Capital Caring Health

Celebrating History – Making Women, A Hero in the Labor Movement, and Holidays both Solemn and Joyous

Katie Tran-Lam — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 21:41:03 +0000

March comes roaring in with a month-long recognition of the remarkable women who have influenced the development of America and ends with a national day dedicated to the modest folk hero who brought dignity and fairness to farm workers. Scattered throughout the month are religious observations such as Ramadan, the most solemn of Muslim holidays; Purim, the Jewish holiday following The Fast of Esther; and Holi, also a joyous festival featuring family and friends, food, and fun!

March is National Women’s History Month and comes with its own long history. It took 76 years from the establishment of International Women’s Day on March 8, 1911, to the 1987 Congressional declaration of March as Women’s History Month. Now an annual national observance, March is an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about how women have shaped the country—from leading voting rights movements, to winning many Nobel Prizes for scientific and medical breakthroughs, to contributing to American culture and society.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” recognizes women as the keepers of history, tradition, and family lore, preserving history while also promoting our understanding of, and connection to, others. Through the Smithsonian’s “Because of HER Story,” you can explore the role of women in activism, health, science, and innovation here. With a separate theme to embrace equity, explore 21 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 here.

Purim, one of the most joyous and festive holidays in Judaism, begins this year on March 7. The holiday marks the incredible 5^th century BC defeat of Persian rulers who had secretly plotted to kill all the Jews in the empire. Queen Esther—wife of the Persian Emperor and, unbeknownst to all, a Jew herself—found out about the plan and informed her husband of the treachery, and of her true ancestry. The king forgave Esther and gave the Jews permission to defend themselves, turning the tables on their enemies. Today, many observant Jews acknowledge the holiday by reading the “scroll” (i.e., the Book of Esther) at their synagogue.

On a more secular note, the story of Purim today is also celebrated through skits, sometimes with humorous or pop culture themes, costume parties and masks, carnivals, and parades. Sharing and caring for others are also central to the holiday, with baskets of food and drink exchanged among friends and neighbors, and gifts of food or money made to the poor so they may celebrate, as well.

For information about the meaning of Purim, how it is celebrated today, and more, click here.

Holi, or the Festival of Colors, is celebrated on March 8, marking the arrival of a blossoming spring and the end of winter. Celebrated by all religions across India and Southeast Asia, Holi festivals also take place in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries with large Indian communities. Besides the beginning of spring, Holi also symbolizes the joys of love, the victory of good over evil, and starting anew.

On Holi, vibrant colored powders and waters take center stage. On the morning of the festival, some participants place a touch of color on their forehead, while others smear their entire body with a rainbow of hues, each color with a different meaning. A bucket of colored water is used to douse family, friends, or even strangers passing by. That’s in addition to the water pistols and water balloons children prepare early in the day. After several hours of drinks, snacks, and dancing, revelers bathe and change into clean, neatly ironed clothes for lunch, signifying the end of exuberant Holi activities.

To learn 5 things about Holi, click here.

This year, Ramadan runs from sundown, March 22, through April 21. Considered one of the most sacred times on the Muslim calendar, Ramadan is observed by daily fasting from sunrise to sunset, with exceptions for children and people who are elderly, pregnant, or ill. Muslims believe that fasting—one of the Five Pillars of Islam—makes them more sensitive to the suffering of the poor and cleanses their soul so that Allah may forgive them. Beyond participating in the usual five daily prayers, many Muslims may also visit their mosque for several hours of additional worship during the month-long event.

What foods are eaten and when varies by culture. For example, having a pre-dawn meal is common, and once sundown arrives, the day-long fast is broken by eating something light, such as the traditional dates. Family and friends usually share a larger meal once evening prayers are done, and some then gather for communal prayer. In some locales, a vibrant culinary nightlife has emerged where restaurants and cafes stay open all night for eating and socializing.

To learn more about this holy month, click here. For information about Ramadan fasting and the role of different foods and drinks, visit here.

In 2014, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day, a federal commemorative holiday. Chavez’s father, a small farmer, was swindled out of receiving the deed to land he cleared. Cesar himself experienced injustice and racism while in school. Both experiences fueled Chavez’s lifelong advocacy for the dignity and fair treatment of farm workers who often labored under life- and health-threatening conditions. To push for change, Chavez and Dolores Huerta, a powerful American labor leader and civil rights activist, joined forces and founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFW) union in 1962 which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Inspired by the non-violent approaches of Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his own strong Catholic faith, Chavez’s hunger strikes, picketing, boycotts, and other protests were nonetheless, often met with violence.

During his career, Chavez gained formal protections for farmworkers including eliminating the use of the dangerous pesticide DDT, prohibiting the spraying of pesticides while workers are in the fields, and requiring protective clothing against other pesticides, fair wages, and humane housing. By 1970, California grape growers accepted union contracts. As an activist for voting, environmental and consumer rights, Chavez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously for work that led to making life better for today’s 2.5 million farmworkers.

To learn about Chavez and the farmworkers’ movement, check out his foundation or read about his remarkable life and legacy from the UFW here.

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The Value of Hospice Care – Jimmy Carter’s Final Gift to all Americans

Ashley Even — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:24:43 +0000

The Value of Hospice Care – Jimmy Carter’s Final Gift to all Americans, and celebrating the First Year Anniversary of The Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center – the only one of its kind in Washington DC

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Cone
Chief of Communications, Marketing & Philanthropy
scone@capitalcaring.org
703-712-4860

Falls Church, VA (February 24, 2023) Former President Jimmy Carter has done a great service by publicly announcing his decision to enter hospice care in the comfort of his home. Hospice care is almost always available at no charge to everyone living in the United States thanks to legislation passed in 1982 and made possible by local DC leaders including Capital Caring Health’s President and CEO Tom Koutsoumpas.

