Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation is excited to share resident Delma Payton’s Success Story!

Ms. Delma Payton has been a valued long-term care resident at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation since May 2021. Known for her love of socializing and active participation in facility activities, Ms. Payton embodies independence in her daily life. Recently, due to weakness in her lower extremities, Ms. Payton required skilled physical therapy to regain her strength and mobility. With a focus on muscle strengthening, balance, and ambulation, she demonstrated exceptional participation and progress during her therapy sessions. After just a few weeks, Ms. Payton successfully returned to her prior level of independence with walking and transfers! We’re thrilled to see Ms. Payton back to enjoying activities and socializing with fellow residents. Her determination inspires us all, and we’re so proud to have her as part of our Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation family!

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation, in partnership with Reliant Rehabilitation, is excited to share resident Stevie Nantz’s Success Story!

Stevie came to our community following a short hospital stay. Upon his admission, he needed significant assistance with his mobility, transfers, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Thanks to our dedicated team and the expert care he received through skilled Physical and Occupational Therapy, Mr. Nantz made incredible progress! With hard work and determination, he steadily improved in areas like bed mobility, transfers, and self-care tasks. By the time he completed his skilled therapy services, Mr. Nantz was able to perform many activities with significantly reduced assistance, and he was feeling stronger every day.

After his therapy goals were met, Mr. Nantz made the decision to stay with us at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation. Today, he enjoys reading, sitting outside in the fresh air, and socializing with his fellow residents. We are proud to have Mr. Nantz as part of our Greenville family, and we are thrilled to continue supporting him on his journey. His positive attitude and resilience inspire us all!

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation, in partnership with Reliant Rehabilitation, is excited to share resident Dan Sivolella’s Success Story!

Mr. Daniel Sivolella (“Dan”) arrived at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation on June 15, 2024, after an extended hospitalization for a right lung lobectomy and other medical complications. Initially, Dan relied on supplemental oxygen, required a specialized diet, and needed extensive help with mobility and self-care tasks.

Facing a major shift from independence, Dan needed skilled Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy. Though hesitant at first, his participation and determination grew with encouragement from his care team, family, and staff.

Dan made incredible progress, and by his discharge on September 30, 2024, he was fully independent with mobility, personal care, and diet, no longer needing oxygen. He also enjoyed connecting with fellow residents during his stay. Though we’ll miss Dan, we’re immensely proud of his success and thrilled to see him return home!

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation are excited to share resident Denise Arndell’s Success Story!

Ms. Denise Arndell was admitted to Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation in July 2024 after a fall at home which left her with minor R greater toe fracture, decreased standing balance, strength, endurance and overall decline in her functional status. 

She required extensive assistance upon admission for her functional transfers, ambulation and self-care tasks. Ms. Arndell received skilled physical and occupational therapy with a focus on restoring her strength, mobility and self-care task to her prior level of function. Ms. Arndell was always ready first thing in the morning for her therapy sessions and demonstrated amazing progress toward her therapy goals. Ms. Arndell can now complete her daily self–care task, transfers and mobility with decreased assistance from her caregivers!

Ms. Arndell has enjoyed being at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation and has made very good friends with fellow residents. You can always find Ms. Arndell with a smile on her face, a kind word while socializing and attending facility activities. Ms. Arndell has decided to stay with us at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation and we are all so thankful and glad to have her join our family. 

Which vaccines do older adults need?

As you get older, a health care provider may recommend vaccinations, also known as shots or immunizations, to help prevent certain illnesses.

Talk with a doctor or pharmacist about which of the following vaccines you need. Make sure to protect yourself as much as possible by keeping your vaccinations up to date.

COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that causes symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Older adults are more likely than younger people to get very sick from COVID-19. The disease can lead to serious illness and death.

Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of getting this disease. The vaccine will also help keep you from getting seriously ill or having to go to the hospital if you do get COVID-19. We are still learning how effective COVID-19 vaccines are against new variants of the virus. Read more about COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that older adults stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including booster shots. Read more about COVID-19 vaccines from the CDC.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available at no cost in the United States. Contact your local health department or visit Vaccines.gov to find out where you can get vaccinated.

