Restoring Access to Dialysis Treatment After Hurricane Milton
'The most important thing for us is the people, all our patients, that is the reason we are here,' Eugenia Sosa, a DaVita nurse, said about volunteering on Sunday at the Central Tampa Dialysis center.
Taking care of patients comes naturally to DaVita teammates (employees), so it was no surprise to find them going above and beyond to support patients. Biomedical teammates and others worked diligently to restore power and water in centers after the storms. Teammates also worked to create access to treatment for patients displaced by the storm and made time to provide food and drinking water to those in need.
During extreme weather and natural disasters, DaVita's emergency management team, as well as local teams in impacted areas, activate efforts to prioritize patient safety and access to care. Skipping dialysis treatment can be life-threatening, so it is extremely important that patients show up to treatment and that teammates are there and ready for them.
Teammates look to the company's values and community-driven culture as they work to care for their communities.
DaVita teammate Lisa Franklin, RN, a nurse who had only worked for DaVita for a few months at the time of the storm, said she believes patients are extremely grateful because dialysis treatment is so important for people living with end-stage kidney disease.
'For me, serving the patients is always an honor,' Franklin said. 'To go above and beyond to make sure they get the treatment that is needed because it is so vital ...to their well-being.'
Kevin McCormick, a biomedical operations manager, works with his team to assess damage that's resulted from storms and work to restore centers so they can re-open and serve patients.
'I am proud of my team, the roles that they take on and the lengths that they go to.' McCormick said when asked how he feels about the work he does, 'We always try to be safe and invested in what we are doing, taking care of each other is a beautiful thing.'
Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from DaVita
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
a minute ago
- Fox News
Dr. Marc Siegel explains benefits of Presidential Fitness Test
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses President Donald Trump's announcement that he is bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test on 'Fox News Live.'
Forbes
31 minutes ago
- Forbes
Spousal Caregivers Face Greater Strain—Here's What The Data Shows
The first impact was emotional, says Esme Almonte, 58 (name changed). 'When a loved one is suffering from a chronic illness, you think in the beginning, if you do things right, everything will be alright—and that's what I thought.' Almonte is the primary caregiver for her husband, who suffers from leptomeningeal disease. She is among the rising number of spousal or partner caregivers who are women, according to research. She's also part of the 44% of family caregivers in high-intensity situations, according to Caregiving in the U.S. 2025, a landmark report published by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. The report provides the most comprehensive snapshot to date of America's 63 million caregivers and outlines what must be done to support them. High-intensity care is defined as providing longer weekly hours of support, assisting with essential tasks such as bathing, meal prep, managing medications or finances, and often doing so with little or no help. Spousal or partner caregiving is especially complex because it involves caring for someone deeply loved, often evoking a range of difficult emotions—anger, guilt, confusion, and grief. And that's just the beginning. These situations are emotionally and physically draining. For Mark Horst, 63 (name changed), the weight of caregiving became clear when his wife of 38 years was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He didn't know what lay ahead—only that he would remain by her side as her primary caregiver. 'Having Alzheimer's is absolutely heartbreaking, and I couldn't do it without God's help,' says Horst, a man of deep faith. Like Almonte, he quickly realized that caring for a loved one with a chronic illness requires deep empathy, patience, and resilience—and help. According to the Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, caregivers who provide high-intensity care devote more time and assist with more tasks than other caregivers. They not only navigate unique circumstances but also face greater demands and more complex responsibilities than their lower-intensity counterparts. Key findings include: Caregivers like Horst and Almonte are part of a growing group who are not only aging themselves but also supporting a loved one with a complex medical condition or disability. Spouses or partners remain a major source of informal long-term care in the U.S., making them critical to the nation's care infrastructure. As such, they deserve more visibility in research, healthcare, and policymaking. Here are three current caregiving trends—and their implications for today's high-intensity caregivers. 1. Spousal Caregivers Through The Lens Of Aging Older caregivers tend to support spouses or partners with long-term chronic conditions or disabilities. Common diagnoses include Alzheimer's, cancer, mobility impairments, age-related decline, and recovery from surgery. Younger caregivers (under 50) are more likely to support individuals with short-term or mental health needs. For older caregivers like Almonte, the emotional toll can be profound. 'Cleaning, comforting, taking him to appointments—it all takes time. But the disappointment is when his health keeps deteriorating,' she says. 