As the region’s largest nonprofit hospice and advanced illness provider, Capital Caring Health not only provides home hospice care where the patient resides, but it also operates the only inpatient hospice center in Washington, DC. Thanks in large part to The Washington Home Foundation and Capital Caring’s Health’s clinical staff, The Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center was opened on the grounds of Sibley Memorial Hospital one year ago to provide 24/7 care for those in need of intense end-of-life care.

“For more than 45 years Capital Caring Health has been at the forefront of the hospice movement, which includes having one of the first inpatient hospice centers in the country,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, President and CEO of Capital Caring Health. “The opening of The Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center last year is a continuation of our commitment to the community to ensure that this level of care is available in DC.”

While most hospice care is provided where the patient resides, as in the case of former President Carter, terminally ill patients need comprehensive around-the-clock care 5 to 10 percent of the time. Since opening a year ago, The Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center has helped more than 260 patients and families from across the Metro D.C. area by providing this specialized end-of-life care at their time of greatest need.

The Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center is an essential safety net care provider for the community, and it is one of very few inpatient hospice centers in operation regionally and nationally. Why so few? The vast majority of hospice providers, especially for-profit entities do not provide this critical inpatient care because operating losses often exceed one million dollars annually.

“By supporting Capital Caring Health’s work to provide inpatient hospice care in Washington, D.C., The Washington Home is continuing its mission since 1888 in end-of-life care for seniors and critically ill residents of the community,” said Sharon Collins Casey, Chair of The Washington Home Board of Directors.

In addition to the comprehensive care that keeps terminally ill patients as comfortable and pain-free as possible, Capital Caring Health provides a full range of support services for not only the patients, but their families as well. Programs and services include social workers, non-denominational chaplains, specialized resources for Veterans, music and art therapy, and grief support at no cost. And, unlike many hospitals, The Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center has no visiting hour restrictions for two family members at a time. Overnight stays and visits from pets are also welcome.

We all owe former President Carter our sincere thanks for being public about his decision to enter hospice care. Far too many families avoid hospice, and the result is often tragic with loved ones dying alone in a hospital ICU. This should never happen. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of the Washington Home Foundation and the around-the-clock care provided by Capital Caring Health’s dedicated staff, the DC Metro area is blessed to have its own dedicated Inpatient Hospice Center, the only one in operation within Washington, DC.

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About Capital Caring Health: Capital Caring Health is a not-for-profit, community-based organization founded in the nation’s capital in 1977. Capital Caring Health is one of the most experienced and respected providers in the nation of advanced illness, hospice and elder care including primary care at home. Our care for children with life–limiting disease is the largest on the East Coast. Additional services focus on the special care needs of veterans, and those with heart failure and end-stage lung disease. More than $3 million annually funds care for those who lack coverage or the necessary financial resources for services. Almost 90 cents of every dollar go to caring for patients and their families. Over the years, Capital Caring Health has provided hospice, palliative care, and counseling to nearly 120,000 patients and their families through our regional neighborhood network across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

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Former President Jimmy Carter’s Hospice Decision

Ashley Even — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 23:03:44 +0000

Thanks to the recent announcement by former President Jimmy Carter of enrolling in hospice care, we hope you and all Americans learn about the immense value of hospice care for up to six months, wherever a person resides.

Hospice care is not giving up on life! It’s about a better life for an extended period of time.

Jimmy Carter’s decision should be every families decision:
Yes to hospice.
No to hospitalizations often resulting in dying alone in an ICU.

To learn more go to capitalcaring.org/tooshort.

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Top Doctors Recognized by Northern Virginia Magazine 2023

Ashley Even — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:07:45 +0000

Capital Caring Health is very proud of four of our many outstanding physicians who were recognized as Top Doctors by Northern Virginia Magazine in 2023.

Matthew Kestenbaum, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Matthew Irwin, M.D. M.S.W., and Anne Silao-Solomon, M.D., at Capital Caring Health, were selected as Top Doctors in Hospice and Palliative Medicine by a group of their peers.

Dr. Kestenbaum is well known in the industry as an expert in hospice and palliative care. Among his many accomplishments and successes include his leadership with the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) and work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Dr. Ray Garcia is a Medical Director with more than 10 years experience providing hospice and palliative care and 14 years practicing Family Medicine. He is a firm advocate for providing comfort and dignity to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses, and promoting a positive philosophy of hospice care to the community.

Dr. Irwin has been with Capital Caring since 2004 and has also maintained a family medicine practice during that time. He appreciates the breadth of experience that includes helping people through the entire range of life, including newborns, children, adolescents, adults and older generations.

Dr. Silao-Solomon has been the hospice medical director in Capital Caring Health’s Loudoun community since 2010. She is certified in both Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Her main interests include management of cancer related symptoms, end of life communication, and integrative approaches in pain management to help maximize patients’ comfort at the advanced stage of their disease.

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This February, Get to the Real Heart of the Matter!

Ashley Even — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:37:16 +0000

When February rolls around, many Americans think of three things: Super Bowl Sunday, a long President’s Day weekend, and—love it or loathe it—Valentine’s Day and its hearts-and-flowers sentimentality…big emphasis on hearts. And while fancy chocolates and frilly cards are more recent expressions of affection, hearts have been associated with Valentine’s Day as a symbol of love for centuries.

But when it comes to your real heart, are you giving it all the loving it needs?

