Gigi has lived in Beachwood for almost twenty years and offers a free healthcare coordination and management phone consultation. She specializes in senior care.
Continue readingUnveiling Beachwood’s Hidden Gem: Gigi DeSouki’s Lifesaving Services
News From Winter 2023
Hot, Hot, Hot in Los Angeles. First, it was the wettest winter and now it’s a scorching summer. Rain or shine, Wellness on Wheels is always there to provide quality services to our community both in person and virtually.
Continue readingSpotlight: Benefits of Walking Each Day
A recent big study that has taught us new things about the benefits of walking each day. It turns out that you don’t need to walk as much as we thought to be healthier.
Continue readingSpotlight: Home Care for Seniors and Long-Term Illnesses
Why having home care services is a big deal for seniors and folks dealing with long-term illnesses.
Continue readingSamah Hasan Interviews Claudine Marshall
“Nutrition is such an important part of anyone’s health. Having someone on your side, is probably one of the most important learning experiences from your journey,” says Claudine Marshall, Nutritionist for Wellness on Wheels.
Continue readingNews From Summer 2023
Hot, Hot, Hot in Los Angeles. First, it was the wettest winter and now it’s a scorching summer. Rain or shine, Wellness on Wheels is always there to provide quality services to our community both in person and virtually.
Continue readingNews From Winter 2022 – 2023
As I write this newsletter, it is the wettest and coldest winter in Los Angeles since 1989. Our city has experienced floods, power outages, and even an ice storm. Through it all, the Wellness on Wheels team thrives on providing quality services to our community in person and virtually. We continue to expand our services and now even include housekeeping. Our team is professional and efficient and is sensitive to our client’s physical and mental health conditions.
As a Care Coordinator
I am always amazed by my team of clinicians as I turn to them for professional advice and collaboration. As a Care Coordinator, I receive calls from families concerned and confused about issues ranging from medical billing, proper home care, options for placement to assisted living, and request for referrals to geriatricians and various other specialists. Over the years, I have been able to create an amazing network of sources both in the Medical and allied medical community. I can call on consultants to provide concierge services in the home, such as optometry, dental hygiene, psychology, podiatry, and even dermatology. Our Allied services include in-home caregiving support, home health, hospice, and placement in assisted living facilities.
Caring for Alzheimer’s Patients
Recently I was called in to assess the need for an Alzheimer-diagnosed young senior for placement into a board and care. His wife and part-time caregivers were attempting his care at home and had reached their limit due to his difficult behavior. While I focused on finding the proper facility for my client, I had major concerns for his wife, who seemed overwhelmed and stressed. While there was family and professional caregiver support, it was not 24-7. She was sure she needed to give her husband better care but could not come to terms with the fact that she could not manage his care at home.
I brought in our team psychologist for an in-home consultation and owners of two board and care facilities for client assessments, and everyone was on the same page about the need for my client’s placement. The professional advice given to the family was consistent-place your husband now before his current behavior gets worse and no one will take him into their board and care. Ultimately, the family decided to keep my client at home and bring in additional care. While I could see how this situation would unfold as this decision was made, I did not push it.
His wife appreciated the many hours I had spent with her and how much she had learned from me. Deep down, she knew this was a short-term solution to a long-term problem. I left the door open for her to call me whenever she needed emotional support or changed her mind about keeping her husband at home as his disease progressed.
Introducing Grand Specialty Pharmacy
In my last newsletter, I introduced our Wellness on Wheels team Pharmaceutical Consultant and owner of Grand Specialty Pharmacy, Dr. Armin Behel. As the owner of one of the busiest compounding pharmacies in Los Angeles, he has been bombarded with the demand for the type 2 diabetes meds that have now been approved by the FDA for weight loss. There has been such a high demand for these products that it created a worldwide shortage. There has been extensive coverage in the media regarding the proper usage of these products, as they have major side effects. We have all seen the TV ads for Ozempic, and it seems easy to just give yourself a little shot once a week in the hope of losing a few pounds. Doctors quickly prescribe this expensive medication without regard for a combined nutritional and exercise program to be part of the overall weight loss management program.
Here, we will ask, Dr. Behel his input on this growing weight loss movement and see if there are other pharmaceutical formulas that may be safer and based on the patient’s individual needs.
Question: Dr. Behel, What other medications are available for compounding as an alternative to Semaglutide, which is an insulin-boosting injectable medication normally used for Type 2 diabetes patients and now prescribed for weight loss?
