retired, we were a bit worried about how we might replace her dedication to people. No one loves our clients like Judy

Flickinger. However, when Kelly Hahn came onboard, we

knew our clients and nurses were in good hands. Unfortunately, Kelly succumbed to illness, and in November, she

passed away. Our hearts have not been the same since this tragic loss. We continue to work forward after her passing. Some thought this would open the door for Judy to come back, but she’s found a great life in retirement. Life outside of business is actually more complicated than it was when we were working together. We used to be unified under that common platform. Our lifestyles were the same when we showed up at the office every day. Now, Judy has her activities, and I work 10–12-hour days. What keeps my head on straight during this chapter of our story comes from a devotional I read awhile back. It was through the lens of someone who wasn’t married, and it gave me perspective on how crucial it is to grow old together. I haven’t thought of myself as old until recently, but as I look at aging, I see Judy and I growing old together. We may not be together in the office, but we’re still bound to each other in life. I’m not actively looking to retire anytime soon, and as long as Judy is in my life, I don’t think I’ll need to.

—Jim Flickinger President

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630.260.5300 1

THE 5-SECOND RULE WILL MAKE YOU SICK

We live in the golden age of information. The answers to many of life’s questions are just an internet search away. Despite this readily available wisdom, we still have a bad habit of believing health-related myths. Here are three popular health “facts” that are total works of fiction.

The 5-Second Rule Keeps Food Safe

Obviously germs and bacteria don’t really wait five seconds to pounce, but snatching your chip off the floor fast keeps most of the germs away, right? Not according to a 2006 study published by Dr. Paul Dawson. He found conclusive evidence that when food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, bacteria are transferred immediately. Even one second spent on tile, wood, or carpet is enough to infest your food with salmonella or another serious contaminant. People seeking out safer water alternatives increases the sales of bottled “spring water” each year. However, bottled water is more expensive, bad for the environment, and, as Dr. Morton Tavel of the Indiana University School of Medicine pointed out, over 50 percent of bottled water is just filtered tap water. The same effect can be achieved with a home Bottled Water Is Safer Than Tap Water

3 HEALTH MYTHS YOU PROBABLY BELIEVE

Success Stories

Have You Heard the Good News?

My daughter has received services from the amazing BrightStar Care staff for the past 10 years. She requires transportation and assistance with errands in the community on a weekly basis. She has always been matched with warm and friendly caregivers she relates to as friends. She always arrives home happy and feeling independent, which is important to her. Most important to me is their ability to tailor services to my daughter's needs rather than the other way around. -Nancy Mueller

When we called Brightstar of Central Dupage, Sonia answered and listened carefully to what our needs were. She then referred us to Diane Thorson, who has since helped our family so much in medication management for our loved one. Diane even went the extra mile at one point: When our loved one became ill, Diane went out of her way to stop off at a store to pick up chicken soup, crackers, and bottled water on her way to check up on our loved one! Not only is Diane very qualified (she is an RN), she is also very reliable, caring, and has a very cheerful personality! We are very thankful to have Brightstar, and especially Diane, helping us! -Judy Wang

John 16:33— “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11— “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Philippians 4:19— “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14— “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY CARE, GIVE US A CALL AT 630-260-5300 AND SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR PROFESSIONALS.

Ephesians 4:32— Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”

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filtration system. Of course, if the tap water in your area has been contaminated, bottled water is a safer alternative. However, in most circumstances, bottled water is no healthier than tap water.

Is This The Future of Hospital Safety? ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CENTRALIZED PATIENT MONITORING

Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis

The connection between knuckle-cracking and arthritis came from studies where participants self- reported their habits. Modern medical research has shown these results to be false. The official stance from the John Hopkins Arthritis Center states, “There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints.” Still, chronic knuckle- cracking can lead to reduced grip strength, so you might want to break the habit anyway.

With an extensive amount of external stimuli for nurses — heart rate monitors, pages, sensors, patient requests, etc. — it’s easy to have something important fall through the cracks. This complication has become such an everyday reality for so many hospital workers that the term “alarm fatigue” is now a common diagnosis for many mishaps. According to reports from the Cleveland Clinic, the desensitization caused by the variety of noises is involved in 44 percent of undetected cardiac arrests. When 1 in 4 patients does not survive hospitalized cardiac arrest, the necessity for proper recognition is even more pivotal. Hospitals around the country are taking note of this epidemic and implementing a new practice that could prevent any future avoidable deaths. Centralized patient monitoring allows for dedicated viewers outside of medical locations to oversee patients in real time. Through sensors, high-definition cameras, and other advanced equipment, accurate >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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