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Welcome to Emotion Well,
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EFR’s podcast about all things
related to emotional well-being.
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I'm Johanna Dunlevy,
the EAP Operations Director for Employee &
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Family Resources, also known as EFR,
and I'm the host of our podcast.
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As an FYI,
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EFR is located in Des Moines, Iowa,
and we are Iowa's first employee
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assistance program and provide a variety
of services you can learn more about at
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www.efr.org.
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I am here with Sydney Marshman.
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She is an occupational therapist and
the founder of Happy at Home Consulting.
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Sydney, welcome to Emotion Well.
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Hey, thanks for having me.
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Yeah, well, I'm excited to have you here.
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For our listeners,
I found Sydney on LinkedIn one day,
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and I saw some of my connections
were engaging with her posts,
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and I was curious to know
more about Sydney and her business.
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And so the more I looked into it,
the more curious I got
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and I thought she could be a great guest
for the podcast.
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So that's why you're here
and thanks for accepting the invitation.
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Tell our listeners
a little bit more about yourself, Sydney.
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Yeah, so like you mentioned,
my name is Sydney Marshman,
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and I'm an occupational therapist
and founder of Happy at Home Consulting.
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So we're going to wear the Happy at Home
Consulting hat today.
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But I do wear other hats in the work
that I do,
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and we can talk more about that later
if you're interested in it.
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But, in general,
my work is really about helping people
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live and thrive in their homes,
whether that is through small changes
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like the types of devices or equipment
that we use every day all the way
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up to major redesigns, reconstruction,
new builds, all of those pieces.
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But really,
how do we live and thrive at our homes?
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So I believe
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you're, are you a Grandview
and Drake grad?
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I am Iowa
State and Drake. Iowa State and Drake.
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I'm sorry I got that wrong.
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So I'm guessing,
did you do OT school at Drake?
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Yes, I was in their first cohort
of occupational therapy.
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Yeah, that's a newer program
there. That's exciting.
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So tell us a little bit
about how you got interested
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in the field,
like what was your undergrad at Iowa State
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and then what motivated you to go
to Drake and study occupational therapy?
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So I think I have a little bit
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of a different story
than I would say the general OT does.
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It seems like a lot of OTs that I meet
have a personal connection
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of a loved one having OT, and that's
really how they found the field.
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For me,
I actually remember in eighth grade,
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like, sitting down and taking your,
I don't know, like, an aptitude test
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sort of thing of, like,
what are you interested in doing?
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Where do your skills fit,
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and from that time moving forward,
I actually wanted to be a medical doctor.
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Okay.
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And I started in eighth grade thinking
that I wanted to do ophthalmology.
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Okay. Which is like, such a big goal.
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And I'm
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so appreciative of our ophthalmologist,
but it was not a good fit for me.
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Yeah.
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And then I kind of transitioned into,
being interested in family practice.
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I really liked the idea of building long
lasting relationships with people
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and really navigating life's transitions
in a lot of ways.
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And then I worked in family practice
for a little bit, decided that,
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you know, you don't even get enough time
with someone to really
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like build that level of relationship
that I was looking for.
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So kind of my first year at
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Iowa State, I was having a little bit
of an identity crisis.
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Like, I don't know if I can commit to
medical school and doing all the things.
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I also was struggling to pass calculus.
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And, you know,
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for 15 minutes with someone
maybe twice a year.
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Yeah.
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Or maybe when they're cold and stuff
and just now ready for antibiotics.
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And I know family medicine
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is so much more than that,
but I really wanted these, like, long
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lasting relationships with people
and working collaboratively with them.
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And at that time, I didn't think medicine
was the right fit for that.
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Okay.
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So I went to my advisor.
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I said, help me,
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help me make sense of this.
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And he really recommended
occupational therapy.
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And I stuck with it.
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And here we are with some, like, bumps
along the way.
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The first OT I shadowed was like,
not the OT that I do,
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not the way that I practice
but still like a learning opportunity
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and just, you know, a really good,
intro to the breadth that is OT now.
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Yeah.
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So what was your undergraduate then,
what did you decide on
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for an undergraduate degree?
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Yeah. So I was originally in biology.
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I transitioned into kinesiology
with a public health focus.
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That makes sense.
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And I will tell you, I purely did that
because I could get done in three years
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rather than four. Okay.
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That my, like, college credits
in high school, they just magically fit
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better into that degree than bio
and with the labs.
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And that was kind of just a
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means
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to the end kind of thing,
as I knew I would be going on.
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But I really reflect a lot
on my undergrad degree in the work
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that I do now, being very community
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focused and very community based,
that I use a lot of that knowledge.
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And I can tell now that I'm like, oh,
we have the same undergrad.
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Yeah.
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Like the people that I work with.
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And I'm like,
oh, we like have the same mindset.
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That's so interesting.
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Yeah, I know that sounds like the perfect
kind of segue into OT.
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When you were saying that, you know,
you're a freshman
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and you're kind
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of having an identity crisis, and we're
not here to talk about that in particular.
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But I just think it's something good
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to remind people of,
especially younger listeners.
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You don't always know what you want to be
when you are in high school
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and transitioning into college, and it's
okay, like it's okay to change your mind.
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I love hearing stories about people who,
you know, thought
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that they were on the path
to doing something,
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and then they had a life experience,
or they had an a-ha moment,
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or they were like, you know what?
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I actually don't even enjoy this
or this might not be worth it.
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I want to do something different.
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And I love it
when people can just give themselves
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permission to change their minds
and then find something
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that really serves them,
and then therefore serves others.
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So kudos to you for just kind of listening
to your intuition and thinking,
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maybe a little more critically than,
you know, you might have otherwise like
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had you been like, I want to do that
and that's what I'm going to do.
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So, let's talk
about occupational therapy.
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I think a lot of people are more familiar
with physical therapy.
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But what is occupational therapy?
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You know, what is the science behind it?
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Why would someone maybe,
see an occupational therapist?
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And let's kind of lay
the groundwork for that before
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we get into some more specifics
around the work that you do.
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Yeah.
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So broadly speaking, PT
and OT are very similar disciplines.
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And I think PT has, you know,
they have this marketing thing done.
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People know when to seek a PT,
they know how to seek a PT.
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They definitely have that marketing piece
down way more than OT does,
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to the point
that sometimes OTs are confused as PTs.
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Yeah.
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So you probably may have
already interacted with an OT
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and you maybe didn't know it.
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But that's, I think in part due to just
the large breadth of our profession.
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So I really think of OT
kind of like the common phrase is that PT
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will help you get where you're going, OT
will help you do what you're going to do
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when you get there.
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For example.
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So that's kind of what I would say
is the adult phrase, of
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when you're in the hospital, PT’s
going to work with you on maybe
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walking and emulating versus
OT is going to make sure,
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like, oh, can you actually get yourself on
and off the toilet?
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Can you like, take care of yourself?
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More like functional
everything. Like, yes.
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It's very functional.
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I personally I just kind of
have been thinking about
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why I was interested in OT
and why I find myself really
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sitting in my profession
now, just being so proud of it is that,
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OT really
is that like, age old phrase of teach
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a man to fish he’ll
feed himself for a lifetime. And
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sometimes that can be polarizing, right.
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Because there is a lot of,
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different opinions on
what kind of supports
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we give to people to help them
kind of level up their life.
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And OT is kind of the gray
in-between of I recognize
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that not everybody
has the exact tools that they need.
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And how do I get them those tools?
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How do I either
change how they're doing the task.
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How do I provide them with the right tools
to do the task?
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How do I connect them with the right
resources to get the task done?
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And it's really about increasing
independence for that person
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rather than just saying, here's
this thing,
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case closed. Yeah.
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When I think so much of this ties
directly back to someone's quality of life
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and, you know, their emotional well-being,
because if you are struggling with
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activities of daily living or, you know,
I think people hear the word,
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you know, fitness and they think,
oh, like, I'm going to be fit and I'm
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going to be able to do powerlifting
or a hot yoga class or run a marathon.
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It's like, no functional fitness.
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Like,
do you want to be able to tie your shoes?
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Do you want to be able to walk up stairs?
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Do you want to be able to
just go for a walk?
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You know,
those functional kind of basic things
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I think are so important
for people to understand.
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And OT has such a good overlap
into mental health.
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OT was actually started
in the mental health realm.
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Interesting, tell me more. Yes.
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So OT actually started in 1917,
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after the First World War when we realized
that people returning from war
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weren't integrating back into our society,
maybe as we expected them to after what
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we now call PTSD. Yeah.
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So we use occupations to engage people to,
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you know, give a sense of purpose
to find the things that people
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are interested in doing
and that kind of fill their cup
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to feel better about their day,
their life, their trajectory.
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Yeah.
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And that's just
how our profession has been
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branched out into now that
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we work with kids and talking about
how do we, help kids to then
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grow up
well to be able to participate as adults,
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and all these other kind of facets
of our profession.
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Yeah.
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I did not know that.
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So that's very interesting.
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And, you know, as time evolves
and as people have more, you know,
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relatable experiences, like you said,
it used to not be called PTSD.
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But now we understand that people
who have, maybe served in, you know, war
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time come back with some kind of trauma,
or maybe they have an even,
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PTSD can be related to any kind of trauma,
but it's often,
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I think, associated with veterans
and people who served.
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Yeah.
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But that's interesting. I didn't know that
there was a connection there.
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So thank you for sharing that.
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How did you settle on, like,
what population do you like to work with?
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What's your target audience?
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Well, we talk about,
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you know, we started this with, like,
what do you want to do with your life?
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And that felt very,
centric to younger adults
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and like, it's
okay not to know what you want to do.
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I still don't know what I want to do.
Yeah.
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That's okay. Yeah, it's okay.
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And it's
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because I really find interest in so many
different aspects of my profession.
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I love working with older adults.
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Happy at home consulting was started
based on an experience
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in our family
caring for my nanna, growing up
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and just seeing her trajectory
and aging in place.
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That I really found,
you know, we needed to be providing more.
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And that's why happy home
consulting started.
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But as things have progressed
and got going, really seeing
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so many other populations, I love working
with individuals with disabilities.
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How are we, you know,
accommodating individuals’ disabilities
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and really integrating people
into our community regardless
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if you have an identified disability
or not?
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Are we providing you access
and how are we being inclusive?
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All of those pieces, other
I mean, other interest areas.
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I feel like I could go down a whole
rabbit hole.
235
00:11:47,498 --> 00:11:50,668
I love the idea of like looking at more
236
00:11:50,668 --> 00:11:54,088
environmental modifications
for individuals who are neurodivergent.
237
00:11:54,505 --> 00:11:57,174
All of these pieces that I feel like OT
238
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has a little piece
in, but it's very collaborative.
239
00:12:00,469 --> 00:12:00,720
Sure.
240
00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:02,680
Most of the people that I work with,
241
00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:06,726
they already have an established
care team, and I think that's where I just
242
00:12:06,767 --> 00:12:10,271
I flourish is okay, you've done
all of these pieces now.
243
00:12:10,271 --> 00:12:12,523
How can we level that up
just a little bit?
244
00:12:12,523 --> 00:12:12,857
Yeah.
245
00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:14,734
What piece could I add? Absolutely.
246
00:12:14,734 --> 00:12:17,528
And I also think
it takes a village. Right.
247
00:12:17,528 --> 00:12:19,280
So like no matter what
someone's going through,
248
00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,366
it might be a combination
of a medical doctor,
249
00:12:22,366 --> 00:12:25,202
an occupational therapist,
a mental health counselor,
250
00:12:25,202 --> 00:12:28,330
some resource in their community,
and then, you know, a loved one.
251
00:12:28,330 --> 00:12:31,542
And I just think it's important
that we look at the bigger picture
252
00:12:31,542 --> 00:12:35,588
when people are trying
to, either, you know, recover
253
00:12:35,755 --> 00:12:39,925
or they have recovered from something and
they're looking to maintain good health.
254
00:12:40,259 --> 00:12:43,846
It takes a lot of different moving parts
to support someone.
255
00:12:43,846 --> 00:12:44,555
And, you know,
256
00:12:44,555 --> 00:12:48,642
there's not really one single,
support that probably covers everything.
257
00:12:48,642 --> 00:12:51,061
It's like, very collaborative.
258
00:12:52,813 --> 00:12:53,939
So I think one of the reasons
259
00:12:53,939 --> 00:12:58,235
I was interested in some of the content
you were sharing on LinkedIn was because,
260
00:12:59,236 --> 00:13:01,447
so I have one living parent,
261
00:13:01,447 --> 00:13:06,744
and, my dad passed away a few years ago
and I noticed, a big difference
262
00:13:06,744 --> 00:13:10,664
in his ability and mobility from
263
00:13:11,874 --> 00:13:14,376
mid 70s to early 80s.
264
00:13:14,376 --> 00:13:16,962
And he passed away at age 83.