Answer: If a patient has a BMI of over 30, then they are considered to be obese. If they cannot tolerate the side effects of Semaglutide, such as nausea, diarrhea, lethargy, and dizziness, then other products can be compounded at our pharmacy that is safe in assisting with weight loss.
Examples include Naltrexone-bupropion and Phentermine-topiramate, which make you feel less hungry and full sooner. There is also Liraglutide which targets the area of the brain that regulates appetite, and methylcobalamin which is a B vitamin that boosts the metabolism and provides energy. Acarbose, which slows down the digestion of carbohydrates, and Orlistat which blocks the enzymes that digest fats, can also be combined for effective weight loss. But let’s remember that proper diet and exercise must be used for these compounds to work, as they are short-term solutions, not long-term lifestyle answers.
So, if you or your doctor have any specific questions regarding the compounding of these medications, please feel free to call me for a consultation.
Grand Specialty Pharmacy can deliver your meds to your door Monday-Saturday and even ship to New York and Florida. One-on-one consultations are now available by Dr. Behel for patients and their families who need an objective analysis of the various medications they are prescribed. Please feel free to call me directly (323) 868-0444 for an appointment with Dr. Behel.
For fast delivery of your medications, call Grand Specialty Pharmacy at
(213)-747-3200.
In the upcoming newsletters, we will feature a column on various pharmaceutical topics where Dr. Behel can share his knowledge on existing and upcoming cutting edge drugs, nutraceuticals and compounds.
Keep Cool and focus on your mental and physical health.
Cheers, Gigi
Gigi DeSouki
Founder & CEO
Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Masters in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.
As published in Wellness on Wheels Newsletter by Gigi DeSouki, MHA
Gigi DeSouki has a strong background in Health Care Management, with over thirty five years of experience in various areas of domestic and international health care delivery systems. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Masters in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.
Several of our Wellness on Wheels team members are offering free or discounted consultations and online exercise classes. Here is just a short list of how we can help you and your family both in person or virtually.
Contact us about our telehealth services.
Dr. Armin Behel
Pharmaceutical Consultant
Owner of Grand Specialty Pharmacy available for one on one consultations with an objective analysis of the various medications they are prescribed.
Dr. Andrea Renee Rivera
DACM, LAc
Doctoral and Master Degrees in Acupuncture with Orthopedics and Chigong specializations, certified Asian Body Work Therapist
Dr. Roni Maccabee
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Roni Maccabee is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience in the field of mental health.
Chef Claudine Marshall
Chief Culinary Director
A Private Chef and owner of a Catering Company, Chef Claudine serves as the Chief Culinary Director for Wellness on Wheels.
Michael Patinelli, Esq.
Family & Estate Planning
Michael Patinelli has been focused on building a welcoming, friendly, and trusted practice. Free telephone consult available.
Nico Capurro
CPT
Nico is a nationally certified personal trainer and massage therapist with over 16 years of experience in Kinesiology/ restorative exercise and physique competition.
Celebrate Culinary Creations with Claudine Marshall – Award-Winning Chef & Caterer
Meet Chef Claudine Marshall
As we celebrate our freedom to have small and large gatherings, its easier if you have a chef create your vision of culinary creations. Wellness on Wheels’ Amazing award winning Food Network Chef Claudine is here for you.
Born and raised in Paris, France, Claudine Marshall embarked on her American journey in the 1970’s. She had been dreaming of the United States ever since she was a little girl and had no idea what a cultural shock it would be when she moved to Boston while expecting her first child, after receiving her Master of Psychology from La Sorbonne.
Culinary Arts
As we celebrate our freedom to have small and large gatherings, its easier if you have a chef create your vision of culinary creations. Wellness on Wheels’ Amazing award winning Food Network Chef Claudine is here for you.
Born and raised in Paris, France, Claudine Marshall embarked on her American journey in the 1970’s. She had been dreaming of the United States ever since she was a little girl and had no idea what a cultural shock it would be when she moved to Boston while expecting her first child, after receiving her Master of Psychology from La Sorbonne.
Chief Culinary Director of Wellness on Wheels
She now runs, a Private Chef and Catering Company and serves as the Chief Culinary Director for Wellness on Wheels, Inc. If you have no time to cook, she will stock your refrigerator and freezer with ready-to-eat goodies for a week. If you have children, she will prepare organic baby food and tailor menus to your children’s ages and tastes. If you need to lose weight, she will create special dishes that will help you through your journey. If you have special dietary needs (diabetic, no salt, gluten free…), she is here for you with the support and guidance of a great dietician. If you are entertaining a small group or a crowd and don’t know where to start; have unexpected clients to impress; are opening a new store; or want to throw a memorable baby shower, birthday party, or international dinner — whatever your needs — Chef Claudine and her team does it all: planning, shopping, cooking, and clean-up!
