story and photo by James Coburn, Staff Writer
Carla McDonnell, LPN, loves seeing improvements in people’s lives as the weekend nurse manager at Valir PACE (Program for All Inclusive Care of the Elderly).
“They become more like family than patients,” McDonnell said. “I think that the job we do allows people to stay at home. We keep them out of nursing homes and keep them well.”
Her intervention skills have even saved lives that were under threat.
Valir PACE provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and some light housework. Additionally, it provides nutrition through the expertise of a dietitian. It offers home care, social services, counseling, and assistance with housing. Primary care providers and RN care coordinators instill best practices. Licensed practical nurses offer care at the center and participants’ homes. Valir PACE also collaborates with the Department of Human Services.
“It is all-inclusive care where we can provide medical care, dental care. We can get you to a specialist. Your medications come to you,” McDonnell said. “Therapy helps you build your strength up so you can be more independent.”
A clothing and food pantry is available. Transportation is provided by Valir PACE to any of their clients outside appointments such as dialysis or other specialty appointments. Valir PACE at Valir Health, serves individuals 55 and older who reside in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area within a 50-mile radius.
Her nursing career has included the Department of Corrections and mental health. Being empathetic helped her a lot in corrections where geriatric care was her favorite aspect. She has served at Valir PACE for nearly seven years.
A 2012 graduate of Platt College, McDonnell is on-call each Friday through Monday and handles emergencies and patient visits. She greets her patients at the door, educates them about how Valir Pace can help them with their needs, and lets them know that she is always available if they need to call her.
“That way it builds their confidence that they know they’ll be taken care of,” she said.
Therapists and the nursing staff have the same goal — patients are priority for everyone. Nurses are always willing to help one another, McDonnell said.
“I wanted to have a job that at the end of the day I knew I made a difference,” McDonnell explained. “I think over the years I’ve built trust with them and see them smile. There are certain patients that I see every single weekend. They look forward to it when I go there because it gives them hope. Even if they don’t need anything medical, it gives them someone to talk to. Some of our patients get lonely and they’re by themselves. So, to know you’ve put a smile on someone’s face. It makes a difference.”
Home-bound patients get to socialize. Many of them live alone and rarely have opportunities to see anyone. And McDonnell’s observation skills benefit patient care when something is going on with them that they may not have noticed.
“I went to one patient’s house where they were in the process of having a heart attack,” she said. “To know you decided to show up that day and at that time, you know that you’ve made that difference. You get them to the hospital on time.”
Another patient was having a stroke when McDonnell arrived at the house. She was able to get him to an emergency room to have the stroke medication that saves precious lives from paralysis or even death.
“You know you made a difference and how their life will be when moving forward,” she said. “That and when they smile. They know they have food to eat.”
Some memories will always endure. One day, McDonnell was on the elevator crying after a patient had passed away. An elderly woman asked her why the tears.
“I said, ‘Oh, I just lost somebody.’ She said, ‘Honey, look around. We’re all old and we’re all going to go.’ She said, ‘As long as we know that and as long as our life is good until then, we’re okay with it.’” McDonnell recalled. “And it gave me a better understanding that everybody passes in their own time. But if you can make them smile while they’re here, and make their life better, then it makes that difference.”
McDonnell has evolved more empathy for people during her career.
She said, “I strive to learn more to make more of an impact, to listen to see things that people aren’t seeing. I think I’ve learned that a lot because people will tell you things, but they don’t always tell you the full story.”
For more information about Valir Pace visit https://valir.com/pace/.
