Sun Health at Home supports a member before and after surgery, and year-round

By Meghann Finn Sepulveda

While many people were baking pies and brining turkeys on the day before Thanksgiving, Jacqueline Sorad was at home experiencing severe abdominal pain. The Sun Health at Home member called the 24/7 Member Line and was quickly connected to a wellness coordinator who recommended she go to the emergency room.

The Sun Health at Home team quickly mobilized, communicating and collaborating with nurses and physicians to ensure Jacqueline received the care she needed, not only at the hospital but also at home.

Coordinated care

At the local hospital, Jacqueline underwent a series of tests to determine the cause of her pain. She was accompanied by Jennifer Keiser, wellness coordinator, who met Jacqueline in the emergency room.

“I was able to speak to the nurse and reassure Jacqueline that I would help her navigate the system,” Jennifer, who is also a social worker, says.

Jennifer assisted with the registration and admittance process, provided Jacqueline’s medication list to hospital personnel and reached out to her emergency contacts to alert them of the situation. She also called a friend to check on Jacqueline’s cat at home.

Test results indicated that Jacqueline urgently needed surgery to remove her gallbladder.

Personalized support

Following the procedure and throughout the night, Jennifer received updates from the nurses taking care of Jacqueline. A few days later when Jacqueline was discharged from the hospital, Sun Health at Home arranged for her transportation home. Jennifer says. “Once she was settled at home, we discussed the need for a caregiver, reviewed the new medication and made a grocery list.”

Jennifer went to the supermarket and picked up a few items. She also contacted The Colonnade, Sun Health’s nearby Life Care community, and ordered some meals to go, which were picked up and delivered to Jacqueline. Nurses from the Sun Health Care Transitions program, another community wellness program offered by Sun Health, also supported Jacqueline after her discharge. (For more about this program, see the article on page 4.)

As a widow who lost her husband seven years ago, Jacqueline appreciated the help and coordination of services.

“When you are alone, you want and need support,” she says. “It’s comforting.”

Reassurance for Independence

“It was an all-encompassing experience, not only when I needed help in the hospital, but also when I came home,” she says.

Following her recovery, Jacqueline recognized this was an opportunity to take steps toward maintaining her overall health. She turned to Jennifer once again, who helped her register for Sun Health’s eight-week Matter of Balance class, designed to teach strategies to reduce falls and the fear of falling while increasing activity levels among older adults.

Commitment to Aging in Place

Sun Health at Home is dedicated to offering highly personalized support and coordinated services designed to allow seniors to remain in their homes, safely and confidently, as they get older.

While the program focuses on health, wellness and sustaining a member’s lifestyle in the comfort of his or her own home, it also provides members with support and services in emergency situations.

People like Jacqueline, who are age 55 and older, living independently and in reasonably good health, can apply for a Sun Health at Home membership, which includes a one-time investment and a monthly fee based on age and the membership option chosen.

Joining Sun Health at Home gives Jacqueline a support system that’s close at hand if she needs it.

“I chose the program because I want to be able to stay in my house , even as I age and my needs change,” she says.

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Join us for a Discovery Seminar to learn more about Sun Health at Home

Events are held at the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing, 14719 W. Grand Ave., in Surprise, unless noted otherwise.

• Tuesday, April 4 at 10 a.m. 
• Monday, April 10 at 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 19 at 1 p.m.
  Palm Valley Community Center,
  14145 Palm Valley Blvd., Goodyear
  
• Thursday, April 20 at 1 p.m.
• Thursday, April 27 at 2 p.m.