Chop on bed of rice with rosemary sprig
Fresh raw salmon tuna lemon parsley caviar
Seafood delight - lobster shrimp crayfish scallops clams with lime
Fresh goat cheese brebirousse wenseleydale boursin with garlic cheeses
Elegant Outdoor Dining in California
Lemon Pie Fresh Mint Cantaloupe and Orange Slide
Salmon Rattatoulle Ceaser Salad
Moroccan style cous cous carrots dish
Crayfish in broth and sauce green onions and seafood specialty
Asparagus cucumbers tomatoes eggs avacados
Check out this video to see more of Chef Claudine’s amazing food!
Several of our Wellness on Wheels team members are offering free or discounted consultations and online exercise classes. Here is just a short list of how we can help you and your family both in person or virtually.
Gigi DeSouki, MHA
Free half hour telephone consultation on care planning.
Dr. Andrea Renee, DACM, MATCM, LAc.
(Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Primary Care Physician specializing in pain control, stress management and weight loss) – telemedicine virtual consultations by appointment.
Robert Stone, MS
(Movement Therapist/Kinesiologist)- Free virtual and initial one-on-one assessments.
Chef Claudine Marshall
Free virtual half hour consultation
Yovanni Moran
Free virtual and initial one-on-one assessments.
Nico Capurro
Free virtual and initial one-on-one assessments.
Kym Hall
(Certified Fall Prevention Professional)- Free half hour telephone consultation on high risk and fall prevention issues.
Michaell Patinelli , Esquire
(Free telephone or virtual consultation on trust estate planning)
If you are interested in connecting with any of these professionals or have questions on any of the many services we provide through Wellness on Wheels or its exclusive network of community agencies, please feel free to contact Gigi directly.
Wellness on wheels is now offering telehealth services to the community to help increase the accessibility to safe and affordable care services in Los Angeles county and to other parts of the country. Connecting our network of skilled practitioners to where they are needed.
For more information about our telehealth services feel free to send us an email, or contact us.
As published in Wellness on Wheels Newsletter by Gigi DeSouki, MHA
Gigi DeSouki has a strong background in Health Care Management, with over thirty five years of experience in various areas of domestic and international health care delivery systems. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Masters in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.
News From Spring 2022
Spring is Finally Here!
Greetings from the Hollywood Hills- where the flowers are in bloom, the artists thrive and the coyotes run free. How lucky we are to have survived this long ordeal of COVID-19 restrictions and sadness of losing loved ones and patients.
Recovering from the COVID Pandemic
While this virus still haunts us daily, Wellness on Wheels and its team is slowly recovering from the shut- down. We are building new and exciting alliances in the community to bring you both resources and innovation in healthcare delivery.
New Developments
Over the past few months, we successfully developed a more comprehensive team approach to care coordination. Here are a few things that we have been working on:
- Our team has now been enhanced by a community compounding Pharmacy that delivers to your door.
- We have been working with an amazing orthopedic surgeon who is world renowned in his cutting edge robotic surgeries and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatments.
- We now have a world-class chiropractor providing hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
- We’ve added a fully vaccinated housekeeping team to ensure that our compromised clients feel safe in their own homes.
Stay tuned for more information on these services in the coming weeks!
Free Telephone Consultation
I continue to offer and provide a free one-hour telephone consultation to families where I review a care plan addressing the status of their loved ones needs. I help create a seamless plan that also includes the providers of service needed and a cost analysis of the care so that the decisions can be made swiftly and with a clear strategy for short and long term needs. Each case is very unique. Many of my clients are in crisis mode and cannot manage the immediate chaos at hand. I help bring a sense of calm and together we create a list of to dos that they can manage and a way that I can assist on an ongoing basis. As a Care Coordinator, I keep my fees at a fair price and have a sliding scale to accommodate families whose finances are tight.
Access to More Hospitals, Physicians, and Healthcare Providers
Our referral base has grown to include more hospitals and individual physicians who appreciate the attentiveness and the timeliness our team offers in expediting their orders. We treat each patient as we would our own family. Whether it’s an individual practitioner or associated agency, our approach is consistent. We pride ourselves in working as a team where the communication between the members involved in a care plan is fluid and ongoing.