Clearly, many of us are not. Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death in the U.S. and has been since 1950—well ahead of the coronavirus or cancer. According to the National Institutes of Health, congestive heart failure (CHF) is the leading reason for hospitalization for adults over age 65, accounting for 1 million patients each year. Today, 120 million Americans are living with a heart condition. And despite medical advances in treatment, and extensive evidence on how lifestyle factors can prevent or moderate heart disease risk, heart failure is on the rise.

No wonder the American Heart Association picked February as the ideal time for American Heart Month to remind us of the seriousness of heart disease, its causes, and prevention. So while you’re savoring that heart-healthy piece of Valentine’s Day chocolate (dark only!), read on to learn how to show your heart some true love.

Preventing a Broken Heart

Many major risk factors contribute to heart failure, some of which we can control and some of which we cannot. Chief among the latter is aging, which makes the rise in heart disease in the U.S. unsurprising, given the nation’s rapidly aging population. Another uncontrollable factor is race, with Black Americans 1.5 times more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with chronic heart failure. Although more research is needed to determine the exact cause of the discrepancy, genetics and poor access to timely health care are contributing factors. In addition to age and race, sex and structural defects are also beyond our control.

That said, there are many behaviors and lifestyles that we can adopt or change to keep heart disease at bay. Managing high cholesterol levels, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and getting regular exercise can all reduce chances of developing heart disease. So, too, will reducing excessive alcohol consumption and quitting smoking and other tobacco use. In fact, a 2020 study in the British medical journal Lancet revealed that approximately 70% of all cardiovascular cases and deaths were attributable to such modifiable risk factors.

The bottom line: For many of us, the health of our hearts lies mostly in our own hands…and that includes younger people who are developing heart disease at earlier ages. Here’s how you can get a handle on your heart’s health.

Your Heart is Counting on You!

Among the top advice offered by the American Heart Association is to Know Your Numbers— blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol. Today, measuring and tracking such vital statistics is simple and fast with technology you can use at home, such as digital blood pressure monitors that register both BP and heart rate. You can also use apps on your phone or computer, or wearable fitness devices that often offer other sophisticated monitoring like EKGs and blood oxygen levels. Cholesterol can be tested at the doctor’s office for a base line, then managed through diet, exercise, and if needed, medication.

An awareness of where you stand helps you assess your personal risk for heart disease and what steps—maybe literally—you may need to take to reduce your risk, or control heart disease. Those steps may include increasing how often and how far you walk each day, or otherwise increasing your exercise level. Losing weight and cutting back on alcohol can also help. When trying to break unhealthy habits, partnering with a friend or family member usually works better than going it alone. So, if your numbers reveal you need to take action, consider American Heart Month your cue to get going!

When You Can’t Manage Heart Disease on Your Own

People who already have advanced heart disease like congestive heart failure (CHF) face a number of serious and hard-to-manage symptoms including shortness of breath, major fatigue, persistent cough, swelling in the legs and ankles, chest pain, loss of appetite/nausea, and depression and anxiety. Too often, this results in a cycle of trips to the doctor, emergency room, and hospital stays, all of which contribute to even greater stress and expense. The pattern is likely to continue without the right care at the right time.

Capital Caring Health (CCH) can help.

Our Advanced Cardiac Care (ACC) program is designed to keep patients with late-stage heart disease safely in the privacy and comfort of their own home. An interdisciplinary CCH care team works with the patient’s doctor and family to create a customized care plan, unique to each patient. The comprehensive program also gives patients and their caregivers the knowledge, tools, and confidence to effectively manage the condition on their own from day to day. Studies of Medicare beneficiaries confirm that such care for cardiac patients can increase longevity, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of being readmitted to the hospital.

The ACC program features:

Regular visits and check-in calls by a nurse with specialized training
Patient education customized for each patient and family
Medications to help control symptoms
Additional supportive care as requested—from a social worker, nurse assistant, chaplain, counselor, and/or a volunteer
A detailed Patient and Caregiver Handbook, filled with practical information and tools on symptom monitoring and management, self-care, medications, diet, and more.

The program was developed in conjunction with other experts from the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovations (NPHI), a collection of nonprofit hospices across the country. The American Heart Association served as a source for patient and family support material, and also validated clinical information contained in the handbook.

The Heart of the Matter

Advancements in heart disease are making huge strides in preventing, diagnosing, and treating all forms of heart disease. From earlier risk detection and lifestyle interventions…to new medications and more effective, less invasive treatments…to personalized medicine and custom care management, people with heart disease have more options than ever.

At Capital Caring Health, we’ve combined all that we’ve learned over the years in understanding and caring for people living with end-stage heart disease into the more structured Advanced Cardiac Care approach. By providing the right care at the right time, difficult symptoms can be safely managed at home, not at the hospital. Feeling better, with less stress and anxiety, and knowing your CCH care team is ready to help whenever needed results in improved quality of life for patients and families.

Join Us!

Wrap up February on a heart-wise note! Join Capital Caring Health’s Center for Health Equity in partnership with Bluerock Primary Care for “Matters of the Heart – Working Toward Whole Heart Health,” on February 28, at 5pm. Dr. Alka Gupta, Bluerock’s Chief Medical Officer will discuss various factors that contribute to better heart health. To register in advance, go to: https://capitalcaring.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QD7jZ6uiTpSwbhd9mVV96A

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar.

To learn more about the Capital Caring Health Advanced Cardiac Care program, visit our website or call toll-free (800)-869-2136 24 hours a day/7 days a week. You can also review or download a copy of the Patient and Caregiver Handbook.

