FACES of HEALTH
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED
RIVERSTONE HEALTH HOME CARE:
Stroke patient regains speech
Volume 35 | Summer 2023
RiverStone Health Home Care saved Mom and me
Home Care team improves quality of life for patients & families
Elaine Popp is walking again slowly and speaking clearly, thanks to RiverStone Health Home Care.
On an overcast spring afternoon Elaine and her daughter, Kathy Terpstra, were outside enjoying the sound of wild birds and the fragrance of lilacs at their home south of Billings. Seven months earlier, Elaine wasn’t able to get out of bed, she wasn’t able to talk. A stroke and subsequent trauma left her in a dark place.
Suddenly, Kathy had to move her disabled mom into her house. Kathy knew that they needed a lot of help, especially because Kathy herself had a broken arm.
Elaine’s RiverStone Health Clinic primary care physician prescribed home healthcare. Kathy chose RiverStone Health as Elaine’s provider.
Kathy and Elaine soon received a visit from the Home Care team that included a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist. The visits continued regularly to help Elaine reach her goals. Nurses showed Kathy how to give Elaine her prescribed medications and how to bathe her mom. Physical therapy relieved Elaine’s back pain and got her moving again with a walker. Occupational therapy helped Kathy make their home safer by removing fall hazards.
Elaine continues weekly work with Speech Therapist Bridget Bryant to treat aphasia, a disorder that most often results from a stroke that damages a language
center in the brain.
“I love her. She has done so much for me,” Elaine said of Bridget, her speech therapist. Elaine still has memory issues, but she can speak her mind and carry on a conversation that shows her stubbornness and sense of humor.
“If it had not been for the intervention of RiverStone Health Home Care, I shudder to think where we would be. I was overwhelmed. Mom was shut down physically and emotionally,” Kathy said. “RiverStone Health helped save Mom; they saved me.”
RiverStone Health Home Care serves Medicare patients,
like Elaine, but the majority of our patients are U.S. veterans referred through the VA. RiverStone Home Care also serves privately insured patients and Medicaid patients, even though Medicaid rates fall short of the cost of patient care.
Friends of RiverStone Health Foundation make it possible for Home Care to serve all patients in need, regardless of their ability to pay. Your gift to the Foundation helps us continue to provide excellent
of
home healthcare throughout Yellowstone County as we have for more than four decades.
To make a gift in support of our Home Care services, visit RiverStoneHealth.org/GIVE
Scan
me
Kathy Terpstra, right, drives with her mother Elaine to the mailbox in a golf cart nicknamed “Mama Hog”.
If it had not been for the intervention
RiverStone Health Home Care, I shudder to think where we would be ... RiverStone Health helped save Mom; they saved me.
“ “
Kathy Terpstra
Foundation sponsors books, backpacks for school readiness
provides a new age-appropriate book to every child who visits any of our clinics or programs year-round. We gave away hundreds of children’s books in June at Billings Pride events. Donations to buy books for RiverStone Reads can be made by scanning the link below.
Scan to see supply lists for Orchard Elementary
Scan to donate to RiverStone Reads
Foundation welcomes Megan Irion
Megan Irion is the new senior director of the RiverStone Health Foundation.
Please help us fill backpacks. You may purchase supplies and bring your donations to our Foundation office on the first floor of the four-story building at 123 S. 27th St. If you prefer to make a cash donation online, we will shop for you. All donated supplies will be delivered to Orchard School before classes start on Aug. 22.
RiverStone Reads, another Foundation program,
Board of Directors
Bill Royer – Chair, UBS Financial Services
Carol Beam – Vice-Chair, Rocky Mountain Health Network
Drew Hedrick – Secretary/Treasurer, Century 21 Hometown Brokers
Dan Carter – Par Montana
John Dorr, MD – Retired
Jon Forte – RiverStone Health
Kim Gillan – Retired
Ryan Nordlund – City Vineyard
Barb Skelton – Horses Spirits Healing
Foundation Staff
Barbara Schneeman – Executive Director
Megan Irion – Senior Director of Development
Leyna Kingman – Development Coordinator
Beth Allen – Development Associate
She oversees foundation initiatives that will help support RiverStone Health services, patients and clients.
Before joining RiverStone Health, Megan worked as the senior director of development at the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation. She is president and owner of BODYROK, a Pilates fitness studio.
Subscribe to our emails to hear about events and other happenings at RiverStone Health. Email us to sign-up: foundation@RiverStoneHealth.org
MT Endowment Tax Credit questions?
Contact Executive Director Barbara Schneeman
Announcements
Memorial Listing: Gifts given in tribute are posted quarterly at RiverStoneHealth.org/memorial
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will. 123 South 27 th Street • Billings, MT 59101 • RiverStoneHealth.org • 406.651.6555
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Megan Irion
123 South 27th
Billings, MT 59101
Torrential rain foiled our plan for hosting the 35th Annual RiverStone Health Hospice Golf Tournament on June 2.
We appreciate everyone who signed up to golf or volunteer on what turned out to be the rainiest tournament day in 35 years. We are excited to announce that the tournament has been rescheduled for Friday, September 22nd at Laurel Golf Club.
Golf teams will soon receive details on the new tournament day schedule. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Laurel Golf Club in September.
Thanks to RiverStone Health Foundation friends like you, no patient is turned away from our hospice services due to inability to pay.
Street
RiverStoneHealth.org • 406.651.6555 “Rain Check” Date!