'You do your best, but the emotions are persistent. You think about losing someone you love—and how one day, they won't be there anymore.' These caregiving patterns shift across the lifespan, but one thing remains clear: no caregiver's story is the same. 2. Mental Health Impacts Of High-Intensity Spousal Caregivers Despite the rising number of spousal or partner caregivers, most studies have had methodological limitations—and many have overlooked the role of caregiving intensity. New research published in the Journal of Health Economics examined how different levels of spousal caregiving intensity impact mental health outcomes, using data from the Health and Retirement Study. Key findings include: This research offers timely insights for the development of targeted long-term care policies and emphasizes why understanding the mental health toll of caregiving, especially spousal or partner caregiving—is so essential. 3. Resilience And Resources: A Lifeline For Spousal Caregivers Caregiving comes without a rulebook. As the saying goes, we either sink or swim. For many, resilience becomes the anchor. But resilience is not just about inner strength—it's also about access to external resources. A recent study published in the Journal of Aging and Mental Health explored how multiple resilience resources work together using a person-centered approach. Researchers identified three key caregiver profiles: Unsurprisingly, spousal or partner caregivers dealing with higher stress, functional limitations, and depressive symptoms were less likely to have strong resilience resources. The findings underscore the need for holistic interventions—respite care, paid help, community services—to support caregiver well-being. Caregivers Need Guidance, Not Guesswork 'I wish there was more guidance from the medical side,' says Almonte. 'A folder, a manual, something to explain the stages of illness—who to call, when to involve a social worker, where to find support. In the beginning, you're just guessing.' Caregivers need a roadmap. According to the Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, more family caregivers are providing increasingly complex care over extended periods. A comprehensive roadmap can help them navigate these challenges and manage demanding caregiving tasks more effectively. Caregivers also need relief in different ways, and it's important to recognize that support is not one-size-fits-all. While some caregivers find solace in support groups or respite, others lack time or don't see the benefit. Respecting those differences is crucial—especially for healthcare professionals designing interventions or long-term grief support. Though caregivers have long been a silent demographic, that's starting to change. But as caregiving becomes an unavoidable part of life for many, it's time for society to move beyond platitudes and prioritize their needs—not just in words, but in policy, infrastructure, and culture. Though caregivers have long been a silent demographic, that's starting to change.
The Verge
31 minutes ago
- The Verge
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 just came out and you can already save $50
If you're looking to upgrade an older Android smartwatch, or want to give wearables a try for the first time, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 is a compelling choice. It has a new design, lets you access Google's Gemini AI from your wrist, and has a handful of new health and wellness features. It launched on July 25th, but you can already get the 40mm model on sale for $299.99 ($50 off) from Samsung. Amazon has the watch for full price, but is offering a $50 promotional credit toward a future purchase if you use the code APSUE5MBXB6Y at checkout. Samsung's latest smartwatch features a new squircle design, Gemini, and some new health features like an Antioxidant Index and Running Coach. The Galaxy Watch 8 is squircle shaped, which may be divisive, but allows it to lay flatter and Verge reporter Victoria Song found it fit more more comfortably on her wrist in her review. The change also let Samsung make the watch thinner than the Galaxy Watch 7, and yet we still found it can still last more than a day on a charge. While it's not a huge departure from its predecessor, it could be a good upgrade for anyone with a Galaxy Watch 5 or below, and Samsung's new discount counteracts the $50 price increase means you're not paying any more than the Galaxy Watch 7 cost at launch. If you've gotten used to Google Gemini on your smartphone or computer, the Galaxy Watch 8 will let you access it from your wrist – we created playlists, checked the weather, and have previously asked Gemini whether it's necessary to scrub a sweet potato before peeling it. On the health and wellness side, the Galaxy Watch 8 can track steps, your heart rate, blood oxygen level, steps, and activity. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you use the smartwatch to take an EKG or detect sleep apnea. A new feature called Running Coach will put you through a 12-minute run test, give you a grade from one through 10, and create a workout program based on your performance. It also includes sensors designed to detect whether you're eating enough fruits and vegetables, but we found it can be fooled by colorful objects, including a Cheeze-It. The Galaxy Watch 8 is also available in a 44mm size, and that model is also on sale for $379.99 ($50 off) from up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Brandt Ranj Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Deals Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Samsung Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smartwatch Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Wearable
