Care Where You Need It, At Home

Here at Assisting Hands Home Care, we provide home health care because we know that is where our clients and so many seniors in our community need the help. We happily help our clients maintain their independence by giving them the helping hands they need. This month we would like to introduce you to a dear friend of ours who is also a home-visit service provider, helping seniors have the tools they need to live the life they want.

Tami Meyer is a Speech Language Pathologist who provides in-home speech therapy exclusively for adults and specializes in treating individuals with Aphasia, Parkinson’s, and Dementia. Tami knows how difficult it can be for people with those diagnoses to make it out to appointments, especially when they may be relying on someone else for a ride and may be juggling multiple doctors’ appointments. Tami, like us, is dedicated to simplifying and bettering her clients’ lives.

Spotlight on Tami Meyer, Speech Language Pathologist

Tami was inspired to help adults with communication disorders following an Introduction to Speech and Hearing Sciences course she took as a prerequisite to learn sign language. It was learning about Aphasia, a language impairment caused by damage to the brain, that first caught her interest and inspired her to become a speech language pathologist.

April: Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness month and Tami wants to make sure you’re aware of some of the lesser known symptoms of Parkinson’s that can be addressed in speech therapy. 

Speech

People with Parkinson’s may have a quieter voice and be less intelligible. As a result, they may feel discouraged and communicate less. Tami teaches her clients exercises to improve the power of their voice and clarity of their speech so they can be heard and understood.

Cognition

People with Parkinson’s may also experience problems with cognition, such as difficulty with memory, attention, and problem solving. In speech therapy, Tami can address those issues by working with the client and their families to identify and implement strategies to help the client be as independent as possible.

Swallowing

Another issue clients with Parkinson’s may face is trouble swallowing and risk of aspiration: when foreign material such as food enters the airway, putting the client at risk for Aspiration pneumonia. Diet consistency may be modified (e.g. thickened liquids), swallowing guidelines recommended (e.g. take single sips from a cup, no straws), and exercises provided to strengthen the swallow. Exercises may improve swallow function and help individuals with Parkinson’s Disease maintain safe swallowing for a longer period of time.

Programs for Parkinson’s

Tami is LSVT LOUD certified and a provider of SPEAK OUT. These evidence-based treatment programs are designed for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and result in improvements in speech intelligibility and communication. Individuals who complete these programs may also experience improvements in swallow function.

Speech Therapy and Dementia

Did you know Speech Therapy can also help individuals with dementia?

The support a speech therapist provides someone with dementia depends on what stage they are in the disease. Speech therapists can train the client and family how to use compensatory strategies so that the client can be as independent as possible.  An example may be teaching a client to look in a memory book for information if they find they can’t remember something. Other strategies may include writing notes and using pill boxes and alarms. Clients can be guided to use appropriate techniques and their families can learn how to support the use of these strategies.

Give Tami A Call!

Tami’s favorite part of her work is connecting with people. She loves giving them the opportunity to see how successful they can be. She also enjoys helping their families learn how they can help be supportive in their loved ones lives to make their quality of life the best it can be!

If you are interested in talking to Tami about her services, or if you would like more information, Tami is always happy to be a resource! Give her a call at (847) 423-8872.