265
00:13:16,962 --> 00:13:19,882
And my mom, who's now in her early 80s,
I've kind of noticed the same thing.
266
00:13:19,882 --> 00:13:21,425
I think just over time.
267
00:13:21,425 --> 00:13:25,137
And both of my parents,
were relatively active.
268
00:13:25,137 --> 00:13:27,848
Like, you know,
I wouldn't say they were sedentary
269
00:13:27,848 --> 00:13:31,602
or my mom's not sedentary,
but just natural decline with age, right.
270
00:13:31,602 --> 00:13:32,645
It happens.
271
00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:32,728
Yeah.
272
00:13:32,728 --> 00:13:37,566
But I saw how much that really affected
my dad's life and how it has started
273
00:13:37,566 --> 00:13:39,610
to affect my mom's life,
because they've both had falls.
274
00:13:39,610 --> 00:13:42,988
So my dad fell and broke his hip,
and my mom has broken her femur,
275
00:13:43,656 --> 00:13:47,493
and especially with my dad,
like it was a very quick decline.
276
00:13:47,660 --> 00:13:49,036
And so
277
00:13:49,995 --> 00:13:51,163
I know that one thing that
278
00:13:51,163 --> 00:13:54,250
you really like to focus on
is providing people
279
00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:57,461
the resources to be able to kind of live
out the life that they want.
280
00:13:57,461 --> 00:13:59,713
And for a lot of people,
that's maintaining in their home,
281
00:13:59,713 --> 00:14:03,425
like maintaining a life in their home
versus being, you know, transitioned
282
00:14:03,425 --> 00:14:06,971
to a skilled care or,
you know, assisted living type center.
283
00:14:06,971 --> 00:14:10,307
So can you talk to me
a little bit about proactive planning?
284
00:14:10,307 --> 00:14:12,309
And I know, like
285
00:14:12,309 --> 00:14:16,438
we had chatted a little bit via email
before this and the word safety came up.
286
00:14:16,438 --> 00:14:19,024
And so, I really liked how you framed it.
287
00:14:19,024 --> 00:14:21,151
It's more about just being proactive.
288
00:14:21,151 --> 00:14:23,779
Because it's not
that things are not safe, it's
289
00:14:23,779 --> 00:14:25,781
just that
we don't know what we don't know.
290
00:14:26,740 --> 00:14:28,742
Yeah, I really included that
291
00:14:28,742 --> 00:14:34,623
because I'm kind of on my personal journey
to identify the language that I'm using.
292
00:14:34,623 --> 00:14:38,460
And how's that reflecting on my clients
and safety is one of those things I'm
293
00:14:38,460 --> 00:14:39,461
trying to phase out.
294
00:14:39,461 --> 00:14:40,004
Yeah.
295
00:14:40,004 --> 00:14:43,591
You know, I've realized that
when we talk about things like home safety
296
00:14:43,591 --> 00:14:45,551
assessments for fall prevention,
297
00:14:45,551 --> 00:14:48,429
people kind of put their guard up
and they're like, oh, I'm safe.
298
00:14:48,429 --> 00:14:49,972
Like, I'm just fine.
299
00:14:49,972 --> 00:14:51,849
I don't need your help. I'm good.
300
00:14:51,849 --> 00:14:54,852
But my neighbor down the street, that guy,
he needs you.
301
00:14:55,144 --> 00:15:00,649
You know, people are inherently,
just they don't they don't need help.
302
00:15:00,649 --> 00:15:04,111
If we talk about, you know, any sort of,
303
00:15:04,445 --> 00:15:08,699
I don't know, like, thing that's going on
that with, like, a negative connotation.
304
00:15:08,699 --> 00:15:11,702
People just kind of close up
and they're like, no thanks.
305
00:15:11,702 --> 00:15:11,911
Yeah.
306
00:15:11,911 --> 00:15:14,705
And I almost feel like if you address it
from that safety perspective,
307
00:15:14,705 --> 00:15:16,916
they might feel like they've done
something wrong.
308
00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:19,919
Yes. Like, well, shoot,
you know, I haven't.
309
00:15:20,002 --> 00:15:22,379
Because there were things
I would go into my dad's house
310
00:15:22,379 --> 00:15:24,924
and I'd be like, oh my God, there's
these like cords everywhere,
311
00:15:24,924 --> 00:15:27,968
and there's boxes and these
are tripping hazards, and this isn't safe.
312
00:15:28,719 --> 00:15:31,764
And the last thing he probably wanted me
doing was like doing an assessment
313
00:15:31,764 --> 00:15:35,434
in his home, you know, going like, well,
this cord is too far from the wall,
314
00:15:35,434 --> 00:15:38,896
and that box needs to be taken
to the trash and, and whatnot.
315
00:15:38,896 --> 00:15:43,067
But if you know, you, if you look at it
316
00:15:43,067 --> 00:15:46,236
through a different lens,
maybe they're more open
317
00:15:46,236 --> 00:15:50,532
to hearing what you have to say
and taking in those suggestions.
318
00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:51,283
Yeah.
319
00:15:51,283 --> 00:15:52,701
Especially because I think so
320
00:15:52,701 --> 00:15:56,330
much of the things that we're seeing
on social media about, you know, fall
321
00:15:56,330 --> 00:15:59,416
prevention and the environmental pieces
to fall prevention,
322
00:15:59,708 --> 00:16:02,586
I think you and I probably assume
that everyone knows those.
323
00:16:02,586 --> 00:16:03,045
Right.
324
00:16:03,045 --> 00:16:06,173
But we don't, especially
325
00:16:06,173 --> 00:16:09,176
when we're looking at our own homes.
326
00:16:09,301 --> 00:16:11,679
Oh, my home work's fine.
I haven't had any trouble in my home.
327
00:16:11,679 --> 00:16:14,682
Why would I even consider
that there is a problem?
328
00:16:15,224 --> 00:16:18,811
It's when we talk about that
proactive, preventative approach,
329
00:16:19,853 --> 00:16:20,771
we recognize
330
00:16:20,771 --> 00:16:24,608
that falls are a huge issue
because they do lead
331
00:16:24,608 --> 00:16:28,153
to a huge decline that some people aren’t
able to recover from.
332
00:16:28,779 --> 00:16:31,448
And I'm sorry
that that was your personal experience.
333
00:16:31,448 --> 00:16:35,244
And unfortunately, it's a lot of people's
personal experience
334
00:16:35,244 --> 00:16:38,956
because it is so it's such a far
stretching issue
335
00:16:38,956 --> 00:16:43,460
and it's not necessarily
one specific thing that causes a fall.
336
00:16:43,460 --> 00:16:46,296
It's usually a multitude of things. Yeah.
337
00:16:46,296 --> 00:16:49,842
I'm just thinking about,
you know, when people have babies
338
00:16:49,842 --> 00:16:52,302
and then those babies become toddlers,
339
00:16:52,302 --> 00:16:55,806
there's usually things
that they modify in their home like,
340
00:16:55,806 --> 00:16:59,977
a baby gate or cabinet locks or,
you know, whatever it is,
341
00:16:59,977 --> 00:17:02,980
because you kind of anticipate, like,
oh, this child might
342
00:17:03,105 --> 00:17:06,984
want to roll down the stairs or open up
drawers or pull a dresser out, you know,
343
00:17:06,984 --> 00:17:10,863
and how can we think
in kind of that similar sense
344
00:17:10,863 --> 00:17:15,576
around any stage of life or any population
that we're, you know, working with?
345
00:17:15,576 --> 00:17:17,953
And I've been reflecting on that a lot
because obviously, you know,
346
00:17:17,953 --> 00:17:19,872
we talked about I have a three year old
and a one year old.
347
00:17:19,872 --> 00:17:20,748
We've done our fair
348
00:17:20,748 --> 00:17:24,668
share of baby proofing,
both preventatively and reactively. Yes.
349
00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:27,254
You know, you do you do those things.
350
00:17:27,254 --> 00:17:32,342
But that's assuming, you know,
I as a parent am,
351
00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,805
quote, competent
and I am assuming that my child is not.
352
00:17:36,889 --> 00:17:37,139
Right.
353
00:17:37,139 --> 00:17:39,349
That's
why they have all of these inherent risks
354
00:17:39,349 --> 00:17:41,894
is because they don't know
what's dangerous to them.
355
00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:42,311
Yeah.
356
00:17:42,311 --> 00:17:46,774
Versus when we translate that into a child
357
00:17:46,899 --> 00:17:49,818
providing that insight to their parents.
358
00:17:49,818 --> 00:17:50,986
Yeah.
359
00:17:50,986 --> 00:17:55,491
It just doesn't quite work, assuming that
one person is inherently not competent.
360
00:17:56,575 --> 00:17:58,452
And it's not well received.
361
00:17:58,452 --> 00:18:01,455
And even if it's not a parent
child relationship,
362
00:18:01,497 --> 00:18:03,082
you know, maybe it's a professional,
363
00:18:03,082 --> 00:18:06,251
like an occupational therapist
working with an older individual.
364
00:18:07,002 --> 00:18:07,211
Yeah.
365
00:18:07,211 --> 00:18:09,129
No one wants to be viewed as incompetent.
366
00:18:09,129 --> 00:18:14,301
So, and then we get into all of like,
the motivation talks of, you know,
367
00:18:14,635 --> 00:18:19,431
what's the better way
to propose those kind
368
00:18:19,431 --> 00:18:23,602
of solutions, to propose those changes,
and it really has to come internally.
369
00:18:23,602 --> 00:18:27,439
Yeah, it has to come from the homeowner
themselves saying, you know what?
370
00:18:27,439 --> 00:18:29,733
I do recognize that risk.
371
00:18:29,733 --> 00:18:32,736
I could see how that applies to my daily
life.
372
00:18:32,903 --> 00:18:35,322
And I am willing to change that.
373
00:18:35,322 --> 00:18:40,327
Where I see some people catch in
that kind of trajectory
374
00:18:40,327 --> 00:18:44,373
is the I'm willing to change it,
but I don't know how,
375
00:18:44,373 --> 00:18:49,294
or I don't have the means to change it,
or I just can't put the pieces together.
376
00:18:49,503 --> 00:18:51,171
Yeah. To make that change.
377
00:18:52,131 --> 00:18:54,174
I also think about,
378
00:18:54,174 --> 00:18:56,176
you know, sometimes you can get
379
00:18:56,176 --> 00:18:59,138
like the primary residence
or where the person is spending
380
00:18:59,221 --> 00:19:02,266
all or most of their time in a place
381
00:19:02,266 --> 00:19:05,519
that’s, you know, conducive to safety.
382
00:19:05,519 --> 00:19:08,856
I know we don't want to use the word
safety, but in a place that's conducive to
383
00:19:09,356 --> 00:19:11,733
whatever lifestyle they need and supports
they need.
384
00:19:11,733 --> 00:19:14,319
But, you know, think about like,
I've even noticed this with my mom.
385
00:19:14,319 --> 00:19:15,445
Like when she travels,
386
00:19:15,445 --> 00:19:18,699
like it's just so much harder for her
because, and she was just visiting.
387
00:19:19,241 --> 00:19:21,034
She broke her femur less than a year ago.
388
00:19:21,034 --> 00:19:25,455
And when we were getting her
checked into her hotel,
389
00:19:25,455 --> 00:19:28,041
it was like, oh, like,
this is going to be a problem
390
00:19:28,041 --> 00:19:31,420
because she's used to having like a walk
in shower and now there's like a tub
391
00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,089
and she can't move her leg in
a certain way.
392
00:19:34,089 --> 00:19:34,798
So it's like,
393
00:19:35,799 --> 00:19:38,760
it's also good
to have someone helping you anticipate
394
00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:43,348
if you're going to be traveling
or if you're going to,
395
00:19:44,349 --> 00:19:45,851
you know, want to do something like,
396
00:19:45,851 --> 00:19:48,312
I'd like to become a member
at a fitness center,
397
00:19:48,312 --> 00:19:50,022
or I'd like to go out to eat
at a restaurant.
398
00:19:50,022 --> 00:19:51,607
Like what, you know, what are those things
399
00:19:51,607 --> 00:19:54,651
that maybe someone like yourself
could help them anticipate?
400
00:19:54,651 --> 00:19:57,112
Because is it
kind of about anticipation, too?
401
00:19:57,112 --> 00:20:00,407
Like thinking ahead of
like what might my needs be?
402
00:20:01,116 --> 00:20:05,662
It is anticipation, but before
anticipation is really identification.
403
00:20:05,662 --> 00:20:06,371
Okay.
404
00:20:06,371 --> 00:20:10,000
And I was just having this conversation
today, you know, the difference
405
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,712
between adults with disabilities
versus older adults.
406
00:20:14,254 --> 00:20:17,174
They both have challenges
doing the same thing,
407
00:20:17,174 --> 00:20:20,552
but one population identifies as disabled
and the other one does not.
