VP Rotary Club welcomes recent guests

November 19, Meeting
Rotarian Dr. Ted Ardoin invited Brooke Tate Lafleur and Tiffany Vidrine with Med Source Home Health to discuss occupational therapy. Lafleur noted she has been an occupational therapist for 13 years and sees patients in Ville Platte twice a week. She then gave a brief overview of occupational therapy, noting it started following World War I when veterans were being readjusted to civilian life. She noted that physical therapy and occupational therapy are different in that occupational therapy helps patients with every day life functions to help take care of themselves across life spans. Lafleur noted home health is most successful and functional in the patient’s home environment with the addition of any necessary modifications/equipment which helps the patient take care of themselves. Family members and care givers are also trained to properly use the equipment. She said this encompasses all activities of daily living, including brushing one’s teeth and hair. For patients with low vision diagnoses, such modifications and equipment include large button television remote controls and phones, talking clocks and oversized calculators and checkbook registers. The company’s goal is to adapt things for the patient in order to keep them living at home safely for as long as possible.
Vidrine is a physician liaison and noted Med Source covers almost the entire state and includes telemonitoring so that they can call patients if they notice any irregularities in their vitals readings. The information is transferred to staff nurses out of Dallas, Texas, who read the information and call the patients directly if they notice a drop or spike in blood pressure or any other unusual readings. She noted nurses are still called out to work with and check on patients in the home. She stated the goal is to keep the patients at home and well.
November 26, Meeting
Rotarian Miles Briley invited Chasessica Basco to the November 26, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club to discuss her One Warm Coat project for the holidays. Basco said the program, which started by Sara Rodriguez in San Francisco, California, in 1992, accepts donations of gently-used coats, sweaters, scarves etc. for the less fortunate. She became involved when, after storing seasonal items, she realized how many coats and items her family had that didn’t get that much use. As a result, she searched the internet and found this non-profit organization and got involved. The items are gathered and distributed locally to residents in need or to shelters. Basco is leading the drive in Evangeline and St. Landry parishes with a great response. The deadline to donate is December 31. Drop off points are at Ville Platte City Hall, Budget Rental in Ville Platte and CC’s Fitness in Pine Prairie.
December 3, Meeting
Rotarian Ruse Allen Smith invited Nicole Wenger with Dry Max Water and Fire Restoration to address the December 3, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. She stated she and her husband recently moved into a building on LaSalle Street. She is an architect and her husband is a contractor and they began their restoration company, which is certified in environmental concerns. Wenger stated the company is not a franchise and is focused on service. She added it is the only such business located between Lafayette and Alexandria. The company has invested in advanced technology to restore fire and/or water damaged items in the aftermath of a disaster. They visit the property with an advanced ultrasonics trailer to restore customers’ items onsite instead of them having to be shipped off to be restored. Along with ultrasonic cleaning, they utilize sodablasting (baking soda) on tough fire and soot damage. They are also certified to handle biohazard situations. Wenger stated dealing with the insurance companies is tricky because not too many cover the expense, however, she and her husband are currently weighing their options on increasing their business’ certifications.