Flu vaccine for older adults

Flu — short for influenza — is a virus that can cause fever, chills, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, and muscle aches. Flu is very serious when it gets in your lungs. Older adults are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia.

The flu is easy to pass from person to person. The virus also changes over time, which means you can get it again. To ensure flu vaccines remain effective, the vaccine is updated every year.

Everyone age 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine, but the protection from a flu vaccine can lessen with time, especially in older adults. Still, you are less likely to become seriously ill or hospitalized with the flu if you get the vaccine. A flu vaccine is especially important if you have a chronic health condition such as heart disease or diabetes.

Ideally, you should get your vaccine by the end of October each year so you are protected when the flu season starts. It takes at least two weeks for the vaccine to be effective. However, if you have not received your flu vaccine by the end of October, it’s not too late — flu season typically peaks in December or January. As long as the flu virus is spreading, getting vaccinated will help protect you.

There are flu vaccines designed specifically for older adults. The CDC recommends that people age 65 and older receive a higher-dose flu vaccine or an adjuvanted flu vaccine (one with an additional ingredient called an adjuvant that helps create a stronger immune response). These vaccines are potentially more effective than the standard flu vaccine for people in this age group. Talk with a health care provider or pharmacist about which vaccine is best for you.

Medicare will pay for the flu vaccine, and so will private health insurance plans. You can get a flu vaccine at a doctor’s office or local health department, as well as at many grocery stores, drug stores, and pharmacies. Flu shots may also be available at other community locations, such as schools, religious centers, and workplaces. The ingredients of a specific vaccine are the same wherever you receive it.

RSV vaccine for older adults

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, older adults have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms if they are infected with RSV. The illness can be particularly dangerous for people who have chronic diseases or a weakened immune system. Older adults who get very sick from an RSV infection may need to be hospitalized, and the illness can even be life-threatening.

RSV vaccines are available to protect older adults from the serious health problems that can occur with RSV infection. The CDC recommends that adults 60 years and older talk with their health care provider about whether they should receive the RSV vaccine. Like the flu, RSV infections are most common in the fall and winter months, so consider getting vaccinated before RSV season starts. However, you can benefit from the RSV vaccine at any time of year.

You can get the RSV vaccine at a doctor’s office, your local health department, and many pharmacies. Medicare Part D and private health insurance plans may pay some or all of the cost. Check with Medicare or your health plan for details about coverage.

Vaccines to help prevent pneumonia

Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection that spreads from person to person by air. It often causes pneumonia in the lungs and it can affect other parts of the body. Older adults are at higher risk than younger people of getting very sick or dying from pneumococcal disease.

The CDC recommends that all adults age 65 and older get pneumococcal vaccination. This vaccine helps protect you from getting a serious infection, including pneumonia. There are multiple forms of the pneumococcal vaccine: Talk to a health care provider to find out which is best for you. You can also visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage to learn more about the types of vaccines that are available.

Medicare will pay for the pneumococcal vaccine, as will many private insurance plans. You can get the vaccine at a doctor’s office, your local health department, and many pharmacies. Pneumococcal vaccines may also be available at other community locations, such as schools, religious centers, and workplaces.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are diseases caused by bacteria that can lead to serious illness and death.

• Tetanus (sometimes called lockjaw) is caused by bacteria found in soil, dust, and manure. It can enter the body through a deep cut or burn.
• Diphtheria is a serious illness that can affect the tonsils, throat, nose, or skin. It can spread from person to person.
• Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, causes uncontrollable, violent coughing fits that make it hard to breathe. It can spread from person to person.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Most people get vaccinated as children, but you also need booster shots as you get older to stay protected against these diseases. The CDC recommends that adults get a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years. Ask a health care provider when you need your booster shot.

You can get the Tdap or Td vaccine at a doctor’s office, your local health department, and many pharmacies. Medicare Part D and private health insurance plans may pay some or all of the cost. Check with Medicare or your health plan for details about coverage.

Shingles vaccine for older adults

Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. If you had chickenpox, the virus is still in your body. As you get older, the virus could become active again and cause shingles.

Shingles affects the nerves. Common symptoms include burning, shooting pain, tingling, and/or itching, as well as a rash with fluid-filled blisters. Even when the rash disappears, the pain can remain. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN.