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Black History, Heart Health, and Holidays

Ashley Even — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 14:43:19 +0000

For such a short month, February is packed with celebrations and other occasions…and we don’t just mean Valentine’s Day or Super Bowl Sunday! Designated in 1964 as American Heart Month, February is also a time to recognize the achievements of African Americans, and of two of the nation’s most prominent presidents. It also marks the beginning of Lent and the end of the Lunar New Year.

February is Black History Month, established by Congress in 1986 to honor and acknowledge the contributions made to our country by African Americans, past and present, even in the face of racism and oppression. The selection of February for this honor is significant, as both abolitionist and statesman, Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln—each keenly committed to ending slavery—were born during the month.

Studying Black history during February, and throughout the year advances understanding of ingrained cultural and political issues that continue to this day, including racism, voter suppression, and inequities in education, income, and healthcare access, to name a few.

PBS is presenting in-depth portraits of key figures and institutions that have informed the Black experience and our collective American history throughout the month. Click here to see programs on Emmet Till, John Lewis, Marian Anderson, Mohammed Ali, the role of the Black church, and more. Or, click here to listen to a collection of stories that celebrate the impact of Black historical figures and pioneers.

The death of Buddha is commemorated every year on February 15 (and February 8 in some places) with a multicultural festival on Nirvana Day. While celebrations vary worldwide, meditating and visiting temples or monasteries with offerings of food, money, clothing, or household items are common. In some areas, Nirvana Day is considered a social occasion with people sharing food and exchanging gifts.

Nirvana is said to be the end of the cycle of death and rebirth, “samsara,” reached when all want and suffering are gone. According to the Mahayana form of Buddhism (practiced in Central and East Asia), all beings can ultimately attain Buddhahood and their own Nirvana. It is also a time to meditate while thinking of recently departed family or friends. To learn more about how Nirvana is celebrated or about the role of Nirvana in Buddhism, click here or here.

Presidents’ Day, February 20, falls in the birthday month of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Washington’s birthday (February 22) was first observed as a federal holiday back in the 1880s. In 1968, Congress declared that the third Monday in February each year would mark his birth, regardless of the actual date, creating a three-day weekend. Later designated Presidents’ Day, the occasion is now used by a number of states to recognize both Washington and Lincoln (born February 12, 1809).

Washington, a farmer without a formal education, served as the president of the Constitutional Convention, commander of the Continental Army, and as the first President of the United States. Lincoln is known for his leadership in preserving the Union during the Civil War and for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, marking the beginning of the end of slavery.

Presidents’ Day is honored with special ceremonies in Washington, D.C. and other cities across the nation. To learn more about George Washington, including his history with slaves, click here. For more about Abraham Lincoln’s life and contributions, click here.

This year, Ash Wednesday is February 22, marking the start of Lent for most Christians.

It comes on the heels of Mardi Gras—“Fat Tuesday”—which is traditionally the last day of feasting and frivolity before preparing one’s self for Christ’s resurrection at Easter.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, repentance, and contemplation, symbolic of Jesus’ trials in the desert as He resisted the temptation of Satan. Its name is drawn from the Biblical verse, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” On Ash Wednesday, worshipers may elect to have their foreheads marked with the sign of the cross, made by ashes from the palms used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.

Besides prayer and attending Mass, many Roman Catholics also acknowledge Lent by giving up something as a form of fasting—typically a favorite treat or habit like eating chocolate, drinking, or watching TV—and avoiding meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays. To learn more, click here.

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Family Caregiving – A New Normal in Alexandria

Ashley Even — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 20:27:35 +0000

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More Advanced-Illness Medical Care Now Available

Ashley Even — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 18:57:23 +0000

Capital Caring Health Expands its Primary Care at Home in South Arlington, Thanks to the Washington Forrest Foundation

Falls Church, VA (January 23, 2023) Thanks to a generous grant from the Washington Forrest Foundation, more home-limited older adults in Arlington County can now benefit from Capital Caring Health’s comprehensive healthcare services.

The award will allow Capital Caring Health (CCH) to expand its Primary Care at Home Program, which delivers care to chronically ill patients in the comfort and convenience of their home. With a special focus on South Arlington, this expansion will assist CCH’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible to everyone, especially communities of color and other traditionally underserved members of the community.

“Home-limited seniors, particularly in underserved socioeconomic regions, often do not receive the medical care they deserve,” says Heidi Young, M.D., Primary Care at Home’s Medical Director and Associate Chief Medical Officer for CCH, the oldest and most established provider of elder health, hospice, and advanced illness care in the mid-Atlantic region. “For the underinsured and uninsured who lack equitable access to necessary medical care, this increased support enables Capital Caring Health to meet patients where they are by delivering transportation services, supplementary meals, and essential medical supplies.”

Launched in 2019, Primary Care at Home (PCAH) assures that home-limited individuals receive vital care regardless of issues with access, including mobility or finances. CCH’s integrated healthcare service aims to keep chronic conditions in check, preventing more intensive and expensive care. With a dedicated care team attending to physical and emotional health needs, PCAH provides the opportunity for our older patients to age in place, with safety and dignity. Services include:

House calls by doctors, nurse practitioners, and social workers who specialize in the care of older adults with advanced illness
Mobile technology to perform in-home diagnostic tests such as blood work, X-rays, and ultrasound
24/7 coordination of care so our team is always available by phone to arrange for primary and urgent care, or for specialists, hospital, or support services

The grant will also be used to expand free grief counseling and telehealth services in the Arlington community.

