Home Health Blogger

Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN

Recent Posts

Long-Term Anti-Coagulation Therapy? Monitor 2 things...

Home health care patients with atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and/or artificial heart valves will likely be placed on maintenance anticoagulation therapy to reduce/eliminate blood clots. 

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Dec 12, 2023

A Patient with Swallowing Difficulties? Clinicians should know...

Dysphagia is among the most common conditions in home health patients and poses a great risk for re-hospitalization. Teaching and guidance on the National Dysphagia Diet (NDD) Dysphagia Diet for patients with swallowing, feeding and eating difficulties should be included in your HHA's...

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Aug 21, 2023

6 Best Practices for Home Health Aides & Medications

Are home health aides in your state allowed to give medications? Click here to here to find out -

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Jul 25, 2023

Long-Term Steroid Use? Teach Five (5) Things

Corticosteroids, or just steroids, can be prescribed for a wide-range of conditions. For patients with cancer, steroids can be prescribed for the following reasons:

  • Increase potency and effectiveness of some chemotherapy agents
  • Reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
  • ...

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Jul 18, 2023

Medicare's OASIS One Clinician Rule: What is this about?

Updated from previous article 1/3/2018:

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on May 12, 2022

Pain Management: Think Outside the Box

Pain management is a routine intervention provided by clinicians.

Comprehensive pain management is a particularly necessary skill for home health clinicians.

As the body ages pain emerges with different disease-types. Unlike other sensory experiences, pain is influenced by ways in...

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Jan 19, 2022

Busy Minds Fight Dementia in Home Health Care Patients

From Healthday: Mentally stimulating activities can protect home health care patients' brains against aging, even if genetically predisposed toward dementia or Alzheimer's disease, a new study reports MyHomecareBiz

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Mar 11, 2021

Dysphagia Diets? Home Health Clinicians Should Know...

Dysphagia is among the most common conditions in home health patients and poses a great risk for re-hospitalization. Teaching and guidance on the National Dyphagia Diet (NDD) Dysphagia Diet for patients with swallowing, feeding and eating difficulties should be included in your HHA's...

Posted by Joy Joan E. De Castro, RN, MSN on Nov 16, 2020