The shingles vaccine is safe, and it may keep you from getting shingles and PHN. Healthy adults age 50 and older should get vaccinated with the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which is given in two doses. (Zostavax, an earlier shingles vaccine, is no longer available in the United States.)

You should get a shingles vaccine even if you’ve already had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, or if you don’t remember whether you had chickenpox. You should also get the shingles vaccine if you’ve already had shingles or received Zostavax. However, you should not get a vaccine if you currently have shingles, are sick or have a fever, have a weakened immune system, or have had an allergic reaction to Shingrix. Check with a health care provider if you are not sure what to do.

You can get the shingles vaccine at a doctor’s office, your local health department, and many pharmacies. Medicare Part D and private health insurance plans may pay some or all of the cost. Check with Medicare or your health plan for details about coverage.

Travel vaccines

Check with a doctor, a pharmacist, or your local health department about vaccines you need if you’re planning to travel to other countries. The vaccines that are required and recommended are based on your destination, planned activities, and medical history. Sometimes multiple vaccines or doses are needed. It’s best to get them at least four to six weeks before you travel to allow time to build up immunity and get the best protection, particularly from those that may require multiple doses.

Contact Medicare or your private health insurance plan to find out whether they cover the travel vaccines you need. You may be able to get some travel vaccines from a local health care provider. Others are available from health departments and travel medicine clinics. For more information, visit the CDC Traveler’s Health website or call its information line at 800-232-4636.

Vaccine safety and side effects

Vaccines are very safe, and they can help keep you from getting serious or life-threatening diseases. The most common side effects for all these vaccines are mild and may include pain, swelling, or redness where the vaccine was given.

Before getting any vaccine, talk with a doctor or pharmacist about your health history, including past illnesses and treatments, as well as any allergies. A health care provider can address any concerns you have.

It’s a good idea to keep your own vaccination record, listing the types and dates of your shots, along with any side effects or problems.

To learn more, please visit https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/immunizations-and-vaccines/vaccinations-and-older-adults.

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation, in partnership with Reliant Rehabilitation, is excited to share resident Sharon Bethel’s Success Story!

Sharon Bethel has been a resident at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation since May 2022. After undergoing left knee surgery in May of this year, she required extensive assistance with all functional mobility and self-care tasks and showed a decline in her cognitive skills. Sharon received comprehensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy services and demonstrated significant progress! She is now independent with all her functional mobility, walking with a walker throughout the community, completing all her self-care needs independently, and has improved her cognitive skills to her prior level. Congratulations to Sharon and her Care Team on their success!

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation, in partnership with Reliant Rehabilitation, is excited to share resident Paul Uzzle’s Success Story!

Mr. Paul Uzzle was admitted to Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation on May 22, 2024, due to generalized weakness following a recent hospital stay. He required extensive assistance for all self-care tasks and experienced issues with mobility and decreased cognition. Through comprehensive physical, occupational, and speech therapies, Paul demonstrated steady progress! By June 18, he was discharged home with improved cognition and requiring minimal assistance for functional mobility and self-care tasks. Paul was very excited to return home to be with his wife. Congratulations to Paul and his Care Team on their success!

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation, in partnership with Reliant Rehabilitation, is excited to share resident Martha Abbott’s Success Story!

Martha was admitted to Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation on April 25, 2024, after a fall at home resulted in fractured ribs, impairing her ability to live independently. Upon admission, Martha required extensive assistance with self-care tasks, bed mobility, transfers, and ambulation.

Martha received skilled physical and occupational therapy to facilitate her safety and independence for returning home. Her determination and active participation in both therapies were evident in her continuous progress towards her goals. By the time she was discharged from therapy on June 13, 2024, Martha had achieved modified independence to independence in bed mobility, transfers, self-care tasks, and ambulating with a rolling walker! Martha returned home on June 14, 2024, at her prior level of function. Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation wishes her all the best!

Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation is excited to share resident Dale Brown’s Success Story!

Dale entered Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation post-hospitalization, needing significant support with mobility and daily activities due to reduced muscle strength, endurance, and communication ability. Throughout his therapy sessions with Reliant Rehabilitation, Mr. Brown displayed exceptional dedication and collaboration. Thanks to his perseverance, he successfully regained independence and was discharged home, where he joyfully reunited with his wife. Congratulations, Dale, on meeting your rehabilitation goals!

