Home Care, You Say?
Claim This Podcastby H4HC
Podcast Overview
<div> <p>Home care is a pillar of our health care system, but navigating through the complex legislation, federal and state compliance policies, and learning to advocate for yourself or your family can feel daunting. Where do you even begin?</p> <p>Welcome to '<strong>Home Care, You Say?</strong>', the essential podcast for advocates, frontline workers, patients, and their families. Join your hosts, Michael Sokoloski and Bliss Pointer, as they demystify the forces shaping home care in America and empower you to make a difference and create change.</p> <p><span>Whether you're in the field, receiving care, or fighting for a better system, '</span><b>Home Care, You Say?</b><span>' is your indispensable guide. Tune in to get informed, get inspired, and take action. </span></p> <p><b>Updates with Bliss Pointer</b></p> <p>Join H4HC insider Bliss Pointer and stay ahead of the curve. Bliss offers important, boots-on-the-ground updates on everything you need to know right now. Be the first to learn about pending state and federal legislation that directly impacts home care workers and recipients, and follow along as she explains new compliance rules and industry trends so you're never caught off guard. Bliss also provides vital advocacy alerts and actionable steps on how to improve home care in your state and beyond. Join Bliss as she brings community voices to the forefront, sharing thoughts, questions, and insights from frontline workers, care providers, and their patients. </p> <p><b>Interviews with Michael Sokoloski</b></p> <p>H4HC's Director of Grassroots Advocacy, Michael Sokoloski, goes behind the headlines and inside the halls of power. Join Michael as he sits down for candid conversations with legislators from across the country to tackle the big-picture issues, including core legislative and financial challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid. Tune in as Michael reveals how policy and budget decisions shape the work of frontline caregivers—and shares his playbook for navigating legislation and advocating effectively</p> <p>Whether you're in the field, receiving care, or fighting for a better system, '<b>Home Care, You Say?</b>' is your indispensable guide. Tune in to get informed, get inspired, and get activated.</p> </div> <div>Created and distributed by Hearts for Home Care and produced by slanted.design</div>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/11/2025
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Recent Episodes
July 24, 2026
Why "Invisible" Technology is the Future of Home Care Operations
Let's face it: home care workers aren't leaving the industry because they fell out of love with patient care—they're drowning in paperwork, budget cuts, and relentless admin tasks. In the latest episode of Home Care You Say, host Mike Sokoloski sits down with former physical therapist and CareStitch COO Shelley Ackerman PT, DPT to crack the code on clinician burnout and retention. Discover how invisible, cutting-edge technology is silently automating admin work, saving agencies time, and giving nurses and therapists their lives back. We’re diving deep into the real math behind Medicare reimbursement lags and exploring why home care is a cornerstone of value-based healthcare. Plus, Shelley shares a deeply personal story about her 97-year-old grandmother that will remind you exactly why we do this critical work every single day. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The Real Root of Clinician Burnout: Discover why great nurses and therapists are actually leaving the field, and learn how agencies can systematically eliminate the administrative friction and constant interruptions pushing them away. Invisible Tech is the Best Tech: Understand how modern technology works quietly in the background to streamline daily workflows. We explore how software automates complex scheduling, and why it actually improves compliance without demanding extra clicks from field staff. The Medicare Reimbursement Reality: Get the real numbers behind why Medicare home health payments have only risen about 5.8% since 2020 while hospital rates jumped into the low 20% margin. You will also see how underfunding home care causes total downstream healthcare costs to explode. Winning at Value-Based Care: Learn why home health is the ultimate cost-effective setting for lowering emergency department visits and hospital readmissions. We discuss how agencies that collaborate and share data will dominate the future of healthcare. How to Be a High-Impact Advocate: Find out why policymakers in Washington need your personal patient stories just as much as hard data. Shelley reveals what members of Congress would really see if they stepped out of the hospital and shadowed a clinician in the home for a day. The Power of Personal Purpose: Listen to Shelley’s touching story of helping her 97-year-old grandmother age in place during the pandemic. Discover how that firsthand family experience fuels her mission to fix fragmented care systems at CareStitch today. 🔗 Resource Links: CareStitch: Learn more about CareStitch, an innovative company focused on solving complex workflow and operational challenges through smart technology. Alliance for Care at Home: Find out more about the upcoming September fly-in to Washington and join the industry-wide collaboration. Hearts for Home Care: Join the advocacy movement and share your personal caregiving stories directly on the platform. produced by slanted.design
July 20, 2026
Updates with Bliss: Understanding Medicaid waivers
