My Approach
As a registered nurse for over 20 years, with combined experience in senior care and home health, I have come to understand the profound desire of individuals to age comfortably within their own homes. I've seen the emotional difference a familiar home makes during vulnerable times, offering a sense of security and peace that a facility environment, with its constant changes, cannot provide. I established this practice to provide the highest quality in-home nursing care, empowering clients to live independently and fulfill their aspirations for aging in place.
My role as a comprehensive care nurse extends beyond just direct medical care. I create customized care plans that meet the unique needs of the client. I manage all aspects of a senior's well-being, including medication management, proactive appointment scheduling, seamless care coordination between physicians and providers, and more, as well as consistent communication with family members. This ensures comprehensive support and fosters a sense of security and peace of mind. This approach allows individuals to maintain their independence, preserve their dignity, and continue to live fulfilling lives on their own terms.
My commitment to a small practice allows me to gift my clients, and myself, with the invaluable resources of personalized care, deep compassion, and dedicated time. With each client, I embark on a personal journey, providing comprehensive care unconstrained by standardized care plans and agency protocols. The ability to tailor services to the specific needs of each individual is a significant advantage. This approach allows me to accommodate unique circumstances, preferences, and evolving needs, fostering a deep connection between myself and the patient. This personalized touch builds trust and rapport, creating a strong foundation for effective care. This close relationship enables me to anticipate patient needs, provide emotional support, and create a sense of continuity and stability in their lives at HOME.
Kim Johner, Life-ist RN and
Founder of Life-ist Health Management
With over two decades of dedicated experience in healthcare, I bring a wealth of expertise, compassion, and a deep understanding of senior care to the Asheville community through my private duty nursing practice, Life-ist Health Management. My career has been a journey through diverse healthcare settings – from bustling hospital floors to the intimate environment of home health, and from hands-on clinical care to strategic leadership and business ownership. This comprehensive professional path has uniquely equipped me to create a service that truly prioritizes personalized, holistic wellness for aging adults and their families.
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My Commitment to Compassion
My commitment to care has been a constant thread throughout my life, notably while navigating the rewarding challenges of being a devoted single mother of three, a full-time Registered Nurse, and a dedicated caretaker. These deeply personal experiences have further cultivated my innate empathy, resilience, and profound understanding of family dynamics. Now joyfully settled in beautiful Asheville, NC, with my husband and near my cherished grandchildren, I have focused my career on what I love best: caring for others where I know I can truly make a difference. Life-ist Health Management is the culmination of my professional journey and personal dedication, allowing me to provide the expert guidance and compassionate support that makes a meaningful impact in the lives of seniors and their loved ones.
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A Career Dedicated to Excellence in Senior Care
My passion for supporting seniors and their families has been the cornerstone of my career. I began my nursing journey providing direct patient care as a staff and charge nurse in a Med/Surg/Neuro unit at Lee Health, in Southwest Florida, where I also distinguished myself as an educator, particularly in wound care and pressure ulcer prevention, developing tools used system-wide. My commitment to specialized care led me to become Wound Care Certified for a decade. Transitioning into home health, I served as an RN Case Manager providing skilled nursing care, including IV infusions and complex wound management, directly in patients' homes. This hands-on experience deepened my appreciation for the importance of individualized care planning and patient education in achieving optimal health outcomes.
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My Entrepreneurial Spirit & A Vision for Personalized Care
Beyond my extensive nursing background, I possess a strong entrepreneurial spirit. As the former Owner/Operator of Physical Therapy Now, I managed all aspects of two therapy clinics, including operations, regulatory compliance (AHCA, Medicare, Medicaid), managed care contracting, and staff management. This experience, combined with my earlier venture as a business owner, has provided me with invaluable insights into creating and sustaining a client-centered service business.
Why Life-ist Health Management?
The founding vision behind Life-ist Health Management was to transform nursing care for seniors aging at home, making it significantly more personalized, proactive, and empowering. My diverse experiences—as a clinician, educator, administrator, and business owner—have culminated in a service model that focuses not just on managing illness, but on promoting true wellness, independence, and quality of life.
My journey through various facets of healthcare, especially working closely with seniors and their families in both hospital and home settings, has shown me the profound impact that dedicated, individualized nursing care can have. Life-ist Health Management was founded on the core understanding that seniors thrive when able to age in place. It's our belief that every individual deserves to live their fullest life, with dignity and independence in their familiar surroundings, supported by compassionate and skilled care tailored to their unique needs. I am committed to being a trusted partner for my clients and their families, providing not only expert nursing care but also guidance, education, and a proactive approach to health management.
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At Life-ist Health Management, I leverage my extensive background to provide comprehensive wellness assessments, personalized care planning, skilled nursing interventions, and vital coordination with physicians and other healthcare providers, ensuring my clients receive the highest standard of care so they and their families can rest assured that they have a steadfast advocate and skilled partner navigating the complexities of health and aging at home.