Your patients bring diverse backgrounds, customs, abilities, and experiences to their health care. Some differences are apparent, while others are not. Factors that contribute to diversity include:

• Geographic and cultural background
• Race and ethnicity
• Age
• Gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation
• Preferred language(s)
• Religious and family traditions
• Education and socioeconomic background
• Neurodiversity
• Cognitive, sensory, and physical abilities

Recognizing and appreciating diversity is an essential part of patient-centered care. It can lead to improved patient safety, more open communication, increased health equity, and better patient outcomes. By respecting each patient’s values and preferences, you’ll be more likely to engage them as collaborative partners in their care.

How is diversity related to health?

A patient’s culture and background will affect whether and where they seek health care, their understanding of medical information, and how they make health care decisions. Recognizing the different health issues your older patients are likely to face, as well as the factors that contribute to these differences, will help you provide the most effective care.

Many complex and interacting factors, lifelong and current, underlie disparities in health risk and disease burden. These factors include:

• Unequal access to health care services
• Availability of social support
• Neighborhood and workplace environments
• Food availability and accessibility
• Wealth and income gaps
• Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination

Age-related health disparities affect the health of older adults. For example:

• NIA-funded researchers have found a higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease among African Americans and Hispanics than among other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
• Prostate cancer has higher incidence and mortality rates, as well as an earlier average age of onset, in non-Hispanic Black men compared with men of other backgrounds.

Scientists have also observed sex and gender differences in health and longevity. For example, women live longer than men, on average. They are also more likely to develop osteoporosis or depressive symptoms and to report functional limitations as they age. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to develop heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.

Other studies have found that lower socioeconomic status is associated with poorer health and reduced lifespan in the United States. Economic circumstances can determine whether an individual can afford quality health care and proper nutrition from early life into old age. Financial resources and health insurance often determine whether an older adult enters an assisted living facility or nursing home or stays at home to be cared for by family members.

Health care workforce diversity is important

Providers representing a variety of backgrounds and cultures can help meet the health needs of an increasingly diverse population. Some patients feel more comfortable with health care providers who share or understand their language, race, ethnicity, or other cultural characteristics. Research suggests that a diverse health care workforce may also improve patient satisfaction, patient-clinician communication, and access to care.

Communicating with a diverse patient population

Your conversational style can be a subtle but powerful way to connect with your patients. Being thoughtful about how you communicate with each individual can promote understanding, trust, and satisfaction in the patient-provider relationship.

Practical tips for effective communication include:

• Ask patients which name and other descriptive terms they prefer and use those consistently. This small effort can go a long way toward making patients feel welcome, safe, and accepted.
• Use person-first language. This language avoids defining someone by their condition or disability (e.g., people with diabetes instead of diabetics).
• Try to match your communication style to that of your patient. Conventions such as the speed and volume of speech vary across cultures. To some people, interrupting an individual who is speaking is acceptable and even expected, while it is considered rude and off-putting to others. 
• Use plain language. Avoid using medical terminology or abbreviations that your patients might not understand. Remember that certain idioms and figures of speech in English may be unfamiliar or confusing to people who have a different primary language.
• Be aware of nonverbal communication (such as hand gestures) that may have a different meaning to patients from different backgrounds. People also differ in the amount of eye contact, smiling, touching, and physical distance that are comfortable.

Tailoring how you talk with patients can help them better understand the information you are providing. Communicating in a way that makes your patients feel comfortable may help them open up about their health concerns and be more receptive to your guidance.

Providing language assistance in health care settings

Overcoming language barriers is critical for effective patient-provider communication. It allows for mutual understanding, informed decision-making, and better quality of care.

In any type of health care setting, you are likely to encounter patients with a primary language other than English. Here are several ways to support these patients:

• Identify the main languages spoken by your patient population and, whenever possible, match patients with qualified bilingual staff or have other trained medical interpretation services available.
• Start appointments by asking all new patients which language they prefer to speak and read, and whether they would like an interpreter. An “I Speak” card (PDF, 4.6M) can help patients identify their preferred language. Note preferences in their medical records.
• Provide important written materials in your patients’ preferred languages. For example, have office signage, intake and consent forms, prescription labels, and patient instructions available in multiple languages when possible. NIA provides health information for older adults in both English and Spanish as well as links to resources in other languages.
• Maintain a list of referrals to local clinicians and community service providers who speak your patients’ preferred languages, when available.