Bliss Pointer returns to demystify Medicaid Waivers. In this episode, Bliss provides a comprehensive guide explaining what waivers are, how these programs differ across States, and how families can navigate the system to get the care their loved ones need. In this Episode: Understanding how a waiver operates at the state-level. How waivers can affect who receives services, where care is provided, or how providers are paid. A quick overview of the "Big Three" Medicaid waivers and how states might use each one, or in tandem. Avoid common mistakes when applying for waivers, and understanding the difference between an "interest list" and a "waiting list". Bliss sorts through common myths about Medicaid waivers and waiting lists. Actionable Advice for Families Identify Your Needs: Start by describing your loved one's needs in plain language (e.g., "My older parent needs help bathing and preparing meals to remain safely at home") Ask the Right Questions: When speaking to an agency, ask about eligibility, financial requirements, waitlist status, and whether services are available while you wait. Keep Meticulous Records: Document every phone call, the names of the people you speak with, reference numbers, and copies of medical records to avoid missing important deadline. Resources & Contact Information Need Help? If you have questions about the specific waivers in your state or need help navigating the process, reach out at advocacy@heartsforhomecare.com Share Your Story: Have you experienced life on a waitlist or successfully navigated a state waiver? Share a 30-second video of your story at heartsforhomecare.com to help support ongoing advocacy efforts! produced by slanted.design
July 10, 2026
Habilitation Services: Empowering Independence at Home
Ever wonder what it truly takes to help someone live their most independent life? In today's episode, Mike Sokoloski sits down with Donna Heatherly, Practice President of Behavioral Health and Habilitation at BAYADA Home Health Care, to dive into the transformative world of habilitation services. Donna brings over 30 years of passion to the table, breaking down exactly how these services empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to thrive in their community. It is not just about clinical medical care; it is about teaching life skills, building community, and celebrating unique wins—like learning how to line dance. Whether you are passionate about healthcare advocacy or just love hearing about people making a real difference, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. In This Episode: What habilitation actually means and how it helps individuals build daily skills like prepping meals, communicating needs, and brushing their teeth independently. How the Olmstead Act helped shape the push for independent, community-based living. The story of how Donna's career started in a small cottage, which sparked a lifelong passion for person-centered care. Why technology and AI aren't here to replace human caregivers, but rather to safely bridge the gaps when staff can't be there 24/7. The reality of the current workforce shortage and why advocating for competitive pay and reimbursement rates is critical for hiring passionate professionals. Heartwarming success stories that show the deeply personal nature of habilitation outcomes. Resource Links: Learn more about grassroots advocacy at Hearts for Home Care: heartsforhomecare.com. If you loved this conversation, please leave us a review and share it with a friend or colleague. Your support helps us spread the word and make a real difference in the community! produced by slanted.design
31 total episodes available
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- What is Home Care, You Say??
<div> <p>Home care is a pillar of our health care system, but navigating through the complex legislation, federal and state compliance policies, and learning to advocate for yourself or your family can feel daunting. Where do you even begin?</p> <p>Welcome to '<strong>Home Care, You Say?</strong>', the essential podcast for advocates, frontline workers, patients, and their families. Join your hosts, Michael Sokoloski and Bliss Pointer, as they demystify the forces shaping home care in America and empower you to make a difference and create change.</p> <p><span>Whether you're in the field, receiving care, or fighting for a better system, '</span><b>Home Care, You Say?</b><span>' is your indispensable guide. Tune in to get informed, get inspired, and take action. </span></p> <p><b>Updates with Bliss Pointer</b></p> <p>Join H4HC insider Bliss Pointer and stay ahead of the curve. Bliss offers important, boots-on-the-ground updates on everything you need to know right now. Be the first to learn about pending state and federal legislation that directly impacts home care workers and recipients, and follow along as she explains new compliance rules and industry trends so you're never caught off guard. Bliss also provides vital advocacy alerts and actionable steps on how to improve home care in your state and beyond. Join Bliss as she brings community voices to the forefront, sharing thoughts, questions, and insights from frontline workers, care providers, and their patients. </p> <p><b>Interviews with Michael Sokoloski</b></p> <p>H4HC's Director of Grassroots Advocacy, Michael Sokoloski, goes behind the headlines and inside the halls of power. Join Michael as he sits down for candid conversations with legislators from across the country to tackle the big-picture issues, including core legislative and financial challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid. Tune in as Michael reveals how policy and budget decisions shape the work of frontline caregivers—and shares his playbook for navigating legislation and advocating effectively</p> <p>Whether you're in the field, receiving care, or fighting for a better system, '<b>Home Care, You Say?</b>' is your indispensable guide. Tune in to get informed, get inspired, and get activated.</p> </div> <div>Created and distributed by Hearts for Home Care and produced by slanted.design</div> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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