Treemont Retirement Blog

At Senior Allegiance, we strive for employees that not only enjoy being at work and make you smile, but staff that helps our clients above and beyond expectations! There is no one better on our staff at this then our Administrator/Director of Nursing Karina Walker RN BSN. Karina plays a key role in ensuring that Treemont residents receive the necessary supportive care so they can live independently in their apartments. A small helping hand can make all the difference in a senior remaining active and healthy. 

As Administrator/DON, Karina provides her expertise to residents on the following types of issues:

• Approval for Medicare Home Health Care services
• Oversight of Personal Assistance Services
• Coordinator with Families on Resident Care Plan
• Discharge Planning with Health Care Center to help residents return to their apartments
• Assessment of Prospective Residents for Eligibility
• Representation in Treemont Campus Educational events, health fairs and health screenings.
• Establishment of Doctor Visits to Treemont Resident Apartments
• One of Main Emergency Responders to Assist Independent Living Residents Needing Help

Are you aware that Medicare covers the cost of many of the services that allow you to remain active, especially if you have been

One of the key services that Senior Allegiance provides is Medicare Home Health Care for Treemont residents. Senior Allegiance Home Health works under the direction of your physician to manage an injury or illness in the convenience of your apartment, seeking the best possible outcome in a compassionate and professional manner. Senior Allegiance submits all Home Health claims. 

Traditional Medicare covers in full a 60-day renewable Home Health Episode for Nursing and Rehabilitation (physical, occupational and/or speech therapy) services provided in the comfort of your home. Should you sign up with Senior Allegiance, Rasha Amoush, RN is one of the caring and compassionate Registered Nurses that would visit to assess, treat and evaluate your needs according to your physician’s orders. Rasha might, for example, check your vital signs, assess your skin status, do wound care and/or assist with pillbox set up. She would also teach you and your family self-care techniques to allow you to safely remain in your home. A Senior Allegiance Nurse is available to you Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm — and on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Rasha says, “Seniors are lovely people, they appreciate me. A funny story —most of my patients are hard of hearing. Over time, I’ve found myself speaking loudly so regularly that one of my co-workers started complaining that I am too loud in the office!”

Residents move to a senior independent living community with the desire to stay independent as long as possible. Thus, Treemont introduced the concept of “Independence Plus” on our campus. Seniors who need help with activities of daily living can receive home health services in their apartment instead of moving to a licensed assisted living facility. Senior Allegiance is the “Plus” in Independence Plus.”

• Personal Assistance Service (PAS) Coordinator Cindy Harrell is the key Senior Allegiance manager to contact if you have such questions as:
• Activities of Daily Living Support. A little support can keep seniors independent. This might be an occasional shower or getting dressed. Senior Allegiance’s (SA’s) Medication Management Program can keep seniors healthy and out of the hospital by timely taking their blood pressure, diabetes, or Parkinson’s medications.
• Medicare Home Health Nursing/Therapy Program. Under supervision of a doctor, SA provides Medicare paid services including: Therapy; Wound Care; Psychiatric/Other Nursing Care.
• War-Time Veteran Benefit of $1,936? Call Cindy to see if you qualify to use VA Aide & Attendance benefit for rent at Treemont.

Residents move to a senior independent living community with the desire to stay independent as long as possible. Treemont introduced the concept of “Independence Plus” on our campus. Seniors who need help with activities of daily living can receive personal assistance services (PAS) and Medicare home health services in their apartment instead of moving to a licensed assisted living facility. Senior Allegiance is the “Plus” in Independence Plus.”

Many of you recognize Medication Aide Myrtle Evita Lambert who administers medication daily to our residents and reports changes.

A key Senior Allegiance PAS Program is Medication Management. The most basic program is for a resident to be reminded twice daily to take their pills. A more robust plan involves the

Welcome Caregiver Leslie Foston, one of Senior Allegiance’s newest employees, who has taken on a big role during COVID-19. Her primary task at this time is taking temperature checks on Senior Allegiance’s Treemont customers, Mondays to Fridays. Leslie then assists where ever needed with activities of daily living, typically on the morning shift, but she is flexible.

Administrator Karina Walker says, “Leslie is a very caring and loving caregiver that recently joined our team in February. During such difficult and uncertain times, it is refreshing for many residents to have someone to visit them on a daily basis, not only to check on their well being, but also to lift their spirits with a smile. We are honored to have Leslie as part of our team and look forward to her continued growth within our company.”

The purpose of Senior Allegiance is to permit Treemont residents to maintain an independent lifestyle in their own apartment for as long as possible. Seniors want to maintain their independence and a small, helping hand can mean all the difference between staying healthy or having continued health setbacks that require hospitalization or a higher level of care, such as assisted living or nursing. We are fortunate that Senior Allegiance, as part of its Medicare Home Health Program, has a full-time Psychiatric Nurse Dina Gudas, RN.

Senior Allegiance Administrator Karina Walker says:  “With her extensive psychiatry knowledge and compassion, Dina has contributed to one the factors that make Senior Allegiance so unique and such as asset to the Treemont Community. The passion she has for psychiatric nursing shows in the way she cares for her patients. From teaching patients coping skills, working with psychiatric and primary

Monte Montecillo, Senior Allegiance Physical Therapist, is an integral person on the Treemont Campus. He evaluates and treats independent living residents admitted for Home Health Care physical therapy services with Senior Allegiance, so they can get stronger and back to where they were prior to a health setback.

Are you aware that Medicare covers the cost of many of the services that allow you to remain active, especially if you have been hospitalized in the past year?  Senior Allegiance will work with your doctor to help identify service needs that can be provided under the Medicare program, including physical, occupational or speech therapy as well as nursing care.

Once qualified for services, Monte is one of the therapists who will visit you in your apartment for therapy services. To see if you qualify for Medicare therapy, please call Senior Allegiance team

Many of you have seen a warm, friendly face walking around the Treemont campus. Sheila Quia is Senior Allegiance’s Medicare Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator. She is also the liaison with Medical Director Dr. Adrian Zaharia, a physician for many Treemont residents, and their families.

Are you aware that Medicare covers the cost of many of the services that allow you to remain active, especially if you have been hospitalized in the past year?  Senior Allegiance will work with your doctor to help identify service needs that can be provided under the Medicare program, including physical, occupational or speech therapy as well as nursing care. In her Quality Assurance role, Sheila reviews nurses’ Medicare notes to make sure they comply with doctors’ orders, and verifies that they qualify for Medicare home health and therapy.

Director of Nursing Karina Walker says, “Sheila has been an integral part of the Senior Allegiance team. She has a keen eye for details which comes in handy when reviewing our documentation that is submitted to Medicare for compliance and reimbursement. She plays a crucial role as our liaison with our Medical Director, Dr. Zaharia, as well as our Psychiatrist, Dr. Merkl.  Sheila is a team player that is willing

Senior Allegiance’s goal is to help Treemont senior living residents in Houston to stay independent as long as possible in their apartments. This service is called "Independence Plus" and Senior Allegiance is "The Plus." To accomplish this task, this Houston home health care medicare provider has a team of talented individuals, such as Ana Vazquez, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing, to support these Houston independent living residents.

You may know Ana. She is the first greeter, and primary person to answer the phone when you call Senior Allegiance to inquire about medical questions, or drop by for a visit. Specifically, Ana’s tasks include:

• Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement. Ana reviews resident charts    quarterly; reviews all complaints; and maintains an infection control binder.
• Oversight of Senior Allegiance nurses and aides