For four years, Dr. Akanksha Bist has been working with patients and their families to be proactive in ensuring they are able to continue living independently either at home or in a care facility.
A family affair
With 15 years of experience in physical therapy, Bist helps patients, caregivers and their family members identify opportunities for preventative care, at-home adaptations to address mobility and safety risks, and plan for the future through ComForCare.
Bist said she opened her business after observing patients who only sought care after a fall or similar health event, rather than take preventative measures.
“I saw this huge gap where the preventative part was missing,” she said.
How it works
Bist said the agency combines safety assessments, balance tests and cognitive evaluations to determine what baseline needs are. From there, she can proactively connect patients with outside medical resources, such as neurologists.
Safety interventions, including securing loose rugs, improper bed or commode heights, and opportunities for grab bars, can help families address hazards and prevent falls.
The features
In addition to these services offered through ComForCare, Bist offers a service called Care24. This program uses sensors to provide family members with information about their loved one’s patterns, such as movement, as well as detect falls. These sensors are placed high on a wall, she said, and do not have cameras or microphones, preserving the privacy of patients while giving their family members peace of mind.
Who it’s for
Bist said many of her clients have deteriorative conditions, such dementia or Parkinson’s syndrome. These conditions, she said, often take time to develop, giving patients and their families a degree of lead time to prepare a long-term care plan.
Bist is DementiaWise Certified, having completed training for specialized dementia care.
What else?
ComForCare provides free home safety consultations, as well as educational support sessions, to help families identify risks at home and learn practical solutions for safe independent living.
Bist’s service area includes the greater North Austin area, and her office is based in Round Rock.
