Alexis graduated in 2018 with an Associate’s degree in General Studies and brings a diverse background in corrections, periodontics, and sales coordination. Her time working in corrections provided her with valuable insights into human behavior and psychology, while her experience in periodontics honed her attention to detail and ability to provide empathetic care for patients facing unique challenges.
Fluent in Spanish and proud of her Mexican-American heritage, Alexis moved to Colorado in 2020 and has embraced the state’s vibrant cultures and natural beauty. She enjoys exploring new foods, reading about self-care and the mind, building LEGO sets, spending time with animals—especially cats—and discovering and recommending new music.
Alexis is thrilled to join VitalCare as our Homecare Services Coordinator. Her calm, patient demeanor, exceptional attention to detail, and dedication to understanding and supporting others make her uniquely positioned to excel in this role. She looks forward to connecting with caregivers and families, ensuring they receive the compassionate, high-quality support they deserve.
Within the constant ebbs and flows of life, we are seeing caregivers and providers experiencing states of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged or repeated stress. This is defined as burnout. Burnout is not simply work overload; it is a result of long hours, taking on too many tasks, and feeling a loss of control.
Know these experiences are valid, and if you are experiencing burnout as a caregiver or as a provider, it’s important to care for yourself. Here at VitalCare, we value the selfcare of our providers so we can provide the best care to our clients, and many client relationships include those of caregivers as well: such as parents, primary guardians, or family members and friends.
Burnout can lead to feelings of Depression, cynicism, lethargy, and exhaustion. A large study documented on healthline.com article states, “caregivers who felt that they were under a lot of strain had poorer health outcomes compared to caregivers who felt little or no strain.” A study published regarding burnout for providers states, “National studies suggest that over 50% of providers experience symptoms related to burnout, which is significantly higher than the general population.”
Signs of burnout can vary per individual, but some common experiences may include:
Body aches and pains
Fatigue
Changes in appetite
Insomnia
Feeling anxious or overwhelmed
Loss of concentration
Feeling impatient or irritated
Lacking motivation or a loss of interests that were previously preferred
Constant worry, hopelessness, or isolation
For providers, burnout can look like:
Emotional exhaustion
Depersonalization
Feeling a lack of competence/self-efficacy
Increased mistakes/errors at work
Safety issues for client/providers
Lack of engagement
Poor retention rate
Poor customer/client satisfaction
Although these signs are seen, this is not a complete reflection of what everyone can experience. What’s important regardless of if you are a provider or caregiver is to take care of yourself. Give yourself compassion, patience, and prioritize selfcare.
Some suggestions for selfcare include:
Asking others for help/support
Practicing healthy boundaries by accepting your capacity
Talk to other caregivers/providers
Take regular breaks
Attend social activities
Prioritize needs – eating healthy, exercise, taking in sunshine
Maintaining sleep schedule
Mindfulness – building awareness of current state
Evaluate alternative options
Selfcare is not limited to these options. It can look like engaging in a preferred activity, taking a bubble bath after a long day, or even listening to a favorite song and singing along. Even making a favorite meal can be an act of compassion for yourself. The ultimate focus should be easing discomfort, exhaustion, and those symptoms that accompany burnout.
If you are experiencing burnout and would like to explore professional support, VitalCare offers therapy services as well as recommendations for managing symptoms you may be experiencing.
Sources for this article originated form the following websites:
I have firsthand experience with how nerve-wracking it can be to begin therapy, whether it is for the first time or with a new therapist. I prioritize creating a safe and welcoming environment for clients. I believe that the depth of healing that is possible through therapy makes it a risk worth taking, but the approach and temperament of the therapist is undeniably important. That is why I strive to provide each client with the individualized support they need to make the changes they want to make in their life. With the proper support and resources, I believe that every person can seek the healing they desire. I provide individual therapy for adolescents and adults who are experiencing the following: anxiety, depression, life stressors and transitions, grief and loss, trauma, and identity concerns. My approach to therapy is a combination of Person-Centered therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT).
Emmanuel has been a music therapist at VitalCare for almost three years. His passion and dedication for music therapy shines through his work with his clients and they have greatly benefited from sessions with him.
Emmanuel graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Maryville University before moving to Colorado in 2019. He is currently working towards his Master’s degree at Colorado State University and is excited to continue the growth of his knowledge and skills as a music therapist. Prior to working at VitalCare, Emmanuel spent over five years working with kids with special needs at the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled and completed his internship with SSM Hospice. His well-rounded experience makes him a valuable member of the VitalCare team and we can’t thank him enough for everything he does! In his free time, Emmanuel enjoys spending time with his wife and can often be found exploring Colorado through hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing
Renae has been employed with VitalCare for over 2 years. Prior to joining VitalCare, Renae spent 5+ years working with Children who have special needs. Renae started off working with VitalCare’s pediatric team and quickly expressed her passion to work with children that have behavioral health challenges. After completing some additional training, she transitioned to the behavioral health team. Renae loves working with this population and enjoys helping the children thrive and be successful. Renae understands the importance of children’s needs and serves as a positive role model for them. Renae provides respite care to all of VitalCare teams including behavioral health, pediatric, and our adult team. Outside of work, Renae enjoys cooking and watching movies. Some of her clients described her as a “professional artist” due to her skilled art pieces that she does with her clients. Thanks, Renae for the work that you do here at VitalCare, you are really an asset to the team and the organization.
In March we celebrated World Music Therapy Day (March 1st) and Music Therapy Month in Colorado. Since the beginning of World Music Therapy Day in 2016, people all around the world have been celebrating the amazing benefits and healing power of music therapy. Colorado takes it one step further and dedicates the entire month of March to honoring the amazing work Music Therapists throughout Colorado are providing.
Music Therapy uses evidenced based techniques to work on improving or maintaining functional skills in a fun and engaging way. Sessions include creative interventions, individually designed for a person’s specific needs, and frequently includes the use of a wide variety of music, instruments, movement and singing. Music Therapy can be used to address cognitive skills, emotional needs, social skills, speech and language, motor skills, sensory needs, self-expression, overall wellness, pain, quality of life and much more.
At VitalCare we have an incredible team of therapists and we are so proud of all the hard work and dedication they provide our clients!
Have you ever engaged in music therapy? We would love to hear your stories!
We would like to recognize Meghan for always striving to enhance the lives of those she cares for while working for VitalCare with a beautiful self-care gift box. She does so with extreme kindness, compassion, and empathy while keeping her VitalCare family informed of pertinent client information and needs. We often hear from her clients, “Meghan is my right hand, and I don’t know what I would do without her.” One of her most recent clients has needed special help and extra hours of care. Meghan has gone above and beyond to support this client, all while saying, “I will do whatever it takes to accomplish what is needed.” Meghan has worked with kids and the elderly for ten years because “being around people makes me happy.” In her spare time, Meghan likes to do diamond art (ask her about it, it’s cool!), go for walks and hang out with friends.
Krista has been working with our VitalCare Peds team for more than 3 years! She’s been dedicated to the special needs community for the last 30 years, and most recently, Krista has spent the last 10 years teaching kiddos with special needs in the Jeffco School district. She does respite part time with VitalCare and the families she cares for would consider her part of their family.
Krista found her passion for working with people with special needs back in her own elementary school days when she had a close friend with a diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy. Her passion and dedication shine through in every interaction Krista has with her kids and the VitalCare office. She is an outstanding caregiver.
In Krista’s spare time, she loves to get outdoors. This includes backcountry camping, fly fishing, rock-climbing, and traveling. She also loves to bake macarons. We are so honored to have Krista as part of the team and hope she can enjoy some self-care from SelfCareby3DSuccess.