It can be logistically challenging to provide language assistance services. As a result, some clinicians rely on interpretation by patients’ family members or on bilingual staff members who are untrained in medical interpretation. However, experts strongly discourage this practice. An informal interpreter may be unable to convey medical terminology accurately, may inadvertently misinterpret information, or may be reluctant to share difficult news. Informal interpretation can also interfere with patient privacy.

Using qualified medical interpreters can improve communication, understanding, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction with care. Trained interpreters will help ensure that everything said during a medical appointment is relayed accurately and objectively. This checklist (PDF, 207K) provides tips for working with an interpreter.

Providing language assistance isn’t just good medical practice: In some cases, it’s also required by law. Federal policies require health care providers who receive government funds, such as Medicare and Medicaid payments, to make interpretive services and written translations of critical documents available at no cost to people with limited English proficiency. Visit LEP.gov for details about these requirements.

Some states have professional associations and foundations that may provide funding for medical interpreters. Additionally, Medicaid offers reimbursement for some medical interpretation services.

If you are looking for a qualified medical interpreter, the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters have online registries of certified interpreters. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf provides a searchable list of certified interpreters in American Sign Language. Many state government websites also provide directories of interpreters and translators to help you locate services in your area.

Tips for culturally sensitive care

How can you work with your patients in a way that respects their diversity? To start, avoid making assumptions about a person’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on their culture or background. Instead, engage with patients to find out about their individual values and preferences.

Additional ideas for providing culturally sensitive care include:

• Reflect on your own background, beliefs, and values, and consider how they inform your practice. For example, think about your own feelings about aging and how they might influence your interactions with your older patients.
• Get to know the community that you serve. What are the most common racial and ethnic groups? Which languages do they speak? What health, social, and environmental issues do they face? Adapt programs and health care practices so they are appropriate to the groups you serve most often.
• Recognize that a healthy diet plan may differ among cultural traditions. Patients will have difficulty following dietary advice if it doesn’t take their food preferences and cooking methods into account. The Nutrition.gov Culture and Food page provides nutrition guidance, food options, and recipes from around the world.
• Understand that some patients may value having other family members involved in their health care decisions. Clarify how the patient sees the role of family and any specific information they want shared with relatives.
• For patients nearing the end of life, ask about their health care goals. There may be cultural or religious differences in attitudes toward end-of-life decision-making, such as creating advance directives; disclosing a terminal diagnosis to the sick person or family members; and pursuing life-prolonging treatments, such as a feeding tube.

Different beliefs about aging

People from different cultures and traditions have varied attitudes about aging. For example, in some cultures, older adults are customarily respected for their wisdom and experience. Other cultures tend to be more youth-centered, valuing the qualities of youth over those of old age.

When societies prefer youth over old age, it can lead to ageism. This often underrecognized form of discrimination comprises stereotypes and prejudices directed toward people on the basis of their age. Ageism has serious implications for the health of older people: Studies have associated age-based discrimination with poorer physical and mental health, reduced quality of life, and even earlier death.

Because ageism is so pervasive, it’s easy for well-intentioned health care providers to make assumptions about their older patients and inadvertently reinforce harmful stereotypes. For example, patients and their providers may dismiss otherwise treatable health problems as an inevitable part of aging. As a result, older patients may suffer preventable discomfort and disability.

For tips on avoiding ageism when talking with your patients, see the World Health Organization’s Quick Guide to Avoid Ageism in Communication.

Clinical research needs diversity

It is important for clinical trials and studies to include a diverse range of participants so the results will have broader applicability. Researchers need older adults from many different backgrounds to participate in research so they can learn more about how new drugs, tests, and other interventions will work in diverse populations.

Clinical research also needs scientists from diverse backgrounds, particularly from groups that have been historically underrepresented. Diversity in scientific teams can lead to more creative and innovative thinking, which can help biomedical research represent and benefit people from all backgrounds.

To learn more, please visit https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/health-care-professionals-information/providing-care-diverse-older-adult-population.