408
00:20:20,719 --> 00:20:21,970
Okay.
409
00:20:21,970 --> 00:20:24,264
Older adults
do not want to identify as disabled.
410
00:20:24,264 --> 00:20:28,310
They do not want to admit
that they're having trouble doing things,
411
00:20:28,310 --> 00:20:32,105
until they urgently need to, until it is a
412
00:20:32,481 --> 00:20:35,651
I have to sponge bathe because I can't
get in and out of the shower.
413
00:20:36,109 --> 00:20:41,949
So I would really like to catch people
on the earlier side of even trying
414
00:20:41,949 --> 00:20:45,661
to remediate some of those things
and just introducing that.
415
00:20:45,994 --> 00:20:49,373
If you ever had this thing
come up, here would be the solution.
416
00:20:49,873 --> 00:20:53,210
If you were ever having, I'm not assuming
you are having trouble getting into
417
00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:54,795
the shower, but if you were,
418
00:20:55,837 --> 00:20:58,674
you know, these are kind of the steps
that we would go through.
419
00:20:58,674 --> 00:21:01,385
And here's the low cost, medium cost,
high cost.
420
00:21:01,385 --> 00:21:04,388
Right. For a shower tub, we could do
421
00:21:05,055 --> 00:21:08,350
the tub clamp grab bar
or you could do a hold transfer pole.
422
00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:12,187
We could do a tub cut,
or we could do a high cost and let's
423
00:21:12,187 --> 00:21:13,480
just rip out the whole bathroom.
424
00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,192
Yeah, because and we, I'm really, really
425
00:21:17,192 --> 00:21:21,280
trying to introduce this
to the rest of our professional community,
426
00:21:21,655 --> 00:21:25,659
because when we introduce the low, medium,
high cost options,
427
00:21:26,535 --> 00:21:28,829
if people look at that tub clamp grab bar
428
00:21:28,829 --> 00:21:31,832
or that transfer pole
and they're like, oh, that's just so ugly.
429
00:21:32,332 --> 00:21:34,126
I just hate that.
430
00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:37,838
And they think, that's just the only
solution and I just don't want it.
431
00:21:37,838 --> 00:21:39,881
So I'm going to go without it. Yeah.
432
00:21:39,881 --> 00:21:41,133
And then I'm going to fall.
433
00:21:41,133 --> 00:21:42,676
But if I would have said,
do you know what?
434
00:21:42,676 --> 00:21:45,846
If you were having that issue, there are
lower cost things that we could try.
435
00:21:45,846 --> 00:21:48,515
But at the end of the day, I would say,
just rip out your whole bathroom.
436
00:21:48,515 --> 00:21:49,266
Yeah. Start fresh.
437
00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:53,270
You're ready for a remodel anyway,
and you have some funds to play with.
438
00:21:53,270 --> 00:21:54,104
Not everyone does.
439
00:21:54,104 --> 00:21:58,066
But if you did, that's what I would do
if I was choosing how to spend your money,
440
00:21:58,066 --> 00:21:58,483
of course.
441
00:21:58,483 --> 00:21:59,026
Yes. Yeah.
442
00:21:59,026 --> 00:22:02,654
And we kind of laugh about it and
then suddenly they're like, you know what?
443
00:22:02,654 --> 00:22:04,906
I don't have to deal with that ugly thing.
I don't like that.
444
00:22:04,906 --> 00:22:06,616
So now is the time.
445
00:22:06,616 --> 00:22:09,161
I have enough reasons
that I feel like I can spend the money
446
00:22:09,161 --> 00:22:12,873
and I can get a new bathroom,
and that'll just make life easier.
447
00:22:13,123 --> 00:22:15,125
I just think it goes back to.
And I heard this.
448
00:22:15,125 --> 00:22:16,168
This was years ago
449
00:22:16,168 --> 00:22:19,338
when I was pregnant with my daughter,
and I was taking a birth education class,
450
00:22:19,338 --> 00:22:21,298
and I think it translates
to all areas of life.
451
00:22:21,298 --> 00:22:23,508
If you don't know your options,
you don't have any.
452
00:22:23,508 --> 00:22:24,301
Correct.
453
00:22:24,301 --> 00:22:28,513
And so I like how when you're sharing
that you give them different options
454
00:22:28,513 --> 00:22:31,558
because if you only gave them one option,
455
00:22:31,558 --> 00:22:33,226
then they would think
that's their only option.
456
00:22:33,226 --> 00:22:34,853
But there's multiple options
457
00:22:34,853 --> 00:22:37,981
and multiple ways to, you know, problem
solve these types of things.
458
00:22:38,398 --> 00:22:40,567
Tell us about Happy at Home Consulting.
459
00:22:40,567 --> 00:22:43,028
Like what is a day in the life
like for you?
460
00:22:43,028 --> 00:22:45,781
What services are you providing?
461
00:22:45,781 --> 00:22:49,743
I'm just excited to help
you get word out about your business
462
00:22:49,743 --> 00:22:54,039
and would love for people to learn
more about how you could help them.
463
00:22:54,915 --> 00:22:55,165
Yeah.
464
00:22:55,165 --> 00:22:57,918
So Happy at Home
Consulting was founded in 2020,
465
00:22:57,918 --> 00:23:01,505
the perfect time to start
seeing older adults in their homes.
466
00:23:02,464 --> 00:23:03,465
But actually,
467
00:23:03,465 --> 00:23:07,260
I love that launch period,
because it did make us a little bit
468
00:23:07,260 --> 00:23:10,597
of a homebody and recognizing what things
in our home maybe weren't working.
469
00:23:11,014 --> 00:23:14,559
And it gave me the availability
to really have these great kind
470
00:23:14,559 --> 00:23:17,562
of zoom calls with other people and learn
what other people are doing
471
00:23:17,562 --> 00:23:18,480
and how they could,
472
00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,733
how they can help my clients
and how we can share and conquer.
473
00:23:22,275 --> 00:23:26,947
So something that we do well,
I kind of break it down into tiers.
474
00:23:27,322 --> 00:23:31,451
So the first kind of level
is that kind of client patient level.
475
00:23:31,743 --> 00:23:33,537
So we do accept Medicare.
476
00:23:33,537 --> 00:23:36,957
I feel very strongly
that everyone should have access to OT,
477
00:23:37,124 --> 00:23:38,917
whether you can afford it or not.
478
00:23:38,917 --> 00:23:40,710
Medicare is one of those things.
479
00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:45,340
So if you have traditional Medicare
with a supplement like a plan G or a plan
480
00:23:45,340 --> 00:23:50,137
F, generally you can access OT at no
additional cost to you, which is amazing.
481
00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:51,763
And that doesn't mean
you have to come to us.
482
00:23:51,763 --> 00:23:54,057
That means that you can go to any OT.
Yeah.
483
00:23:54,057 --> 00:23:56,768
Not every OT will see you in your home.
484
00:23:56,768 --> 00:24:00,772
But that's one of the benefits of,
utilizing our services
485
00:24:00,772 --> 00:24:03,191
is that they're home based,
which means that you don't
486
00:24:03,191 --> 00:24:05,277
have to leave the house,
so you don't have to be home bound.
487
00:24:05,277 --> 00:24:06,486
That's different.
488
00:24:06,486 --> 00:24:08,029
And we can come to you.
489
00:24:08,029 --> 00:24:10,782
That means that we have to bear
the weather and you don't have to. Yeah.
490
00:24:10,782 --> 00:24:15,245
Our lovely Iowa winters that we're due for
in the next couple months.
491
00:24:15,704 --> 00:24:18,832
The other kind of tier that we,
492
00:24:18,832 --> 00:24:22,335
serve is our caregivers
and our care partners.
493
00:24:22,752 --> 00:24:27,132
So we provide a whole lot of hand-holding
for our caregivers because, of course,
494
00:24:27,132 --> 00:24:30,969
we know, there is a caregiver shortage
in our nation,
495
00:24:31,303 --> 00:24:34,723
and there are a ton of unpaid caregivers.
496
00:24:34,723 --> 00:24:35,056
Yeah.
497
00:24:35,056 --> 00:24:38,310
So many family, friends, adult kids,
498
00:24:38,310 --> 00:24:41,313
you name it,
someone is providing care to someone.
499
00:24:41,605 --> 00:24:43,356
And our numbers for that.
500
00:24:43,356 --> 00:24:46,151
I don't even have them up.
But they are outrageous.
501
00:24:46,151 --> 00:24:49,988
The amount of money that we spend
on unpaid caregiving that people
502
00:24:49,988 --> 00:24:55,118
are spending on their loved ones
is just, astronomical, quite frankly.
503
00:24:55,535 --> 00:24:58,872
So really holding their hands,
helping to understand
504
00:24:58,872 --> 00:25:01,875
what things would make your life
easier as a caregiver
505
00:25:02,167 --> 00:25:05,170
and what things would make the life better
506
00:25:05,170 --> 00:25:08,381
for the person that you're caregiving
for that's receiving the care.
507
00:25:09,341 --> 00:25:12,344
And actually, Medicare
now has a caregiver training code.
508
00:25:12,344 --> 00:25:15,764
So that means that
if your loved one is seeing an OT
509
00:25:16,097 --> 00:25:19,267
and they're working on, I don't know,
shower transfers, for example,
510
00:25:20,101 --> 00:25:25,190
and you come up to me and you say, Sydney,
I still need to help him in the shower,
511
00:25:25,190 --> 00:25:28,026
and I'm just not quite sure
how to do that.
512
00:25:28,026 --> 00:25:31,863
The caregiver and I can meet
just one on one without their loved one
513
00:25:32,447 --> 00:25:34,991
to talk about that
and just to have a really candid
514
00:25:34,991 --> 00:25:38,537
conversation about, okay,
what does that actually look like?
515
00:25:38,537 --> 00:25:42,832
How, like, what kind of supports
do you need to provide as a caregiver
516
00:25:43,291 --> 00:25:44,751
to help him feel as
517
00:25:46,002 --> 00:25:46,586
independent as
518
00:25:46,586 --> 00:25:50,298
possible, as confident, and help
you avoid injury and avoid burnout?
519
00:25:50,465 --> 00:25:54,928
And that can be filed under the loved ones
Medicare using that caregiver code.
520
00:25:54,928 --> 00:25:57,305
Okay. Wow. Yeah that's great.
So that's amazing.
521
00:25:57,305 --> 00:25:59,432
That's a newer introduction.
522
00:25:59,432 --> 00:26:02,561
Last but not least is our community
partnership.
523
00:26:02,561 --> 00:26:05,564
So we have a lot of
524
00:26:05,647 --> 00:26:07,899
community partnerships
with other organizations,
525
00:26:07,899 --> 00:26:12,153
whether that's an area agency
on aging or Polk County.
526
00:26:12,153 --> 00:26:15,991
We're currently contracted with,
just other organizations
527
00:26:15,991 --> 00:26:20,954
who share our mission of helping older
adults, individuals with disabilities age
528
00:26:20,954 --> 00:26:24,499
in place and really continue
to be integrated in their community.
529
00:26:24,874 --> 00:26:28,336
They have found either funding through
their own budget or through grants.
530
00:26:28,628 --> 00:26:31,756
What not to say
we're really supportive of this,
531
00:26:31,756 --> 00:26:33,550
and we think you need an OT
532
00:26:33,550 --> 00:26:36,553
and we're willing to pay for it,
so you have access to OT.
533
00:26:36,803 --> 00:26:38,054
So we absolutely love that.
534
00:26:38,054 --> 00:26:42,642
Again, it is a no cost to enter
sort of set up for our folks
535
00:26:42,642 --> 00:26:47,564
and also benefits the organization because
then they can increase their offerings.
536
00:26:47,564 --> 00:26:47,981
Sure.
537
00:26:47,981 --> 00:26:50,775
And they get a little bit
more well-rounded care in the services
538
00:26:50,775 --> 00:26:53,111
that they already provide. Yeah,
absolutely.
539
00:26:53,111 --> 00:26:55,614
So if someone were to approach
you and say, like, I, you know,
540
00:26:55,614 --> 00:26:59,034
I just don't really know what my loved
one needs, would you be able
541
00:26:59,034 --> 00:27:02,495
to connect with them
and do a consultation to see if,
542
00:27:03,038 --> 00:27:07,125
you know, it's worth exploring
staying at home versus moving them out?
543
00:27:07,125 --> 00:27:11,254
Because I think a lot of times
when something happens, like a fall, or,
544
00:27:11,296 --> 00:27:15,342
you know, someone just maybe
they become widowed and,
545
00:27:15,383 --> 00:27:19,095
you know, they used to live with a spouse
and now they're on their own.
546
00:27:19,095 --> 00:27:21,014
And I think sometimes
people just jump to like, well,
547
00:27:21,014 --> 00:27:24,643
we have to make a change
because of circumstances changing.
