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Kerry has always loved helping people, a trait she learned from her Mom and Grandma. Kerry knew from a young age she wanted to help people. She had a passion for learning and teaching. As a child & young adult she sought out opportunities to spend time with & learn from older adults and seniors. Kerry volunteered at her grandparents’ church, helped seniors in her neighborhood and community with shopping, household chores etc. and just enjoyed spending time being a listener.
It is now wonder that all Kerry life & learning experiences have led her to where she is today. Doing what she loves most from all helping seniors and their families through the struggles that accompany aging and changes in health.
Kerry McGivney earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS, RN) at Syracuse University, in New York. During her 4 years of study at Syracuse University, she had a variety of clinical experiences and opportunities to learn that helped her figure out what area of nursing she wanted to pursue. She had rotations in cardiac step-down units, med surg units, psychiatric inpatient units and Home Health Care. Out of those clinical experiences Kerry was most intrigued and comfortable in the home care setting. Kerry liked having the ability to get to know people in their own environment, help them develop care plans that would fit not only with their health needs, but also their social, emotional and financial needs and liked being able to follow through with them until their goals were achieved. Kerry realized that in this setting a nurse could develop more personal ongoing relationships which appealed to Kerry’s senses.
After completing earning her degree and passing her boards, she started working as floor nurse on a medical surgical unit at St Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, NY. Kerry gained a wealth of knowledge and experience over the 2 years she spent at St Joe’s honing her medical & surgical medical nursing skills working with various IV’s, central lines, pick lines, chest tubes, surgical wounds, various wound care, ventilator’s, heart monitors. It is here that she first learned about the value of strong leadership and team work form her managers and coworkers and other hospital staff.
Working in the “Acute Care” hospital setting gave her a wealth of knowledge and experience, but she realized she was missing the personal relationships and ongoing commitment she had experienced in her Home Health rotations, back at Syracuse University, working with older adults who had more Chronic Illnesses and long-term care needs.
After completing earning her degree and passing her boards, she started working as floor nurse on a medical surgical unit at St Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, NY. Kerry gained a wealth of knowledge and experience over the 2 years she spent at St Joe’s honing her medical & surgical medical nursing skills working with various IV’s, central lines, pick lines, chest tubes, surgical wounds, various wound care, ventilator’s, heart monitors. It is here that she first learned about the value of strong leadership and team work form her managers and coworkers and other hospital staff.
Working in the “Acute Care” hospital setting gave her a wealth of knowledge and experience, but she realized she was missing the personal relationships and ongoing commitment she had experienced in her Home Health rotations, back at Syracuse University, working with older adults who had more Chronic Illnesses and long-term care needs
While working with the Visiting Nurse Service of NY, Kerry found herself wanting to learn more about field of Geriatrics and was fortunate to be able to work in her brothers Geriatric Care Practice. Kerry was able to sharpen and improve her knowledge of chronic care by working side by side with her brother and his patients. Kerry gained further knowledge about coordinating chronic care services, Medicare and other insurance coverages, medical billing. In the Geriatric Office setting, Kerry had the opportunity to learn about many other diseases including; Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, and others.
Kerry eventually joined her brothers practice full time, becoming his Nurse and Office Manager. Together they expanded Dr McGivney’s Home Visit Program and worked to develop osteoporosis screening program to educate seniors on the need for diagnosis. Kerry & Shawn’s screening program provided testing with their DEXA Bone density machine and followed up with education on the management and treatment of Osteoporosis. They also worked together to develop Dr McGivney’s Private Geriatric Case Management Practice.
Working as a private Geriatric Case Manager, she gained knowledge & experience in many areas: hiring and coordinating private caregivers in various health care settings; in the home, assisted living, hospital, nursing homes. Coordinating and providing follow up for other care services, PT, OT, lab & diagnostics testing, DME (Durable Medical Equipment), personal care supplies and medical transport as well as many others. Kerry also gained knowledge on medical billing and various insurance coverages, all of which impact the care and services seniors receive.
Kerry’s passion for education and community service, particularly for Seniors and their families has served her and the patients she cared for very well. Kerry continues her efforts to improve conditions and quality of care for seniors through work with various senior organizations, community groups and charities. Kerry, along with her brother Shawn, have joined other community groups in defending and advocating for seniors’ rights and is an active representative & supporter of Assisted Living Facilities & Residential Care Homes in the community and to the State Legislature.
Kerry’s has had personal experience being a caregiver to both her mother and father when they became ill and needed supportive care. These experiences gave her a deeper understanding of the joys and frustrations of being a family caregiver. An understanding that helps in her daily interactions and communications with the family caregivers of her residents at TLCSR, giving the necessary support and reassurance.
Read more… about Kerry’s personal caregiving experiences with her parents
Kerry’s lifelong passion for seniors and the vast knowledge she has gained through her studies and practice of geriatrics nursing have led her to open Tender Loving Care Senior Residence (TLCSR). The collaboration with her brother, who is a Geriatric MD, highlights both of their strengths and allows them to provide the highest quality of care to residents and their families in this small personal community environment. In this personal setting she works alongside her staff as a caregiver and provides continuing education to her staff which promotes team work and improve quality of care for the residents.