EHN 2022AnnualReport 9DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 21
Finding a cat sitter
When Eastside Health Network (EHN) Social Worker
Brianna Taylor inherited this particular patient,
she was warned the case was complex. The woman
used to be a nurse and didn’t think she needed
care management.
The patient was in her 60s and lived by herself in
an apartment. She was obese to the point that she
struggled to complete essential daily tasks. Because
of her health, her home environment was not safe for
her, but she was resistant to acknowledge the reality
that her living situation was risky. Due to her weight,
the patient had not left her house in three years. She
was also low income and sat in the frustrating middle
ground in which she was low income but not low
income enough to qualify for Medicaid.
One of the woman’s main needs was weekly bath
aid. The patient had discontinued her relationship
with her previous home-aide company because she
did not like them. Brianna connected the patient
with a new in-network service. The woman had an
existing referral but had been denied service due to
their previous experience working with the patient.
Brianna coordinated a call with all parties in which
they could discuss the situation and resolve any
residual bad feelings.
Through working with this patient, Brianna found
out that she had experienced a family tragedy
about two years prior and had been struggling with
related depression and anxiety. As a result, she had
been pushing away anyone who was trying to help.
Brianna informed the patient about virtual options
for mental health services, and she started seeing a
therapist. Her motivation began increasing, and she
has began to address core issues.
In January of 2022, the patient needed to go to the
emergency department (ED) because of declining
2022 Annual Report
health. She refused to go
without first finding someone
to take care of her cat. On
a Friday afternoon, Brianna
called around and found
an organization that could
care for the cat, meaning the
patient would go to the ED for
needed care. The woman was discharged from the
hospital the next day but needed more care than
anyone had previously realized. Brianna and EHN
Ambulatory Care Manager, Jen Riley, convinced her
to go back for a longer stay a week later.
On this second visit, the woman stayed in the
hospital for a few weeks and got more of the
care she needed. Also, for the first time ever, she
became open to a conversation about moving into
assisted living. She is still saying she wants to stay
in her apartment, but she is starting to see that
living in her apartment, on her own, may not be the
healthiest choice for her, or her cat, and that is a
huge shift for this patient.
Jen and Brianna both did a lot of motivational
interviewing with the patient to get her to accept
the reality of her life circumstances. Brianna saw a
huge shift from a total refusal to acknowledge how
serious the situation was to being open to greater
levels of care. And that gave Brianna hope.
The woman stayed in the hospital
for a few weeks and got more of
the care she needed. Also, for the
first time ever, she became open to
a conversation about moving into
assisted living.
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