548
00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:27,646
And so, like, is part of what you do
consulting with someone
549
00:27:27,646 --> 00:27:29,939
to say like these, again,
these are your options?
550
00:27:29,939 --> 00:27:33,276
Yep, I love the options talk. Yes.
551
00:27:33,610 --> 00:27:36,279
You know, there are a lot of families
we work with that
552
00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:39,616
are really unclear
if moving is the right choice or not.
553
00:27:40,116 --> 00:27:45,330
And I think some of that ambiguity,
what am I trying to say?
554
00:27:45,330 --> 00:27:46,706
Ambiguity. Thank you.
555
00:27:46,706 --> 00:27:51,044
You know, some of those feelings
come from not having hard data.
556
00:27:51,252 --> 00:27:52,212
Yeah.
557
00:27:52,212 --> 00:27:55,465
And not understanding,
oh my gosh, the cost of assisted
558
00:27:55,465 --> 00:27:58,927
living is, it's astronomical.
559
00:27:59,427 --> 00:28:01,596
$6,500 a month plus.
560
00:28:01,596 --> 00:28:03,807
Plus services, whatnot.
561
00:28:03,807 --> 00:28:06,726
And then, you know, long
term care is more expensive than that.
562
00:28:06,726 --> 00:28:08,770
And we have that number.
563
00:28:08,770 --> 00:28:12,440
But as a society, we've kind of
put that on a pedestal saying,
564
00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:13,775
this is the gold standard.
565
00:28:13,775 --> 00:28:16,820
This is what's safe, quote unquote,
what's safe
566
00:28:16,820 --> 00:28:19,823
is paying
this number of dollars per month.
567
00:28:19,989 --> 00:28:23,493
And that will help you avoid injury, help
you live longer.
568
00:28:23,493 --> 00:28:25,787
We're all talking about longevity
right now.
569
00:28:25,787 --> 00:28:29,958
You know, assisted living and those long
term care settings seem to be
570
00:28:30,375 --> 00:28:33,503
what we think is the next phase versus
571
00:28:33,503 --> 00:28:36,631
the overwhelming number of older adults
want to remain in their home.
572
00:28:36,631 --> 00:28:37,215
Yeah.
573
00:28:37,215 --> 00:28:40,510
Anywhere from 75 to 90%
want to remain at home.
574
00:28:41,052 --> 00:28:43,972
So what we can do is
we can actually crunch the numbers
575
00:28:43,972 --> 00:28:49,477
and say, okay, what are you looking for
from assisted living?
576
00:28:50,186 --> 00:28:52,355
Because if it's an environmental piece,
maybe,
577
00:28:52,355 --> 00:28:55,191
we're talking a lot about showering.
Maybe we should talk about something else.
578
00:28:55,191 --> 00:28:56,401
Maybe we should talk about lawn care.
579
00:28:56,401 --> 00:28:57,819
When you move into assisted living,
you don’t have to worry about.
580
00:28:57,819 --> 00:28:59,112
Or just like home maintenance.
581
00:28:59,112 --> 00:29:00,029
Yeah, yeah.
582
00:29:00,029 --> 00:29:02,240
We don't have to talk about
lawn care or home maintenance.
583
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,243
And that's all included in your fee.
584
00:29:05,535 --> 00:29:08,413
And what would it cost
to just hire someone to mow your lawn?
585
00:29:08,413 --> 00:29:08,663
Yeah.
586
00:29:09,789 --> 00:29:12,000
You know, once a week, every other week.
587
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,626
It doesn't matter, what would it cost?
588
00:29:13,626 --> 00:29:16,421
Or, you know,
maybe it's time to move into an apartment
589
00:29:16,421 --> 00:29:18,798
or a townhome or,
you know, somewhere where, like,
590
00:29:18,798 --> 00:29:22,719
you still have ownership or agency over
where you live, it's
591
00:29:22,719 --> 00:29:27,432
just a different space that, you know,
maybe is like a better size for you.
592
00:29:27,432 --> 00:29:31,144
And it requires no maintenance,
you know, for the outdoors.
593
00:29:31,686 --> 00:29:33,396
And maybe that's still not the fit.
594
00:29:33,396 --> 00:29:36,316
Maybe they're like, well, the lawn
maintenance and that that's the thing.
595
00:29:36,316 --> 00:29:39,778
But what about, what if in the future
if I do need someone to help
596
00:29:39,944 --> 00:29:41,529
cook my meals?
597
00:29:41,529 --> 00:29:42,947
Okay, so then I'll just factor that in.
598
00:29:42,947 --> 00:29:45,950
What would it cost to have either
someone come to your house
599
00:29:46,284 --> 00:29:49,245
and cook your meals, what would it cost
to have meals shipped to you?
600
00:29:49,245 --> 00:29:52,624
Do you actually qualify for Medicaid
and you can get your frozen meal
601
00:29:52,624 --> 00:29:53,958
shipped to you? Yeah.
602
00:29:53,958 --> 00:29:56,294
You know,
there are so many resources out there
603
00:29:56,294 --> 00:30:00,256
that sometimes it does make sense
to stay at home and private pay for things
604
00:30:00,256 --> 00:30:03,134
while we're trying
to spend down for Medicaid. Yeah.
605
00:30:03,134 --> 00:30:05,929
Do you find that
most people who consult with
606
00:30:05,929 --> 00:30:09,724
you are surprised by what information
that you know, they receive?
607
00:30:09,766 --> 00:30:12,602
Like they had no idea
what their options were?
608
00:30:12,602 --> 00:30:14,103
They had no idea that.
609
00:30:14,103 --> 00:30:15,730
That's a good question.
610
00:30:15,730 --> 00:30:19,734
I like, not that I have a personal goal,
but I do try
611
00:30:20,235 --> 00:30:22,862
maybe to have at least like one
a-ha moment.
612
00:30:22,862 --> 00:30:25,490
Yeah, well I, I think that's a great goal,
you know.
613
00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:29,744
If that's like a bidet, if that's,
you know, like a piece of equipment,
614
00:30:29,744 --> 00:30:33,373
a service, whatever that is,
I love at least having one a-ha moment
615
00:30:33,373 --> 00:30:36,376
because it makes me feel like,
I don't know,
616
00:30:36,376 --> 00:30:40,213
like I got paid and I was like,
I got paid for what I was worth.
617
00:30:40,213 --> 00:30:41,381
Yeah, absolutely.
618
00:30:41,381 --> 00:30:42,465
You know, if someone,
619
00:30:42,465 --> 00:30:45,844
even if I'm billing Medicare
and I and I come and I tell you, you know,
620
00:30:45,844 --> 00:30:47,846
the same thing that your doctor told you
or that your adult
621
00:30:47,846 --> 00:30:50,223
doctor told you or whoever told you that.
622
00:30:50,223 --> 00:30:52,392
And it's like, well,
that was kind of worthless.
623
00:30:52,392 --> 00:30:57,313
And I don't I don't feel like
we got to the whole problem.
624
00:30:57,313 --> 00:30:58,898
Exactly.
I don’t feel like we talked enough.
625
00:30:58,898 --> 00:31:00,608
We didn't dig deep enough to really,
626
00:31:02,068 --> 00:31:03,570
really get through all those pieces.
627
00:31:03,570 --> 00:31:04,779
Yeah.
628
00:31:04,779 --> 00:31:07,323
So you're located in central Iowa?
629
00:31:07,323 --> 00:31:10,535
Yes. So I am here in my home
office in Des Moines, Iowa.
630
00:31:10,869 --> 00:31:14,706
We serve, though, several
more counties than Des Moines, Iowa,
631
00:31:14,706 --> 00:31:15,790
and Polk County, Iowa.
632
00:31:15,790 --> 00:31:17,584
Obviously,
we're contracted with Polk County
633
00:31:17,584 --> 00:31:22,088
at the moment
through 2027 for their federal grants.
634
00:31:22,505 --> 00:31:25,508
For people who would like home
modifications in Polk County.
635
00:31:26,134 --> 00:31:28,428
Other
636
00:31:28,428 --> 00:31:31,681
counties that we work within
are mostly counties that touch Polk.
637
00:31:31,806 --> 00:31:34,726
And then we're also contracted
with Milestones Area Agency
638
00:31:34,726 --> 00:31:37,729
on Aging to cover southeast Iowa.
639
00:31:37,812 --> 00:31:38,897
Okay.
640
00:31:38,897 --> 00:31:42,275
And then in general,
you know, I will always travel
641
00:31:42,275 --> 00:31:45,862
when people need something,
when it makes sense.
642
00:31:45,945 --> 00:31:47,155
Honestly, it's
643
00:31:47,155 --> 00:31:50,742
scheduling wise if I if I can travel
because my schedule allows it
644
00:31:50,742 --> 00:31:52,744
and we can get someone out there,
then I absolutely will.
645
00:31:52,744 --> 00:31:55,747
And if you feel like you're a good fit
for that particular.
646
00:31:55,747 --> 00:31:56,956
Yeah.
647
00:31:56,956 --> 00:31:59,959
Especially because so many people
don't have access to OT,
648
00:31:59,959 --> 00:32:02,962
I think it's really important
that people at least have access to
649
00:32:03,296 --> 00:32:06,090
an occupational therapist
but sometimes they don't.
650
00:32:06,090 --> 00:32:08,635
And that means that I travel
a little bit more and that's great.
651
00:32:08,635 --> 00:32:10,178
Yeah. That's great.
652
00:32:10,178 --> 00:32:12,430
Well, tell our listeners
how they can get in touch with you,
653
00:32:12,430 --> 00:32:14,724
and then I'll include this information
in our show notes as well,
654
00:32:14,724 --> 00:32:17,352
so they can just hop into those and click
away.
655
00:32:17,352 --> 00:32:18,853
But, website,
656
00:32:18,853 --> 00:32:22,523
social media, how can people connect
with you and Happy at Home Consulting?
657
00:32:23,358 --> 00:32:23,691
Yeah.
658
00:32:23,691 --> 00:32:28,571
So, probably the easiest way to connect
with me, like the most basic level,
659
00:32:28,571 --> 00:32:29,989
is via text. Okay.
660
00:32:29,989 --> 00:32:34,452
Our business phone is HIPPA compliant,
so you can always text me,
661
00:32:34,577 --> 00:32:36,996
call me, whichever. Obviously
I am on the road.
662
00:32:36,996 --> 00:32:40,541
I am doing visits quite often,
so I’m not a good phone answerer.
663
00:32:40,541 --> 00:32:41,501
I'm sorry. Yeah.
664
00:32:41,501 --> 00:32:46,923
But my work phone is (515) 635-4050.
665
00:32:46,923 --> 00:32:47,298
All right.
666
00:32:47,298 --> 00:32:55,181
My business
email is Sydney@happyathomeconsulting.com.
667
00:32:55,515 --> 00:32:57,016
Okay. All that jazz.
668
00:32:57,016 --> 00:32:58,601
And then also always find me on LinkedIn.
669
00:32:58,601 --> 00:33:01,813
I love being LinkedIn connected or linkies
670
00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:05,650
with anybody and following along
with their professional journey too so.
671
00:33:05,775 --> 00:33:07,360
Absolutely, well it's been delightful
672
00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,905
having this conversation and I will
include the phone number your email
673
00:33:10,905 --> 00:33:14,200
and your LinkedIn profile
and your website all in the show notes.
674
00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:14,993
So if you're listening
675
00:33:14,993 --> 00:33:18,037
and want to learn more about Happy at Home
Consulting or want to ask
676
00:33:18,079 --> 00:33:20,248
Sydney questions,
get in direct contact with her,
677
00:33:20,248 --> 00:33:22,542
you will have that information
at your fingertips.
678
00:33:22,542 --> 00:33:24,043
Thank you so much for your time, Sydney.
679
00:33:24,043 --> 00:33:26,838
This was a lovely conversation. Thanks.
680
00:33:26,838 --> 00:33:28,464
Thank you for listening to Emotion Well.
681
00:33:28,464 --> 00:33:29,841
Employee and Family Resources
682
00:33:29,841 --> 00:33:33,928
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
located in Des Moines, Iowa.
683
00:33:34,178 --> 00:33:37,098
We support communities, workplaces,
and schools with comprehensive
684
00:33:37,098 --> 00:33:38,558
behavioral health services.
685
00:33:38,558 --> 00:33:40,059
If you would like to contribute
to our mission,
686
00:33:40,059 --> 00:33:42,145
please click on the donation
link in our show notes.
00:00:01,876 --> 00:00:03,461
Welcome to Emotion Well,
2
00:00:03,461 --> 00:00:06,464
EFR’s podcast about all things
related to emotional well-being.
3
00:00:06,673 --> 00:00:09,718
I'm Johanna Dunlevy,
the EAP Operations Director for Employee &
4
00:00:09,718 --> 00:00:13,304
Family Resources, also known as EFR,
and I'm the host of our podcast.