“This development will greatly impact our most vulnerable communities, helping Capital Caring Health to close equity gaps and better accommodate patient needs,” concludes Dr. Young. We are so grateful to the Washington Forrest Foundation for their support and shared concern for the health, welfare, and quality of life of Arlington’s seniors.

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About the Washington Forrest Foundation: Established in 1968, the Washington Forrest Foundation seeks to improve and advance the quality of life in South Arlington, Virginia. The foundation invests in programs and organizations that support economic development through safety net services, education, and community development. They currently support over 50 nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of South Arlington residents, including the Arlington Free Clinic, the Arlington Food Assistance Center, and Bridges to Independence.

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Capital Caring Health Announces Chief of Compliance

Ashley Even — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 21:41:22 +0000

Falls Church, VA (January 18, 2023) Capital Caring Health is pleased to announce Melissa “Missy” Ring as its newest Chief of Compliance and Quality. Missy, who joined Capital Caring Health in July 2022, has an extensive 26-year background in nursing, evidence-based practice, regulatory and compliance, quality and standards, operations, administration, and patient safety. Currently, Missy is playing a vital role in ensuring adherence to compliance requirements for Capital Caring Health’s move toward becoming an affiliate of Chapters Health System. “We are really fortunate to have someone of Missy’s caliber to lead our Compliance and Quality efforts during this pivotal time of growth,” states Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO, Capital Caring Health.

In addition, to Compliance and Quality, Missy oversees staff education and training, a critical component to ensuring delivery of the highest quality experience for Capital Caring Health’s patients and their families. Matt Kestenbaum, M.D., Chief Medical Officer notes, “While Missy brings a wealth of experience in her discipline, her regulatory and compliance expertise combined with her relentless pursuit of innovative solutions, and her genuine compassion for those in need of advanced illness care add another level of value to the work we do here to serve all communities.” Missy is a prolific speaker and presenter and has spoken across the U.S. on topics from Infection Control to Performance Improvement Priorities.

Dr. Ring says she’s energized by the progress made since joining Capital Caring Health. “It’s a pleasure to work across the organization with such a committed team of experts focused on quality of care standards that ensure both patient and staff safety,” she comments. “This is also a perfect time to further enhance our training programs as we deliver on our mission,” she adds.

Missy holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from James Madison University, and a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Business Administration from Mary Baldwin College.

About Capital Caring Health

Capital Caring Health is a not-for-profit, community-based organization founded in the nation’s capital in 1977. Capital Caring Health is one of the most experienced and respected providers in the nation of advanced illness, hospice and elder care including primary care at home. Our care for children with life – limiting disease is the largest on the East Coast. Additional services focus on the special care needs of veterans, and those with heart failure and end-stage lung disease. More than $3 million annually funds care for those who lack coverage or the necessary financial resources for services. Almost 90 cents of every dollar go to caring for patients and their families. Over the years, Capital Caring Health has provided hospice, palliative care, and counseling to nearly 120,000 patients and their families through our regional neighborhood network across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

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Media inquiries, contact:

Steve Cone, Chief of Communications, Marketing & Philanthropy
scone@capitalcaring.org, 646-943-1739

Audrey Easaw, SVP, Philanthropy, Communications & External Affairs
aeasaw@capitalcaring.org, 703-531-2399

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MLK Day of Service 2023

Ashley Even — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 15:47:59 +0000

A note from Audrey Easaw, Executive Director for Center for Health Equity:
Capital Caring Health’s Center for Health Equity acknowledges the spirit of service in the hearts, and on the hands and feet of our volunteers and Client Relations Executives (CREs)!

During the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, many communities across the DMV practiced what Dr. King reminded all of us, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” We are grateful to serve patients and caregivers in partnership with Volunteer Fairfax, Congressman Gerry Connolly and other local officials.

From our Team of Volunteers:
Capital Caring Health partnered with Volunteer Fairfax for a day of service to honor MLK Jr. Day. Our project was once again selected by Volunteer Fairfax this year! They graciously funded 200 Welcome Bags which will be used at our IPU’s. These bags include comfort items for the patient and caregiver.

This was the first year we partnered with our CREs for this community event which hosted over 300 people. Congressman Gerry Connolly and other politicians were in attendance. Special thanks to CRE’s Bettie Samuel, Karen LeGendre and Tiffany Plante who fielded many questions related to CCH and provided great support to the community.

Our new volunteer managers are jumping right in to help with community events. Amanda Painter (Merrifield) and Tina Fennell (Washington, DC) were excellent with the many people who came to our tables and they even managed to use the opportunity to recruit new volunteers! It was great seeing them in action and very impressive too.

Wonderful teamwork on this special Holiday. Thank you Tiffany, Tina, Amanda, Bettie, and Karen for working on a holiday to help Capital Caring Health. You all did such a wonderful job.

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New Year Starts with Holidays and Remembrances

Ashley Even — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 21:29:05 +0000

Like the month’s namesake—Janus, the old Roman god of beginnings and endings—January is marked by both hopeful, forward-looking celebrations and more solemn reminders of the past.

January 7, 2023, is Christmas Day for Orthodox Christians in Central Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. That’s because Eastern Orthodox churches follow the older Julian calendar, putting the birth of Jesus 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar used by Christian denominations in the West.

Considered a special time for reflection and prayer, Orthodox Christmas is often observed for up to three days with religious services, as well as gifts and seasonal decorations. Many Orthodox Christians choose not to eat meat during the holiday season; others may fast on Christmas Eve morning. Some nationalities serve a traditional, mostly vegetarian meal known as the “Holy Night Supper,” consisting of 12 courses to represent the 12 Apostles. Though foods vary by country, popular dishes include herring, borscht, sauerkraut, and perogies. Families also often set extra places at the table for the spirits of relatives who have passed.

