Keeping Our Clients Safe!

Covid-19 has taken loved ones from so many families, including our own. Kim's mother, Elizabeth, succumbed to pneumonia due to Covid-19 this spring. We fully appreciate the heartbreak and helplessness families feel when fighting an unseen, very deadly enemy. Flourish in Place takes the safety of our clients and our staff very seriously, with our nurse administrator, Shaina, taking the lead in ensuring compliance of all safety measures and training for our caregivers.

Be safe, and keep your distance!

Kim and Melanie Lee

Flourish in Place is committed to the protection of clients in the home care setting from the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are monitoring the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (ACA), and local public health departments. We are monitoring the health status of everyone, including clients, household members, and all our HHAs, CNAs, and Flourish staff for signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Prompt detection, triage, and isolation of potentially infectious people is essential.

Every Flourish employee is instructed to help us identify patients at risk for having COVID-19. The night before or morning of each shift, the caregiver asks the client by phone (or upon arrival if unable to reach them by phone) the following questions pertaining to the client and all members of their household:

1. Do you think you have a fever?

2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?

3. Do you have a new or worsening shortness of breath?

4. Do you have flu like symptoms such as body aches?

5. Have you traveled in the last 2 weeks?

6. Have you had close contact with someone who has traveled and who is sick or who has been confirmed to have the coronavirus?

If they answer, "yes," to any of these questions, the caregivers report to the office and do not proceed with their shifts until receiving further instructions.

Our caregivers strictly follow the training they received as HHAs and CNAs regarding infection control, especially concerning hand washing and the use of gloves for personal care.

If the caregivers themselves answer positively to any of these questions, they know to inform our office at once. They are not permitted to proceed with their shifts until they are cleared by Flourish management staff.

We are so grateful for all of our caregivers! Their health care services are especially important at this time.

We are excited to introduce you to our Caregiver of the Month for July, Daniela Acevedo! Dani was born in New York but left the country at age 3 and grew up in Columbia. Now 30, Dani returned to this country 7 years ago and soon became certified as a Home Health Aide. She’s been working in this field ever since because, according to Dani, “I just love taking care of older people. They need a lot of love, and it's a great feeling when you can help them.”

Dani has continued to do her essential work throughout the pandemic time, although of course she considers the Coronavirus to be “scary.” She faithfully follows Flourish’s COVID-19 training: wearing masks and gloves, asking herself and her client the 6 pre-qualifying questions, and making sure she gets the right answers before starting each shift.

Dani has cared for many of Flourish’s wonderful clients. She was especially fond of Kathy, who died just two months ago. Kathy and her family so loved and appreciated the care that Dani provided, allowing Kathy to be at home with her family when she passed away, rather than in a hospital.

Dani is still a newlywed. She married her husband Michael, a software engineer, in December 2019. Dani likes taking care of young people, too. She hopes she will be a mom someday soon. For now, in her free time, Dani loves to read books and magazines (in both English and Spanish), and she loves watching movies. She also likes a variety of sports, and she loves doing Zumba, which combines exercise and Latin dancing.

Dani has worked for other agencies as well as Flourish in Place, but she says Flourish is her favorite. “Flourish appreciates their employees and takes care of them. The company is also more organized and efficient than some other agencies.” We are so excited to have Dani as part of the Flourish team!

Michele Blackmon brings 20 years of experience and a diverse background in Senior Care to Flourish in Place. Michele was born and raised in Long Island, New York, and moved to Winter Park, Florida, with her family in the 80’s. She graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. degree in Journalism/minor in Social Work and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to work for a newspaper. Unfortunately, her father became terminally ill, and she moved back to Winter Park.

Michele used her social work background and began a long career in helping people. She first worked for several years for the state of Florida, as a public assistance specialist and protective counselor for DCF, but later she found her calling and career in elder care. She worked 10 years as a Case Manager for Community Care for the Elderly, where she was certified as DCF Elder Abuse and Alzheimer’s Training. She later worked at Orlando Regional Medical Center as discharge planner and then as a marketer for local Guardian.

In 2014, she used her senior knowledge as senior care specialist for a home health agency. Her passion is to help seniors and their families through this transition on their life journey. Michele is active in her church activities and enjoys walking and swimming. She is an avid fan of American Idol.

Gloria Reid comes to Flourish with several years of experience as a home care coordinator for a large agency in Queens, NY, called Infiniti Home Care Agency. She has a delightful personality and possesses excellent interpersonal communication skills. Gloria is a U.S. Citizen who was born and raised in Uzbekistan, where she earned a Masters Degree in Nuclear Physics! In addition, Gloria speaks 6 languages fluently: English, Russian, Uzbek, Tajik, Farsi, and Turkish.

Gloria worked in Samarkand, Uzbekistan School System for 14 years, first as a science teacher. She served in increasingly responsible positions moving up to Vice Principal and, finally, Principal. Previously, she worked at the Brunetti International Language School, MO, as an interpreter from English to Russion, Tajik, Farsi, and Turkush.

Gloria provided extensive language services for medical and social service providers for their clients. She actively combined her background in many languages with English to assist both service providers and service recipients.

Shaina Lee, R.N., brings12 years of nursing experience to the Flourish in Place family. She was born in New York and raised in Florida. Her career in nursing started as a licensed practical nurse, which is when she gained experience in skilled nursing facilities and an orthopedic rehab center. She later advanced her education, completing an associate of science degree at Seminole State College of Florida.

As a registered nurse, Shaina began her journey in home health care and took great interest with providing one-on-one care to patients in the comfort of their own homes, while developing rewarding patient relationships. She held positions as a case manager and director of nursing for a medicare/medicaid certified home health care agency. In addition, she brings diverse experience as a clinical documentation auditor and nurse-aide evaluator for Prometric testing center, Florida. Her passion for the well-being of people and her community extends beyond the care for her two children and family. Shaina enjoys cooking, trying different cuisines, and in her spare time, getting crafty with candle making.

Last month, the staff management team held a weekly meeting outside, to enjoy seeing everyone in person but yet keep a safe distance.

From left clockwise: Betty Alter, Gloria Reid, Sue Bouder, Kim Lee, Shaina Lee, Michele Blackmon

We are so excited to tell you that we now have Dental and Vision Insurance available through Colonial Life for all eligible employees!

During the COVID-19 pandemic , many families have not been able to visit their loved ones in person for months. The following article gives some tips for spotting elder abuse, even from a distance.