5
00:00:13,638 --> 00:00:14,556
As an FYI,
6
00:00:14,556 --> 00:00:17,600
EFR is located in Des Moines, Iowa,
and we are Iowa's first employee
7
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,354
assistance program and provide a variety
of services you can learn more about at
8
00:00:22,605 --> 00:00:24,941
www.efr.org.
9
00:00:24,941 --> 00:00:26,735
I am here with Sydney Marshman.
10
00:00:26,735 --> 00:00:30,488
She is an occupational therapist and
the founder of Happy at Home Consulting.
11
00:00:30,488 --> 00:00:32,741
Sydney, welcome to Emotion Well.
12
00:00:32,741 --> 00:00:33,908
Hey, thanks for having me.
13
00:00:33,908 --> 00:00:36,119
Yeah, well, I'm excited to have you here.
14
00:00:36,119 --> 00:00:40,331
For our listeners,
I found Sydney on LinkedIn one day,
15
00:00:40,331 --> 00:00:43,835
and I saw some of my connections
were engaging with her posts,
16
00:00:43,835 --> 00:00:47,130
and I was curious to know
more about Sydney and her business.
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And so the more I looked into it,
the more curious I got
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and I thought she could be a great guest
for the podcast.
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So that's why you're here
and thanks for accepting the invitation.
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Tell our listeners
a little bit more about yourself, Sydney.
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Yeah, so like you mentioned,
my name is Sydney Marshman,
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00:01:02,979 --> 00:01:06,566
and I'm an occupational therapist
and founder of Happy at Home Consulting.
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So we're going to wear the Happy at Home
Consulting hat today.
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But I do wear other hats in the work
that I do,
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and we can talk more about that later
if you're interested in it.
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But, in general,
my work is really about helping people
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live and thrive in their homes,
whether that is through small changes
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like the types of devices or equipment
that we use every day all the way
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up to major redesigns, reconstruction,
new builds, all of those pieces.
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But really,
how do we live and thrive at our homes?
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So I believe
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you're, are you a Grandview
and Drake grad?
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I am Iowa
State and Drake. Iowa State and Drake.
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I'm sorry I got that wrong.
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So I'm guessing,
did you do OT school at Drake?
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Yes, I was in their first cohort
of occupational therapy.
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Yeah, that's a newer program
there. That's exciting.
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So tell us a little bit
about how you got interested
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in the field,
like what was your undergrad at Iowa State
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and then what motivated you to go
to Drake and study occupational therapy?
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So I think I have a little bit
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of a different story
than I would say the general OT does.
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It seems like a lot of OTs that I meet
have a personal connection
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of a loved one having OT, and that's
really how they found the field.
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For me,
I actually remember in eighth grade,
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like, sitting down and taking your,
I don't know, like, an aptitude test
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sort of thing of, like,
what are you interested in doing?
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Where do your skills fit,
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and from that time moving forward,
I actually wanted to be a medical doctor.
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Okay.
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And I started in eighth grade thinking
that I wanted to do ophthalmology.
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Okay. Which is like, such a big goal.
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And I'm
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so appreciative of our ophthalmologist,
but it was not a good fit for me.
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Yeah.
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And then I kind of transitioned into,
being interested in family practice.
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I really liked the idea of building long
lasting relationships with people
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and really navigating life's transitions
in a lot of ways.
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And then I worked in family practice
for a little bit, decided that,
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you know, you don't even get enough time
with someone to really
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like build that level of relationship
that I was looking for.
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So kind of my first year at
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Iowa State, I was having a little bit
of an identity crisis.
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Like, I don't know if I can commit to
medical school and doing all the things.
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I also was struggling to pass calculus.
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And, you know,
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for 15 minutes with someone
maybe twice a year.
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Yeah.
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Or maybe when they're cold and stuff
and just now ready for antibiotics.
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And I know family medicine
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is so much more than that,
but I really wanted these, like, long
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lasting relationships with people
and working collaboratively with them.
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And at that time, I didn't think medicine
was the right fit for that.
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Okay.
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So I went to my advisor.
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I said, help me,
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help me make sense of this.
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And he really recommended
occupational therapy.
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And I stuck with it.
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And here we are with some, like, bumps
along the way.
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The first OT I shadowed was like,
not the OT that I do,
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not the way that I practice
but still like a learning opportunity
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and just, you know, a really good,
intro to the breadth that is OT now.
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Yeah.
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So what was your undergraduate then,
what did you decide on
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for an undergraduate degree?
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Yeah. So I was originally in biology.
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I transitioned into kinesiology
with a public health focus.
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That makes sense.
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And I will tell you, I purely did that
because I could get done in three years
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rather than four. Okay.
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That my, like, college credits
in high school, they just magically fit
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better into that degree than bio
and with the labs.
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And that was kind of just a
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means
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to the end kind of thing,
as I knew I would be going on.
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But I really reflect a lot
on my undergrad degree in the work
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that I do now, being very community
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focused and very community based,
that I use a lot of that knowledge.
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And I can tell now that I'm like, oh,
we have the same undergrad.
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Yeah.
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Like the people that I work with.
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And I'm like,
oh, we like have the same mindset.
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That's so interesting.
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Yeah, I know that sounds like the perfect
kind of segue into OT.
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When you were saying that, you know,
you're a freshman
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and you're kind
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of having an identity crisis, and we're
not here to talk about that in particular.
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But I just think it's something good
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to remind people of,
especially younger listeners.
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You don't always know what you want to be
when you are in high school
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and transitioning into college, and it's
okay, like it's okay to change your mind.
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I love hearing stories about people who,
you know, thought
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that they were on the path
to doing something,
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and then they had a life experience,
or they had an a-ha moment,
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or they were like, you know what?
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I actually don't even enjoy this
or this might not be worth it.
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I want to do something different.
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And I love it
when people can just give themselves
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permission to change their minds
and then find something
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that really serves them,
and then therefore serves others.
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So kudos to you for just kind of listening
to your intuition and thinking,
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maybe a little more critically than,
you know, you might have otherwise like
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had you been like, I want to do that
and that's what I'm going to do.
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So, let's talk
about occupational therapy.
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I think a lot of people are more familiar
with physical therapy.
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But what is occupational therapy?
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You know, what is the science behind it?
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Why would someone maybe,
see an occupational therapist?
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And let's kind of lay
the groundwork for that before
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we get into some more specifics
around the work that you do.
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Yeah.
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So broadly speaking, PT
and OT are very similar disciplines.
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And I think PT has, you know,
they have this marketing thing done.
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People know when to seek a PT,
they know how to seek a PT.
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They definitely have that marketing piece
down way more than OT does,
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to the point
that sometimes OTs are confused as PTs.
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Yeah.
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So you probably may have
already interacted with an OT
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and you maybe didn't know it.
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But that's, I think in part due to just
the large breadth of our profession.
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So I really think of OT
kind of like the common phrase is that PT
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will help you get where you're going, OT
will help you do what you're going to do
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when you get there.
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For example.
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So that's kind of what I would say
is the adult phrase, of
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when you're in the hospital, PT’s
going to work with you on maybe
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walking and emulating versus
OT is going to make sure,
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like, oh, can you actually get yourself on
and off the toilet?
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Can you like, take care of yourself?
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More like functional
everything. Like, yes.
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It's very functional.
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I personally I just kind of
have been thinking about
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why I was interested in OT
and why I find myself really
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sitting in my profession
now, just being so proud of it is that,
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OT really
is that like, age old phrase of teach
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a man to fish he’ll
feed himself for a lifetime. And
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sometimes that can be polarizing, right.
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Because there is a lot of,
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different opinions on
what kind of supports
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we give to people to help them
kind of level up their life.
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And OT is kind of the gray
in-between of I recognize
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that not everybody
has the exact tools that they need.
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And how do I get them those tools?
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How do I either
change how they're doing the task.
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How do I provide them with the right tools
to do the task?
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How do I connect them with the right
resources to get the task done?
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And it's really about increasing
independence for that person
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rather than just saying, here's
this thing,
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case closed. Yeah.
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When I think so much of this ties
directly back to someone's quality of life
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and, you know, their emotional well-being,
because if you are struggling with
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activities of daily living or, you know,
I think people hear the word,
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you know, fitness and they think,
oh, like, I'm going to be fit and I'm
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going to be able to do powerlifting
or a hot yoga class or run a marathon.
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It's like, no functional fitness.
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Like,
do you want to be able to tie your shoes?
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Do you want to be able to walk up stairs?
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Do you want to be able to
just go for a walk?
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You know,
those functional kind of basic things
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I think are so important
for people to understand.
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And OT has such a good overlap
into mental health.
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OT was actually started
in the mental health realm.
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Interesting, tell me more. Yes.
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So OT actually started in 1917,
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after the First World War when we realized
that people returning from war
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weren't integrating back into our society,
maybe as we expected them to after what
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we now call PTSD. Yeah.
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So we use occupations to engage people to,
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you know, give a sense of purpose
to find the things that people
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are interested in doing
and that kind of fill their cup
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to feel better about their day,
their life, their trajectory.
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Yeah.
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And that's just
how our profession has been
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branched out into now that
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we work with kids and talking about
how do we, help kids to then
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grow up
well to be able to participate as adults,
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and all these other kind of facets
of our profession.
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Yeah.
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I did not know that.
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So that's very interesting.
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And, you know, as time evolves
and as people have more, you know,
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relatable experiences, like you said,
it used to not be called PTSD.
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But now we understand that people
who have, maybe served in, you know, war
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time come back with some kind of trauma,
or maybe they have an even,
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PTSD can be related to any kind of trauma,
but it's often,
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I think, associated with veterans
and people who served.
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Yeah.
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00:10:29,086 --> 00:10:31,756
But that's interesting. I didn't know that
there was a connection there.
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So thank you for sharing that.
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How did you settle on, like,
what population do you like to work with?
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What's your target audience?
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Well, we talk about,
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you know, we started this with, like,
what do you want to do with your life?
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00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:46,812
And that felt very,
centric to younger adults
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00:10:46,812 --> 00:10:49,857
and like, it's
okay not to know what you want to do.
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I still don't know what I want to do.
Yeah.
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That's okay. Yeah, it's okay.
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00:10:54,487 --> 00:10:55,196
And it's
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because I really find interest in so many
different aspects of my profession.
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I love working with older adults.
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Happy at home consulting was started
based on an experience
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in our family
caring for my nanna, growing up
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00:11:08,084 --> 00:11:11,212
and just seeing her trajectory
and aging in place.
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00:11:11,671 --> 00:11:14,799
That I really found,
you know, we needed to be providing more.
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00:11:15,174 --> 00:11:17,301
And that's why happy home
consulting started.
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00:11:17,301 --> 00:11:21,555
But as things have progressed
and got going, really seeing
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so many other populations, I love working
with individuals with disabilities.
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How are we, you know,
accommodating individuals’ disabilities
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00:11:30,564 --> 00:11:33,901
and really integrating people
into our community regardless
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if you have an identified disability
or not?
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Are we providing you access
and how are we being inclusive?
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All of those pieces, other
I mean, other interest areas.
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I feel like I could go down a whole
rabbit hole.
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I love the idea of like looking at more
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environmental modifications
for individuals who are neurodivergent.
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All of these pieces that I feel like OT
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has a little piece
in, but it's very collaborative.
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Sure.
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Most of the people that I work with,
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00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:06,726
they already have an established
care team, and I think that's where I just
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00:12:06,767 --> 00:12:10,271
I flourish is okay, you've done
all of these pieces now.
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How can we level that up
just a little bit?
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00:12:12,523 --> 00:12:12,857
Yeah.
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00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:14,734
What piece could I add? Absolutely.
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00:12:14,734 --> 00:12:17,528
And I also think
it takes a village. Right.
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So like no matter what
someone's going through,
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it might be a combination
of a medical doctor,
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00:12:22,366 --> 00:12:25,202
an occupational therapist,
a mental health counselor,
250
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some resource in their community,
and then, you know, a loved one.
251
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And I just think it's important
that we look at the bigger picture
252
00:12:31,542 --> 00:12:35,588
when people are trying
to, either, you know, recover
253
00:12:35,755 --> 00:12:39,925
or they have recovered from something and
they're looking to maintain good health.
254
00:12:40,259 --> 00:12:43,846
It takes a lot of different moving parts
to support someone.
255
00:12:43,846 --> 00:12:44,555
And, you know,
256
00:12:44,555 --> 00:12:48,642
there's not really one single,
support that probably covers everything.
257
00:12:48,642 --> 00:12:51,061
It's like, very collaborative.