Countries celebrating Orthodox Christmas include the Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia. Members of the Coptic church—the largest Christian population in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries—follow the Orthodox tradition, as do those from the Sudan and Libya. To learn more about the holiday, click here.

On January 16, the nation honors the birthday of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1955, shortly after being elected to head the Southern Leadership Conference Council, Dr. King led efforts to desegregate public transportation in Alabama during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. That marked the beginnings of a national movement of nonviolent civil disobedience—guided by Dr. King’s faith and the teachings of Gandhi—and of his emergence as a civil rights leader whose advocacy on black voting rights, poverty, the Vietnam War, and other issues influenced public opinion.

In perhaps the most defining moment of his career, Dr. King delivered his immortal “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28,1963. He was there to address the tens of thousands who attended “The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” At the event, the country’s most prominent civil rights leaders pressed the federal government to take direct action for racial equality. It did, eventually passing civil rights legislation that made a difference on voting, discrimination, and more. Based upon his contributions, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

On April 4th, 1968, Dr. King paid the ultimate price for his activism when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 34. Posthumously, Dr. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In January 1986 after years of advocating for it by Representative John Conyers, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and the Atlanta-based King Center, Congress established Martin Luther King Day. The federal holiday acknowledges his contributions to civil rights and equality in the United States. You can listen to or read his most famous speech—I Have a Dream—in its entirety here.

Lunar New Year begins January 22. One of the most important and widely celebrated holidays throughout Asia is Lunar New Year. This is often one of the most significant holidays for Asian Americans as well. This year is unique as it is one of the few years where the Vietnamese Zodiac differs from the Chinese Zodiac, making it the Year of Rabbit in the many countries, but the Year of the Cat in Vietnam.

Lunar New Year marks the first full moon of the lunar calendar and generally takes place between January 21 and February 20. While Lunar New Year is celebrated differently in each country, many of the traditions share a common thread that includes special foods, wishes for prosperity, time spent with family, and a chance to honor relatives who have passed. Firecrackers, lanterns, banners with good wishes, and the color red are also often a part of the festivities. In many cultures, the exchange of envelopes filled with money symbolizes best wishes and good luck for the new year. It is also common to clean one’s home to be rid of any lingering bad luck and get a fresh haircut or new clothes in preparation for the holiday. There are many Lunar New Year events happening throughout the Greater Washington region including a parade featuring lion and dragon dancers in downtown DC on January 22. To learn more about these activities and how you can participate, click here.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, memorializes the millions who suffered and died during World War II. The international observance was established by the United Nations (U.N.) in 2005 to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of others who were persecuted during Hitler’s brutal regime. It also offers an opportunity for Holocaust education, especially important today to counter rising and persistent antisemitism, Holocaust distortion, and denial.

To honor those who have died and to fight against growing antisemitism, the UN and UNESCO have recently offered digital commemoration ceremonies attracting people from around the world. To learn more, watch their 2021 panel discussion on Holocaust denial and distortions on YouTube here, listen to stories from holocaust survivors on NPR, or learn about the U.S. and the Holocaust from an exhibit at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

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DECEMBER REFLECTIONS:

capitalcaring — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 19:30:34 +0000

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Like clockwork, the year is ticking towards its close. And just as predictably, we at Capital Caring Health (CCH) are looking forward to the year ahead, even as we reflect upon what we were able to accomplish in 2022, much of it thanks to the generosity of the communities we serve and our donors, volunteers, and other partners.

The fact is we simply can’t do it alone. Advancing our mission depends on the contributions of many—from our dedicated associates who go the extra mile for the patients in their care…to our loyal volunteers who fill the gaps for suffering families and their loved ones…to our committed donors who provide the funds for the special services and programs that improve comfort, care, and quality of life.

Looking Back

Thanks to the combined efforts and support of many, we achieved some major milestones over the last 12 months for the benefit of current and future patients:

Opening a New Inpatient Hospice Site in Washington, D.C.

On February 8, CCH opened the Washington Home Capital Caring Health Inpatient Center at Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital. The new unit gives residents of the nation’s capital a nearby option for the most sophisticated inpatient care for advanced illness, when home-based efforts are not enough. We are grateful for significant funding provided by The Washington Home Foundation.

With 10 beds, the Inpatient Center is among the most state-of-the-art hospice facilities in the nation. The unit is staffed by specially trained CCH team members, including a physician, skilled hospice nurses, a social worker, chaplain, and grief counselor, working together to ensure patient and family needs are met.

The new unit is also a calm, beautiful, art-filled space with individual private suites. Each suite offers the comfort and amenities of home, allowing patients and families to be together, even overnight. There is also a cozy family lounge with a kitchenette. Family, friends, and loved ones—including pets—are always welcome to visit.

Raising Awareness of the Benefits of Hospice Care

If there’s one thing CCH knows, it’s the value of hospice for patients and families—from advanced care at home and pain relief, to support for family members and loved ones, to a better quality of life, at the end of life.

Yet most people don’t take advantage of all that hospice offers, including its generous six months’ coverage. In fact, the national average stay in hospice today is two weeks or less, and often just a few days. That is too short and tragic—especially since Medicare, private insurance, and often Medicaid cover the majority of the cost.