258
00:12:52,813 --> 00:12:53,939
So I think one of the reasons
259
00:12:53,939 --> 00:12:58,235
I was interested in some of the content
you were sharing on LinkedIn was because,
260
00:12:59,236 --> 00:13:01,447
so I have one living parent,
261
00:13:01,447 --> 00:13:06,744
and, my dad passed away a few years ago
and I noticed, a big difference
262
00:13:06,744 --> 00:13:10,664
in his ability and mobility from
263
00:13:11,874 --> 00:13:14,376
mid 70s to early 80s.
264
00:13:14,376 --> 00:13:16,962
And he passed away at age 83.
265
00:13:16,962 --> 00:13:19,882
And my mom, who's now in her early 80s,
I've kind of noticed the same thing.
266
00:13:19,882 --> 00:13:21,425
I think just over time.
267
00:13:21,425 --> 00:13:25,137
And both of my parents,
were relatively active.
268
00:13:25,137 --> 00:13:27,848
Like, you know,
I wouldn't say they were sedentary
269
00:13:27,848 --> 00:13:31,602
or my mom's not sedentary,
but just natural decline with age, right.
270
00:13:31,602 --> 00:13:32,645
It happens.
271
00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:32,728
Yeah.
272
00:13:32,728 --> 00:13:37,566
But I saw how much that really affected
my dad's life and how it has started
273
00:13:37,566 --> 00:13:39,610
to affect my mom's life,
because they've both had falls.
274
00:13:39,610 --> 00:13:42,988
So my dad fell and broke his hip,
and my mom has broken her femur,
275
00:13:43,656 --> 00:13:47,493
and especially with my dad,
like it was a very quick decline.
276
00:13:47,660 --> 00:13:49,036
And so
277
00:13:49,995 --> 00:13:51,163
I know that one thing that
278
00:13:51,163 --> 00:13:54,250
you really like to focus on
is providing people
279
00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:57,461
the resources to be able to kind of live
out the life that they want.
280
00:13:57,461 --> 00:13:59,713
And for a lot of people,
that's maintaining in their home,
281
00:13:59,713 --> 00:14:03,425
like maintaining a life in their home
versus being, you know, transitioned
282
00:14:03,425 --> 00:14:06,971
to a skilled care or,
you know, assisted living type center.
283
00:14:06,971 --> 00:14:10,307
So can you talk to me
a little bit about proactive planning?
284
00:14:10,307 --> 00:14:12,309
And I know, like
285
00:14:12,309 --> 00:14:16,438
we had chatted a little bit via email
before this and the word safety came up.
286
00:14:16,438 --> 00:14:19,024
And so, I really liked how you framed it.
287
00:14:19,024 --> 00:14:21,151
It's more about just being proactive.
288
00:14:21,151 --> 00:14:23,779
Because it's not
that things are not safe, it's
289
00:14:23,779 --> 00:14:25,781
just that
we don't know what we don't know.
290
00:14:26,740 --> 00:14:28,742
Yeah, I really included that
291
00:14:28,742 --> 00:14:34,623
because I'm kind of on my personal journey
to identify the language that I'm using.
292
00:14:34,623 --> 00:14:38,460
And how's that reflecting on my clients
and safety is one of those things I'm
293
00:14:38,460 --> 00:14:39,461
trying to phase out.
294
00:14:39,461 --> 00:14:40,004
Yeah.
295
00:14:40,004 --> 00:14:43,591
You know, I've realized that
when we talk about things like home safety
296
00:14:43,591 --> 00:14:45,551
assessments for fall prevention,
297
00:14:45,551 --> 00:14:48,429
people kind of put their guard up
and they're like, oh, I'm safe.
298
00:14:48,429 --> 00:14:49,972
Like, I'm just fine.
299
00:14:49,972 --> 00:14:51,849
I don't need your help. I'm good.
300
00:14:51,849 --> 00:14:54,852
But my neighbor down the street, that guy,
he needs you.
301
00:14:55,144 --> 00:15:00,649
You know, people are inherently,
just they don't they don't need help.
302
00:15:00,649 --> 00:15:04,111
If we talk about, you know, any sort of,
303
00:15:04,445 --> 00:15:08,699
I don't know, like, thing that's going on
that with, like, a negative connotation.
304
00:15:08,699 --> 00:15:11,702
People just kind of close up
and they're like, no thanks.
305
00:15:11,702 --> 00:15:11,911
Yeah.
306
00:15:11,911 --> 00:15:14,705
And I almost feel like if you address it
from that safety perspective,
307
00:15:14,705 --> 00:15:16,916
they might feel like they've done
something wrong.
308
00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:19,919
Yes. Like, well, shoot,
you know, I haven't.
309
00:15:20,002 --> 00:15:22,379
Because there were things
I would go into my dad's house
310
00:15:22,379 --> 00:15:24,924
and I'd be like, oh my God, there's
these like cords everywhere,
311
00:15:24,924 --> 00:15:27,968
and there's boxes and these
are tripping hazards, and this isn't safe.
312
00:15:28,719 --> 00:15:31,764
And the last thing he probably wanted me
doing was like doing an assessment
313
00:15:31,764 --> 00:15:35,434
in his home, you know, going like, well,
this cord is too far from the wall,
314
00:15:35,434 --> 00:15:38,896
and that box needs to be taken
to the trash and, and whatnot.
315
00:15:38,896 --> 00:15:43,067
But if you know, you, if you look at it
316
00:15:43,067 --> 00:15:46,236
through a different lens,
maybe they're more open
317
00:15:46,236 --> 00:15:50,532
to hearing what you have to say
and taking in those suggestions.
318
00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:51,283
Yeah.
319
00:15:51,283 --> 00:15:52,701
Especially because I think so
320
00:15:52,701 --> 00:15:56,330
much of the things that we're seeing
on social media about, you know, fall
321
00:15:56,330 --> 00:15:59,416
prevention and the environmental pieces
to fall prevention,
322
00:15:59,708 --> 00:16:02,586
I think you and I probably assume
that everyone knows those.
323
00:16:02,586 --> 00:16:03,045
Right.
324
00:16:03,045 --> 00:16:06,173
But we don't, especially
325
00:16:06,173 --> 00:16:09,176
when we're looking at our own homes.
326
00:16:09,301 --> 00:16:11,679
Oh, my home work's fine.
I haven't had any trouble in my home.
327
00:16:11,679 --> 00:16:14,682
Why would I even consider
that there is a problem?
328
00:16:15,224 --> 00:16:18,811
It's when we talk about that
proactive, preventative approach,
329
00:16:19,853 --> 00:16:20,771
we recognize
330
00:16:20,771 --> 00:16:24,608
that falls are a huge issue
because they do lead
331
00:16:24,608 --> 00:16:28,153
to a huge decline that some people aren’t
able to recover from.
332
00:16:28,779 --> 00:16:31,448
And I'm sorry
that that was your personal experience.
333
00:16:31,448 --> 00:16:35,244
And unfortunately, it's a lot of people's
personal experience
334
00:16:35,244 --> 00:16:38,956
because it is so it's such a far
stretching issue
335
00:16:38,956 --> 00:16:43,460
and it's not necessarily
one specific thing that causes a fall.
336
00:16:43,460 --> 00:16:46,296
It's usually a multitude of things. Yeah.
337
00:16:46,296 --> 00:16:49,842
I'm just thinking about,
you know, when people have babies
338
00:16:49,842 --> 00:16:52,302
and then those babies become toddlers,
339
00:16:52,302 --> 00:16:55,806
there's usually things
that they modify in their home like,
340
00:16:55,806 --> 00:16:59,977
a baby gate or cabinet locks or,
you know, whatever it is,
341
00:16:59,977 --> 00:17:02,980
because you kind of anticipate, like,
oh, this child might
342
00:17:03,105 --> 00:17:06,984
want to roll down the stairs or open up
drawers or pull a dresser out, you know,
343
00:17:06,984 --> 00:17:10,863
and how can we think
in kind of that similar sense
344
00:17:10,863 --> 00:17:15,576
around any stage of life or any population
that we're, you know, working with?
345
00:17:15,576 --> 00:17:17,953
And I've been reflecting on that a lot
because obviously, you know,
346
00:17:17,953 --> 00:17:19,872
we talked about I have a three year old
and a one year old.
347
00:17:19,872 --> 00:17:20,748
We've done our fair
348
00:17:20,748 --> 00:17:24,668
share of baby proofing,
both preventatively and reactively. Yes.
349
00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:27,254
You know, you do you do those things.
350
00:17:27,254 --> 00:17:32,342
But that's assuming, you know,
I as a parent am,
351
00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,805
quote, competent
and I am assuming that my child is not.
352
00:17:36,889 --> 00:17:37,139
Right.
353
00:17:37,139 --> 00:17:39,349
That's
why they have all of these inherent risks
354
00:17:39,349 --> 00:17:41,894
is because they don't know
what's dangerous to them.
355
00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:42,311
Yeah.
356
00:17:42,311 --> 00:17:46,774
Versus when we translate that into a child
357
00:17:46,899 --> 00:17:49,818
providing that insight to their parents.
358
00:17:49,818 --> 00:17:50,986
Yeah.
359
00:17:50,986 --> 00:17:55,491
It just doesn't quite work, assuming that
one person is inherently not competent.
360
00:17:56,575 --> 00:17:58,452
And it's not well received.
361
00:17:58,452 --> 00:18:01,455
And even if it's not a parent
child relationship,
362
00:18:01,497 --> 00:18:03,082
you know, maybe it's a professional,
363
00:18:03,082 --> 00:18:06,251
like an occupational therapist
working with an older individual.
364
00:18:07,002 --> 00:18:07,211
Yeah.
365
00:18:07,211 --> 00:18:09,129
No one wants to be viewed as incompetent.
366
00:18:09,129 --> 00:18:14,301
So, and then we get into all of like,
the motivation talks of, you know,
367
00:18:14,635 --> 00:18:19,431
what's the better way
to propose those kind
368
00:18:19,431 --> 00:18:23,602
of solutions, to propose those changes,
and it really has to come internally.
369
00:18:23,602 --> 00:18:27,439
Yeah, it has to come from the homeowner
themselves saying, you know what?
370
00:18:27,439 --> 00:18:29,733
I do recognize that risk.
371
00:18:29,733 --> 00:18:32,736
I could see how that applies to my daily
life.
372
00:18:32,903 --> 00:18:35,322
And I am willing to change that.
373
00:18:35,322 --> 00:18:40,327
Where I see some people catch in
that kind of trajectory
374
00:18:40,327 --> 00:18:44,373
is the I'm willing to change it,
but I don't know how,
375
00:18:44,373 --> 00:18:49,294
or I don't have the means to change it,
or I just can't put the pieces together.
376
00:18:49,503 --> 00:18:51,171
Yeah. To make that change.
377
00:18:52,131 --> 00:18:54,174
I also think about,
378
00:18:54,174 --> 00:18:56,176
you know, sometimes you can get
379
00:18:56,176 --> 00:18:59,138
like the primary residence
or where the person is spending
380
00:18:59,221 --> 00:19:02,266
all or most of their time in a place
381
00:19:02,266 --> 00:19:05,519
that’s, you know, conducive to safety.
382
00:19:05,519 --> 00:19:08,856
I know we don't want to use the word
safety, but in a place that's conducive to
383
00:19:09,356 --> 00:19:11,733
whatever lifestyle they need and supports
they need.
384
00:19:11,733 --> 00:19:14,319
But, you know, think about like,
I've even noticed this with my mom.
385
00:19:14,319 --> 00:19:15,445
Like when she travels,
386
00:19:15,445 --> 00:19:18,699
like it's just so much harder for her
because, and she was just visiting.
387
00:19:19,241 --> 00:19:21,034
She broke her femur less than a year ago.
388
00:19:21,034 --> 00:19:25,455
And when we were getting her
checked into her hotel,
389
00:19:25,455 --> 00:19:28,041
it was like, oh, like,
this is going to be a problem
390
00:19:28,041 --> 00:19:31,420
because she's used to having like a walk
in shower and now there's like a tub
391
00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,089
and she can't move her leg in
a certain way.
392
00:19:34,089 --> 00:19:34,798
So it's like,
393
00:19:35,799 --> 00:19:38,760
it's also good
to have someone helping you anticipate
394
00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:43,348
if you're going to be traveling
or if you're going to,
395
00:19:44,349 --> 00:19:45,851
you know, want to do something like,
396
00:19:45,851 --> 00:19:48,312
I'd like to become a member
at a fitness center,
397
00:19:48,312 --> 00:19:50,022
or I'd like to go out to eat
at a restaurant.
398
00:19:50,022 --> 00:19:51,607
Like what, you know, what are those things
399
00:19:51,607 --> 00:19:54,651
that maybe someone like yourself
could help them anticipate?
400
00:19:54,651 --> 00:19:57,112
Because is it
kind of about anticipation, too?
401
00:19:57,112 --> 00:20:00,407
Like thinking ahead of
like what might my needs be?
402
00:20:01,116 --> 00:20:05,662
It is anticipation, but before
anticipation is really identification.
403
00:20:05,662 --> 00:20:06,371
Okay.
404
00:20:06,371 --> 00:20:10,000
And I was just having this conversation
today, you know, the difference
405
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,712
between adults with disabilities
versus older adults.
406
00:20:14,254 --> 00:20:17,174
They both have challenges
doing the same thing,
407
00:20:17,174 --> 00:20:20,552
but one population identifies as disabled
and the other one does not.
408
00:20:20,719 --> 00:20:21,970
Okay.
409
00:20:21,970 --> 00:20:24,264
Older adults
do not want to identify as disabled.
410
00:20:24,264 --> 00:20:28,310
They do not want to admit
that they're having trouble doing things,
411
00:20:28,310 --> 00:20:32,105
until they urgently need to, until it is a
412
00:20:32,481 --> 00:20:35,651
I have to sponge bathe because I can't
get in and out of the shower.
413
00:20:36,109 --> 00:20:41,949
So I would really like to catch people
on the earlier side of even trying
414
00:20:41,949 --> 00:20:45,661
to remediate some of those things
and just introducing that.
415
00:20:45,994 --> 00:20:49,373
If you ever had this thing
come up, here would be the solution.
416
00:20:49,873 --> 00:20:53,210
If you were ever having, I'm not assuming
you are having trouble getting into
417
00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:54,795
the shower, but if you were,
418
00:20:55,837 --> 00:20:58,674
you know, these are kind of the steps
that we would go through.
419
00:20:58,674 --> 00:21:01,385
And here's the low cost, medium cost,
high cost.
420
00:21:01,385 --> 00:21:04,388
Right. For a shower tub, we could do
421
00:21:05,055 --> 00:21:08,350
the tub clamp grab bar
or you could do a hold transfer pole.
422
00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:12,187
We could do a tub cut,
or we could do a high cost and let's
423
00:21:12,187 --> 00:21:13,480
just rip out the whole bathroom.
424
00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,192
Yeah, because and we, I'm really, really
425
00:21:17,192 --> 00:21:21,280
trying to introduce this
to the rest of our professional community,
426
00:21:21,655 --> 00:21:25,659
because when we introduce the low, medium,
high cost options,
427
00:21:26,535 --> 00:21:28,829
if people look at that tub clamp grab bar
428
00:21:28,829 --> 00:21:31,832
or that transfer pole
and they're like, oh, that's just so ugly.
429
00:21:32,332 --> 00:21:34,126
I just hate that.
430
00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:37,838
And they think, that's just the only
solution and I just don't want it.
431
00:21:37,838 --> 00:21:39,881
So I'm going to go without it. Yeah.
432
00:21:39,881 --> 00:21:41,133
And then I'm going to fall.
433
00:21:41,133 --> 00:21:42,676
But if I would have said,
do you know what?
434
00:21:42,676 --> 00:21:45,846
If you were having that issue, there are
lower cost things that we could try.
435
00:21:45,846 --> 00:21:48,515
But at the end of the day, I would say,
just rip out your whole bathroom.
436
00:21:48,515 --> 00:21:49,266
Yeah. Start fresh.
437
00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:53,270
You're ready for a remodel anyway,
and you have some funds to play with.
438
00:21:53,270 --> 00:21:54,104
Not everyone does.
439
00:21:54,104 --> 00:21:58,066
But if you did, that's what I would do
if I was choosing how to spend your money,
440
00:21:58,066 --> 00:21:58,483
of course.
441
00:21:58,483 --> 00:21:59,026
Yes. Yeah.
442
00:21:59,026 --> 00:22:02,654
And we kind of laugh about it and
then suddenly they're like, you know what?
443
00:22:02,654 --> 00:22:04,906
I don't have to deal with that ugly thing.
I don't like that.
444
00:22:04,906 --> 00:22:06,616
So now is the time.
445
00:22:06,616 --> 00:22:09,161
I have enough reasons
that I feel like I can spend the money
446
00:22:09,161 --> 00:22:12,873
and I can get a new bathroom,
and that'll just make life easier.
447
00:22:13,123 --> 00:22:15,125
I just think it goes back to.
And I heard this.
448
00:22:15,125 --> 00:22:16,168
This was years ago
449
00:22:16,168 --> 00:22:19,338
when I was pregnant with my daughter,
and I was taking a birth education class,
450
00:22:19,338 --> 00:22:21,298
and I think it translates
to all areas of life.
451
00:22:21,298 --> 00:22:23,508
If you don't know your options,
you don't have any.
452
00:22:23,508 --> 00:22:24,301
Correct.
453
00:22:24,301 --> 00:22:28,513
And so I like how when you're sharing
that you give them different options
454
00:22:28,513 --> 00:22:31,558
because if you only gave them one option,
455
00:22:31,558 --> 00:22:33,226
then they would think
that's their only option.
456
00:22:33,226 --> 00:22:34,853
But there's multiple options
457
00:22:34,853 --> 00:22:37,981
and multiple ways to, you know, problem
solve these types of things.
458
00:22:38,398 --> 00:22:40,567
Tell us about Happy at Home Consulting.
459
00:22:40,567 --> 00:22:43,028
Like what is a day in the life
like for you?
460
00:22:43,028 --> 00:22:45,781
What services are you providing?
461
00:22:45,781 --> 00:22:49,743
I'm just excited to help
you get word out about your business
462
00:22:49,743 --> 00:22:54,039
and would love for people to learn
more about how you could help them.
463
00:22:54,915 --> 00:22:55,165
Yeah.
464
00:22:55,165 --> 00:22:57,918
So Happy at Home
Consulting was founded in 2020,
465
00:22:57,918 --> 00:23:01,505
the perfect time to start
seeing older adults in their homes.
466
00:23:02,464 --> 00:23:03,465
But actually,
467
00:23:03,465 --> 00:23:07,260
I love that launch period,
because it did make us a little bit
468
00:23:07,260 --> 00:23:10,597
of a homebody and recognizing what things
in our home maybe weren't working.
469
00:23:11,014 --> 00:23:14,559
And it gave me the availability
to really have these great kind
470
00:23:14,559 --> 00:23:17,562
of zoom calls with other people and learn
what other people are doing
471
00:23:17,562 --> 00:23:18,480
and how they could,
472
00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,733
how they can help my clients
and how we can share and conquer.
473
00:23:22,275 --> 00:23:26,947
So something that we do well,
I kind of break it down into tiers.
474
00:23:27,322 --> 00:23:31,451
So the first kind of level
is that kind of client patient level.
475
00:23:31,743 --> 00:23:33,537
So we do accept Medicare.
476
00:23:33,537 --> 00:23:36,957
I feel very strongly
that everyone should have access to OT,
477
00:23:37,124 --> 00:23:38,917
whether you can afford it or not.
478
00:23:38,917 --> 00:23:40,710
Medicare is one of those things.
479
00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:45,340
So if you have traditional Medicare
with a supplement like a plan G or a plan
480
00:23:45,340 --> 00:23:50,137
F, generally you can access OT at no
additional cost to you, which is amazing.
481
00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:51,763
And that doesn't mean
you have to come to us.
482
00:23:51,763 --> 00:23:54,057
That means that you can go to any OT.
Yeah.
483
00:23:54,057 --> 00:23:56,768
Not every OT will see you in your home.
484
00:23:56,768 --> 00:24:00,772
But that's one of the benefits of,
utilizing our services
485
00:24:00,772 --> 00:24:03,191
is that they're home based,
which means that you don't
486
00:24:03,191 --> 00:24:05,277
have to leave the house,
so you don't have to be home bound.
487
00:24:05,277 --> 00:24:06,486
That's different.
488
00:24:06,486 --> 00:24:08,029
And we can come to you.
489
00:24:08,029 --> 00:24:10,782
That means that we have to bear
the weather and you don't have to. Yeah.
490
00:24:10,782 --> 00:24:15,245
Our lovely Iowa winters that we're due for
in the next couple months.
491
00:24:15,704 --> 00:24:18,832
The other kind of tier that we,
492
00:24:18,832 --> 00:24:22,335
serve is our caregivers
and our care partners.
493
00:24:22,752 --> 00:24:27,132
So we provide a whole lot of hand-holding
for our caregivers because, of course,
494
00:24:27,132 --> 00:24:30,969
we know, there is a caregiver shortage
in our nation,
495
00:24:31,303 --> 00:24:34,723
and there are a ton of unpaid caregivers.
496
00:24:34,723 --> 00:24:35,056
Yeah.
497
00:24:35,056 --> 00:24:38,310
So many family, friends, adult kids,
498
00:24:38,310 --> 00:24:41,313
you name it,
someone is providing care to someone.
499
00:24:41,605 --> 00:24:43,356
And our numbers for that.
500
00:24:43,356 --> 00:24:46,151
I don't even have them up.
But they are outrageous.
501
00:24:46,151 --> 00:24:49,988
The amount of money that we spend
on unpaid caregiving that people
502
00:24:49,988 --> 00:24:55,118
are spending on their loved ones
is just, astronomical, quite frankly.
503
00:24:55,535 --> 00:24:58,872
So really holding their hands,
helping to understand
504
00:24:58,872 --> 00:25:01,875
what things would make your life
easier as a caregiver
505
00:25:02,167 --> 00:25:05,170
and what things would make the life better
506
00:25:05,170 --> 00:25:08,381
for the person that you're caregiving
for that's receiving the care.
507
00:25:09,341 --> 00:25:12,344
And actually, Medicare
now has a caregiver training code.
508
00:25:12,344 --> 00:25:15,764
So that means that
if your loved one is seeing an OT
509
00:25:16,097 --> 00:25:19,267
and they're working on, I don't know,
shower transfers, for example,
510
00:25:20,101 --> 00:25:25,190
and you come up to me and you say, Sydney,
I still need to help him in the shower,
511
00:25:25,190 --> 00:25:28,026
and I'm just not quite sure
how to do that.
512
00:25:28,026 --> 00:25:31,863
The caregiver and I can meet
just one on one without their loved one
513
00:25:32,447 --> 00:25:34,991
to talk about that
and just to have a really candid
514
00:25:34,991 --> 00:25:38,537
conversation about, okay,
what does that actually look like?
515
00:25:38,537 --> 00:25:42,832
How, like, what kind of supports
do you need to provide as a caregiver
516
00:25:43,291 --> 00:25:44,751
to help him feel as
517
00:25:46,002 --> 00:25:46,586
independent as
518
00:25:46,586 --> 00:25:50,298
possible, as confident, and help
you avoid injury and avoid burnout?
519
00:25:50,465 --> 00:25:54,928
And that can be filed under the loved ones
Medicare using that caregiver code.
520
00:25:54,928 --> 00:25:57,305
Okay. Wow. Yeah that's great.
So that's amazing.
521
00:25:57,305 --> 00:25:59,432
That's a newer introduction.
522
00:25:59,432 --> 00:26:02,561
Last but not least is our community
partnership.
523
00:26:02,561 --> 00:26:05,564
So we have a lot of
524
00:26:05,647 --> 00:26:07,899
community partnerships
with other organizations,
525
00:26:07,899 --> 00:26:12,153
whether that's an area agency
on aging or Polk County.
526
00:26:12,153 --> 00:26:15,991
We're currently contracted with,
just other organizations
527
00:26:15,991 --> 00:26:20,954
who share our mission of helping older
adults, individuals with disabilities age
528
00:26:20,954 --> 00:26:24,499
in place and really continue
to be integrated in their community.
529
00:26:24,874 --> 00:26:28,336
They have found either funding through
their own budget or through grants.
530
00:26:28,628 --> 00:26:31,756
What not to say
we're really supportive of this,
531
00:26:31,756 --> 00:26:33,550
and we think you need an OT
532
00:26:33,550 --> 00:26:36,553
and we're willing to pay for it,
so you have access to OT.
533
00:26:36,803 --> 00:26:38,054
So we absolutely love that.
534
00:26:38,054 --> 00:26:42,642
Again, it is a no cost to enter
sort of set up for our folks
535
00:26:42,642 --> 00:26:47,564
and also benefits the organization because
then they can increase their offerings.
536
00:26:47,564 --> 00:26:47,981
Sure.
537
00:26:47,981 --> 00:26:50,775
And they get a little bit
more well-rounded care in the services
538
00:26:50,775 --> 00:26:53,111
that they already provide. Yeah,
absolutely.
539
00:26:53,111 --> 00:26:55,614
So if someone were to approach
you and say, like, I, you know,
540
00:26:55,614 --> 00:26:59,034
I just don't really know what my loved
one needs, would you be able
541
00:26:59,034 --> 00:27:02,495
to connect with them
and do a consultation to see if,
542
00:27:03,038 --> 00:27:07,125
you know, it's worth exploring
staying at home versus moving them out?