For the last year, CCH has been spreading the word on the benefits of hospice through a community education campaign. We have held discussions with the faith-based community, social clubs, senior groups, assisted living facilities, and others; been interviewed by local TV and radio stations; and continued building partnerships with other who share our commitment to providing patients and their families with advanced illness care of the highest quality

Please read more about the reasons a longer hospice stay matters and the difference it makes, or watch our interview on the topic on WUSA Channel 9.

Reinforcing our Commitment to Health Equity

This year, our Center for Health Equity, originally established in 2020 to address racial disparities in hospice care, reinforced our commitment to communities of color and other underserved populations. The Center strives to ensure all patients and their families—regardless of race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation—receive advanced illness care of the highest quality. It also promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging (DEIB), and cultural competence among the staff caring for them.

In recognition of our efforts, CCH has earned accreditation, designation, certification and/or acknowledgment from the National Institute for Jewish Hospice, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and SAGE for expertise and experience with LGBTQ+ and aging issues.

Another way to further understanding of our differences is by sharing information about what’s important to others. So during 2022, we started a monthly feature on the background and history of the world’s major cultural, religious, and social observances, including interesting facts and resources. Read the latest on December’s festive holidays and a major moment in U.S. history here and learn more about The Center for Health Equity here.

Looking Ahead

Every year, we look for additional ways to better serve our evolving community by building up tried-and-true programs and developing innovative, new approaches to the needs of special populations.

Leaving No One Behind

From our founding 45 years ago to today, caring for those who lack insurance and/or other financial resources has been central to our mission. As a nonprofit hospice, CCH has a long history of never turning anyone away. And over the past three years, the impact of COVID on jobs and health insurance coverage has only added to the number of people needing our assistance at an especially important time.

Thanks to the generosity of individual and corporate donors, CCH covered more than $2 million in uncompensated care and related expenses in just the last year alone. These funds assure that we have the means to deliver hospice and palliative care to all who need it. That includes our Community Grief Program that offers free of charge counseling to anyone in the community who experienced a loss.

Special Assistance for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia Patients

Our CCH experts offer specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia and customize services for each unique case. We closely follow research to improve care, finding ways to create a better quality of life for patients and families receiving hospice or palliative care.

For example, there’s solid evidence from clinical research and family reports that robotic companion pets can make an enormous difference to a loved one. The lifelike pets move and respond to voices, have a calming effect, and may even improve communication and interaction with others.

Toward that end, we’ve created a special fund to purchase a robotic cat or dog for our dementia patients. We’re also raising funds to meet our goal of giving a robotic pet to any veteran with dementia in our service area who wants one. Learn more here about our specialized care and the impact of robotic companion pets. Veterans with dementia or their caregivers may request a free companion pet here or make a donation so that others may receive this very special friend.

So as we say goodbye to 2022, we are thankful for all we’ve accomplished over the last 12 months…with you and for you. We also thank the many members of the community who have helped make our achievements possible, and look forward to their renewed support in the year ahead.

If you’d like to help us make a difference in the lives of others, there are many ways to donate and make a year-end gift. Or for more information, visit Donate to Capital Caring – Capital Caring Health. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

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Chapters Health System and Capital Caring Health Announce Groundbreaking Affiliation

Ashley Even — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 19:31:12 +0000

Communities served in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.

Temple Terrace, FL and Falls Church, VA (December 22, 2022): Chapters Health System and Capital Caring Health announced today the signing of a letter of intent to affiliate. By early 2023, the organizations would combine resources to support ongoing innovation and critical care expansion in the communities they each serve. Chapters Health is one of the nation’s premier not-for-profit, community-based healthcare organizations headquartered in Temple Terrace. Founded in 1977, and located in the nation’s capital, Capital Caring Health was, along with several other entities, one of the first in the nation to provide hospice and related care.

With total staffs of nearly 4,000 and 3,000 volunteers, Chapters Health and Capital Caring Health is one of the largest, not-for-profit advanced illness and hospice care organizations in the nation among the nearly 4,700 hospice providers.

“In the past year, Chapters Health has been on an accelerated and ambitious journey to change the way chronic illness management and end-of-life care is administered in our communities,” said Andrew Molosky, MBA, FACHE, CHPCA, president and chief executive officer for Chapters Health. Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of Capital Caring further stated, “Our affiliation with Chapters Health is a blueprint for other community-based, not-for-profit organizations to follow in order to meet the challenges of the future head on. Together we provide the best possible outcomes for patients, families and our dedicated team members.”

With the combined resources of the Chapters Health System and Capital Caring Health, healthcare services will be provided to residents in 35 Florida counties, four Georgia counties, two Maryland counties, 12 Virginia counties along with four independent cities in the state and all eight wards of Washington DC, allowing nearly 100,000 lives to be touched annually.

“As we welcome the Capital Caring team in conjunction with our team, we are excited to start 2023 with the experience unmatched anywhere else to continue to elevate home and community-based, end-of-life care,” added Molosky.

About Chapters Health System

As a progressive leader and premier health system, Chapters Health System is dedicated to delivering innovative home health, palliative and hospice care along with durable medical equipment and pharmacy services. Since 1983 as a community-based, not-for-profit organization, Chapters Health has provided choices, education and guidance through its managed affiliates. All offerings are provided in order to improve the patient/family experience well in advance of end-of-life needs. In 2022, Chapters Health earned certified status for information security from HITRUST; for the fifth consecutive year was recognized as a great workplace in the Aging Services category by the independent analysts at the Great Place to Work^® Institute; and in 2021 was named a Top Workplace by the Tampa Bay Times. To learn more, visit www.chaptershealth.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Capital Caring Health

Capital Caring Health is a not-for-profit, community-based organization founded in the nation’s capital in 1977. Capital Caring Health is one of the most experienced and respected providers in the nation of advanced illness, hospice and elder care including primary care at home. Our care for children with life – limiting disease is the largest on the East Coast. Additional services focus on the special care needs of veterans, and those with heart failure and end-stage lung disease. More than $3.0 million annually funds care for those who lack coverage or the necessary financial resources for services. Almost 90 cents of every dollar go to caring for patients and their families. Over the years, Capital Caring Health has provided hospice, palliative care, and counseling to nearly 120,000 patients and their families through our regional neighborhood network across Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.