543
00:27:07,125 --> 00:27:11,254
Because I think a lot of times
when something happens, like a fall, or,
544
00:27:11,296 --> 00:27:15,342
you know, someone just maybe
they become widowed and,
545
00:27:15,383 --> 00:27:19,095
you know, they used to live with a spouse
and now they're on their own.
546
00:27:19,095 --> 00:27:21,014
And I think sometimes
people just jump to like, well,
547
00:27:21,014 --> 00:27:24,643
we have to make a change
because of circumstances changing.
548
00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:27,646
And so, like, is part of what you do
consulting with someone
549
00:27:27,646 --> 00:27:29,939
to say like these, again,
these are your options?
550
00:27:29,939 --> 00:27:33,276
Yep, I love the options talk. Yes.
551
00:27:33,610 --> 00:27:36,279
You know, there are a lot of families
we work with that
552
00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:39,616
are really unclear
if moving is the right choice or not.
553
00:27:40,116 --> 00:27:45,330
And I think some of that ambiguity,
what am I trying to say?
554
00:27:45,330 --> 00:27:46,706
Ambiguity. Thank you.
555
00:27:46,706 --> 00:27:51,044
You know, some of those feelings
come from not having hard data.
556
00:27:51,252 --> 00:27:52,212
Yeah.
557
00:27:52,212 --> 00:27:55,465
And not understanding,
oh my gosh, the cost of assisted
558
00:27:55,465 --> 00:27:58,927
living is, it's astronomical.
559
00:27:59,427 --> 00:28:01,596
$6,500 a month plus.
560
00:28:01,596 --> 00:28:03,807
Plus services, whatnot.
561
00:28:03,807 --> 00:28:06,726
And then, you know, long
term care is more expensive than that.
562
00:28:06,726 --> 00:28:08,770
And we have that number.
563
00:28:08,770 --> 00:28:12,440
But as a society, we've kind of
put that on a pedestal saying,
564
00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:13,775
this is the gold standard.
565
00:28:13,775 --> 00:28:16,820
This is what's safe, quote unquote,
what's safe
566
00:28:16,820 --> 00:28:19,823
is paying
this number of dollars per month.
567
00:28:19,989 --> 00:28:23,493
And that will help you avoid injury, help
you live longer.
568
00:28:23,493 --> 00:28:25,787
We're all talking about longevity
right now.
569
00:28:25,787 --> 00:28:29,958
You know, assisted living and those long
term care settings seem to be
570
00:28:30,375 --> 00:28:33,503
what we think is the next phase versus
571
00:28:33,503 --> 00:28:36,631
the overwhelming number of older adults
want to remain in their home.
572
00:28:36,631 --> 00:28:37,215
Yeah.
573
00:28:37,215 --> 00:28:40,510
Anywhere from 75 to 90%
want to remain at home.
574
00:28:41,052 --> 00:28:43,972
So what we can do is
we can actually crunch the numbers
575
00:28:43,972 --> 00:28:49,477
and say, okay, what are you looking for
from assisted living?
576
00:28:50,186 --> 00:28:52,355
Because if it's an environmental piece,
maybe,
577
00:28:52,355 --> 00:28:55,191
we're talking a lot about showering.
Maybe we should talk about something else.
578
00:28:55,191 --> 00:28:56,401
Maybe we should talk about lawn care.
579
00:28:56,401 --> 00:28:57,819
When you move into assisted living,
you don’t have to worry about.
580
00:28:57,819 --> 00:28:59,112
Or just like home maintenance.
581
00:28:59,112 --> 00:29:00,029
Yeah, yeah.
582
00:29:00,029 --> 00:29:02,240
We don't have to talk about
lawn care or home maintenance.
583
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,243
And that's all included in your fee.
584
00:29:05,535 --> 00:29:08,413
And what would it cost
to just hire someone to mow your lawn?
585
00:29:08,413 --> 00:29:08,663
Yeah.
586
00:29:09,789 --> 00:29:12,000
You know, once a week, every other week.
587
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,626
It doesn't matter, what would it cost?
588
00:29:13,626 --> 00:29:16,421
Or, you know,
maybe it's time to move into an apartment
589
00:29:16,421 --> 00:29:18,798
or a townhome or,
you know, somewhere where, like,
590
00:29:18,798 --> 00:29:22,719
you still have ownership or agency over
where you live, it's
591
00:29:22,719 --> 00:29:27,432
just a different space that, you know,
maybe is like a better size for you.
592
00:29:27,432 --> 00:29:31,144
And it requires no maintenance,
you know, for the outdoors.
593
00:29:31,686 --> 00:29:33,396
And maybe that's still not the fit.
594
00:29:33,396 --> 00:29:36,316
Maybe they're like, well, the lawn
maintenance and that that's the thing.
595
00:29:36,316 --> 00:29:39,778
But what about, what if in the future
if I do need someone to help
596
00:29:39,944 --> 00:29:41,529
cook my meals?
597
00:29:41,529 --> 00:29:42,947
Okay, so then I'll just factor that in.
598
00:29:42,947 --> 00:29:45,950
What would it cost to have either
someone come to your house
599
00:29:46,284 --> 00:29:49,245
and cook your meals, what would it cost
to have meals shipped to you?
600
00:29:49,245 --> 00:29:52,624
Do you actually qualify for Medicaid
and you can get your frozen meal
601
00:29:52,624 --> 00:29:53,958
shipped to you? Yeah.
602
00:29:53,958 --> 00:29:56,294
You know,
there are so many resources out there
603
00:29:56,294 --> 00:30:00,256
that sometimes it does make sense
to stay at home and private pay for things
604
00:30:00,256 --> 00:30:03,134
while we're trying
to spend down for Medicaid. Yeah.
605
00:30:03,134 --> 00:30:05,929
Do you find that
most people who consult with
606
00:30:05,929 --> 00:30:09,724
you are surprised by what information
that you know, they receive?
607
00:30:09,766 --> 00:30:12,602
Like they had no idea
what their options were?
608
00:30:12,602 --> 00:30:14,103
They had no idea that.
609
00:30:14,103 --> 00:30:15,730
That's a good question.
610
00:30:15,730 --> 00:30:19,734
I like, not that I have a personal goal,
but I do try
611
00:30:20,235 --> 00:30:22,862
maybe to have at least like one
a-ha moment.
612
00:30:22,862 --> 00:30:25,490
Yeah, well I, I think that's a great goal,
you know.
613
00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:29,744
If that's like a bidet, if that's,
you know, like a piece of equipment,
614
00:30:29,744 --> 00:30:33,373
a service, whatever that is,
I love at least having one a-ha moment
615
00:30:33,373 --> 00:30:36,376
because it makes me feel like,
I don't know,
616
00:30:36,376 --> 00:30:40,213
like I got paid and I was like,
I got paid for what I was worth.
617
00:30:40,213 --> 00:30:41,381
Yeah, absolutely.
618
00:30:41,381 --> 00:30:42,465
You know, if someone,
619
00:30:42,465 --> 00:30:45,844
even if I'm billing Medicare
and I and I come and I tell you, you know,
620
00:30:45,844 --> 00:30:47,846
the same thing that your doctor told you
or that your adult
621
00:30:47,846 --> 00:30:50,223
doctor told you or whoever told you that.
622
00:30:50,223 --> 00:30:52,392
And it's like, well,
that was kind of worthless.
623
00:30:52,392 --> 00:30:57,313
And I don't I don't feel like
we got to the whole problem.
624
00:30:57,313 --> 00:30:58,898
Exactly.
I don’t feel like we talked enough.
625
00:30:58,898 --> 00:31:00,608
We didn't dig deep enough to really,
626
00:31:02,068 --> 00:31:03,570
really get through all those pieces.
627
00:31:03,570 --> 00:31:04,779
Yeah.
628
00:31:04,779 --> 00:31:07,323
So you're located in central Iowa?
629
00:31:07,323 --> 00:31:10,535
Yes. So I am here in my home
office in Des Moines, Iowa.
630
00:31:10,869 --> 00:31:14,706
We serve, though, several
more counties than Des Moines, Iowa,
631
00:31:14,706 --> 00:31:15,790
and Polk County, Iowa.
632
00:31:15,790 --> 00:31:17,584
Obviously,
we're contracted with Polk County
633
00:31:17,584 --> 00:31:22,088
at the moment
through 2027 for their federal grants.
634
00:31:22,505 --> 00:31:25,508
For people who would like home
modifications in Polk County.
635
00:31:26,134 --> 00:31:28,428
Other
636
00:31:28,428 --> 00:31:31,681
counties that we work within
are mostly counties that touch Polk.
637
00:31:31,806 --> 00:31:34,726
And then we're also contracted
with Milestones Area Agency
638
00:31:34,726 --> 00:31:37,729
on Aging to cover southeast Iowa.
639
00:31:37,812 --> 00:31:38,897
Okay.
640
00:31:38,897 --> 00:31:42,275
And then in general,
you know, I will always travel
641
00:31:42,275 --> 00:31:45,862
when people need something,
when it makes sense.
642
00:31:45,945 --> 00:31:47,155
Honestly, it's
643
00:31:47,155 --> 00:31:50,742
scheduling wise if I if I can travel
because my schedule allows it
644
00:31:50,742 --> 00:31:52,744
and we can get someone out there,
then I absolutely will.
645
00:31:52,744 --> 00:31:55,747
And if you feel like you're a good fit
for that particular.
646
00:31:55,747 --> 00:31:56,956
Yeah.
647
00:31:56,956 --> 00:31:59,959
Especially because so many people
don't have access to OT,
648
00:31:59,959 --> 00:32:02,962
I think it's really important
that people at least have access to
649
00:32:03,296 --> 00:32:06,090
an occupational therapist
but sometimes they don't.
650
00:32:06,090 --> 00:32:08,635
And that means that I travel
a little bit more and that's great.
651
00:32:08,635 --> 00:32:10,178
Yeah. That's great.
652
00:32:10,178 --> 00:32:12,430
Well, tell our listeners
how they can get in touch with you,
653
00:32:12,430 --> 00:32:14,724
and then I'll include this information
in our show notes as well,
654
00:32:14,724 --> 00:32:17,352
so they can just hop into those and click
away.
655
00:32:17,352 --> 00:32:18,853
But, website,
656
00:32:18,853 --> 00:32:22,523
social media, how can people connect
with you and Happy at Home Consulting?
657
00:32:23,358 --> 00:32:23,691
Yeah.
658
00:32:23,691 --> 00:32:28,571
So, probably the easiest way to connect
with me, like the most basic level,
659
00:32:28,571 --> 00:32:29,989
is via text. Okay.
660
00:32:29,989 --> 00:32:34,452
Our business phone is HIPPA compliant,
so you can always text me,
661
00:32:34,577 --> 00:32:36,996
call me, whichever. Obviously
I am on the road.
662
00:32:36,996 --> 00:32:40,541
I am doing visits quite often,
so I’m not a good phone answerer.
663
00:32:40,541 --> 00:32:41,501
I'm sorry. Yeah.
664
00:32:41,501 --> 00:32:46,923
But my work phone is (515) 635-4050.
665
00:32:46,923 --> 00:32:47,298
All right.
666
00:32:47,298 --> 00:32:55,181
My business
email is Sydney@happyathomeconsulting.com.
667
00:32:55,515 --> 00:32:57,016
Okay. All that jazz.
668
00:32:57,016 --> 00:32:58,601
And then also always find me on LinkedIn.
669
00:32:58,601 --> 00:33:01,813
I love being LinkedIn connected or linkies
670
00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:05,650
with anybody and following along
with their professional journey too so.
671
00:33:05,775 --> 00:33:07,360
Absolutely, well it's been delightful
672
00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,905
having this conversation and I will
include the phone number your email
673
00:33:10,905 --> 00:33:14,200
and your LinkedIn profile
and your website all in the show notes.
674
00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:14,993
So if you're listening
675
00:33:14,993 --> 00:33:18,037
and want to learn more about Happy at Home
Consulting or want to ask
676
00:33:18,079 --> 00:33:20,248
Sydney questions,
get in direct contact with her,
677
00:33:20,248 --> 00:33:22,542
you will have that information
at your fingertips.
678
00:33:22,542 --> 00:33:24,043
Thank you so much for your time, Sydney.
679
00:33:24,043 --> 00:33:26,838
This was a lovely conversation. Thanks.
680
00:33:26,838 --> 00:33:28,464
Thank you for listening to Emotion Well.
681
00:33:28,464 --> 00:33:29,841
Employee and Family Resources
682
00:33:29,841 --> 00:33:33,928
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
located in Des Moines, Iowa.
683
00:33:34,178 --> 00:33:37,098
We support communities, workplaces,
and schools with comprehensive
684
00:33:37,098 --> 00:33:38,558
behavioral health services.
685
00:33:38,558 --> 00:33:40,059
If you would like to contribute
to our mission,
686
00:33:40,059 --> 00:33:42,145
please click on the donation
link in our show notes.