###

Contact:

Steve Cone, Capital Caring Health
scone@capitalcaring.org
646-943-1739

Phoebe Ochman, Chapters Health System
ochmanp@chaptershealth.org
813-532-7221

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December’s Festive Holidays and a Landmark Moment in U.S. History

Ashley Even — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:41:24 +0000

The last month of the year is a time for widely celebrated religious and cultural holidays full of ritual and gift-giving, whether gelt (chocolate coins) for Hanukkah, handmade and educational gifts for Kwanzaa, or anything, really, for Christmas. December is also the occasion of Rohatsu or Bodhi Day, a meaningful celebration for Buddhists worldwide. And while most Americans may be unaware, this month also commemorates the date when three-quarters of the states ratified the Bill of Rights, granting and protecting the essential civil liberties of many people.

Every December 8, Buddhists all over the world celebrate Rohatsu or Bodhi Day. The holiday honors the historic vow by Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) to sit under the Bodhi tree until he reached spiritual enlightenment. The word bodhi actually means “awakening” or “enlightenment,” and Buddhists observe the day through meditation, sometimes through the night until dawn. Zen Buddhists often participate in a week-long, intensive meditation retreat before the actual observance.

On Bodhi Day, temples hold special services where attendees chant, and bring offerings of flowers, fruit, water, incense, and other simple items. Many Buddhists also light candles or string colored lights in their homes or in trees to represent the many paths to enlightenment. To learn more, click here for an NPR interview about the holiday.

The Bill of Rights Day on December 15 recognizes and celebrates the importance of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Passed by Congress in 1789, these amendments guarantee our civil rights and liberties including freedom of speech, press, and religion. The document also sets rules for due process of law and gives states powers not delegated to the federal government. According to the National Archives, “The Constitution might never have been ratified if the framers hadn’t promised to add a Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of today’s Americans’ most valued freedoms.”

Click here to learn more, or here to find out how to participate in any of the National Archives’ civics-themed events about the Bill of Rights, including family-friendly activities.

This year, the joyous Jewish festival of Hanukkah takes place December 18-26. Considered a time for reaffirming the ideals of Judaism, the holiday originates in the 164 B.C. rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. According to Hebrew Scripture, when Judas Maccabeus entered the Temple following its desecration three years earlier, he found only enough pure oil to burn for one day. Miraculously, that one small jar of oil lasted for eight straight days until new consecrated oil could be found, giving rise to the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah is probably the most popular of all Jewish religious observances and is celebrated all over the world. Lighting one of eight candles on the menorah just after dark each evening is common, although some families choose to wait until everyone is home. (The ninth candle, the shamash, is used to light the other candles.) Other religious rituals include daily scripture readings, recitation of certain Psalms, and singing special hymns. In addition, the holiday is marked by special foods fried in oil – such as potato latkes and jelly donuts (sufganiyot) – to reflect the holiday’s origins. Hanukkah menus often include noodle kugel, brisket, roast chicken, matzo ball soup, and bread and pastries such as challah and rugelach. To learn 9 Things You Didn’t Know about Hanukkah click here, and for more about the holiday’s history, click here.

Christmas is an annual religious and cultural celebration held primarily on December 25^th and observed by billions of people around the world. For Christians, the day represents the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth whose life and spiritual teachings are the foundation of the religion. The first Christmas celebration is reported to have taken place during the Roman Empire on December 25, AD 336. Santa Claus (or Father Christmas), the patron of Christmas responsible for bringing gifts to children, arrived a bit later. Based on traditions from the 4^th century related to Saint Nicholas, Santa was either a Christian saint or a monk. Christmas became a U.S. federal holiday in 1870.

Celebrations vary around the globe, from the Yule Goat in Sweden—now a 40-foot plus structure built from straw, weighing as much as 3.6 tons—to a dazzling giant lantern festival in the Philippines where each lantern represents the Star of Bethlehem. Some traditions—like decorating a Christmas tree, popularized by the German-born Queen Victoria, to baking cookies, gingerbread, fruitcake, and other seasonal sweets—are now widespread. To explore the history of Christmas and other interesting facts, click here. To find out what other countries do to celebrate, click here.

Kwanzaa, a secular and cultural holiday, is held December 26 – January 1. The observance was created in the 1960s by Maulana Karenga, a Black nationalist and later a college professor, “as a way of uniting and empowering the African American community in the aftermath of the deadly Watts Rebellion” in Los Angeles. Millions of people around the world now celebrate Kwanzaa. The name comes from the Swahili for “first fruits” as it was meant to be like African harvest festivals.

Karenga set out seven principles for the festival: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (Imani). One of the most important aspects of Kwanzaa is the sharing of food. On Karamu, the last night of the festival, that means a potluck dinner with dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya, okra stew, and more, often based on West African recipes. To find out 5 Things You May Not Know about Kwanzaa, click here.

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Our Elf Squad is Hard at Work

Ashley Even — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 22:04:15 +0000

The post Our Elf Squad is Hard at Work appeared first on Capital Caring Health.