Featured Therapist: Nico Capurro
I am honored to highlight one of my top movement therapists, Nico Capurro. He has been a life saver to me personally and many of our clients. Nico has helped me with keeping my strength and stamina in check during our weekly sessions. For the first time in my life I am able to do real push-ups. Imagine my surprise when I reached 4 sets of eight push-ups. It took many months but I did it. Nico’s story as an Argentinian immigrant is beautiful as he has dedicated his career to helping people live their best life regardless of their dis-ability.
Nico Capurro
CPT
Wellness on wheels is now offering telehealth services to the community to help increase the accessibility to safe and affordable care services in Los Angeles county and to other parts of the country. Connecting our network of skilled practitioners to where they are needed.
For more information about our telehealth services feel free to send us an email, or contact us.
As published in Wellness on Wheels Newsletter by Gigi DeSouki, MHA
Gigi DeSouki has a strong background in Health Care Management, with over thirty five years of experience in various areas of domestic and international health care delivery systems. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Masters in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.
News From Summer 2021
Serving Patients Through the COVID Pandemic
While it has been a rough year and half since the pandemic shutdown, Wellness on Wheels is coming back strong. We are looking at our gains not our losses and hoping for the opportunity to help more families near and far gain strength, knowledge and peace of mind while caring for their loved ones.
The Care Coordination work we have been doing has really shown to be the most needed in our community. Having an incredible network of premium providers has made it so easy to help families both navigate and make decisions regarding the care their loved ones need. We always hit the ground running when a call comes in asking for support as someone is coming home from a hospital or rehab facility. Lots of moving parts are quickly organized so the transition is smooth and well organized. Whether it’s caregiving, home health, palliative care or even hospice- everyone is always available at a moment’s notice. Additionally, our Clinical team and ancillary team has geared up once again to provide a collaborative approach to managing care plans.
One of our challenges has been the accessibility to our clients. Only recently have the assisted living communities opened their doors to visitors and vendors. Our practitioners can now conduct their sessions face to face as well as teach group classes in Tai Chi, Yoga, dance and senior exercise. After a long period of isolation, getting back in the swing of things is exciting for the seniors and the practitioners.
The biggest news for Wellness on Wheels is that we are gearing up a telehealth program for the movement therapy department. Under the direction of Robert Stone, our program director, we are introducing both individual and group sessions virtually so that more people can tap into our team’s expertise. Both Robert and our new therapists have a wide range of experience and training in working with movement disorders, dementia, stroke and many other conditions.
Individual clients can purchase a series of sessions that will be tailored to their needs by the therapist of their choice. Senior communities may also purchase virtual group classes that are either aired live or at the time of their choice. With the price of gas skyrocketing, we see this option as one that can help more of our current and new clients without experiencing any setbacks in their therapeutic progress. It’s a safe and cost effective option for everyone including those with special care needs. Tune in for our pricing specials to be announced throughout our social media within the next couple of weeks.
I am honored to introduce our newest practitioners and Movement Therapists: Yovanni Moran and Nico Capurro. Their work and dedication has really been an asset to the Wellness on Wheels team.
Thank you all for your continued support and belief in our vision. We have been in business for 21 years and I am proud to have made an impact on so many lives and created an amazing team of professional who are truly dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our clients and their families.
Introducing Team Members
Robert Stone
M.S., CSCS, CPT
Nico Capurro
CPT
Yovanni Moran
Yoga Instructor & Kinesiotherapist
Robert Stone
M.S., CSCS, CPT
Nico Capurro
CPT
Yovanni Moran
Yoga Instructor & Kinesiotherapist
Wellness on wheels is now offering telehealth services to the community to help increase the accessibility to safe and affordable care services in Los Angeles county and to other parts of the country. Connecting our network of skilled practitioners to where they are needed.
For more information about our telehealth services feel free to send us an email, or contact us.
Several of our Wellness on Wheels team members are offering free or discounted consultations and online exercise classes during the Pandemic shut down restrictions. Here is just a short list of how we can help you and your family both in person or virtually.
Gigi DeSouki, MHA
Free half hour telephone consultation on care planning.
Dr. Andrea Renee, DACM, MATCM, LAc.
(Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Primary Care Physician specializing in pain control, stress management and weight loss) – telemedicine virtual consultations by appointment.
Robert Stone, MS
(Movement Therapist and Kinesiologist) – Free virtual and initial one-on-one assessments.
Yovanni Moran
Free virtual and initial one-on-one assessments.
Nico Capurro
Free virtual and initial one-on-one assessments.
Kym Hall
(Certified Fall Prevention Professional) – Free half hour telephone consultation on high risk and fall prevention issues.
Michaell Patinelli , Esquire
(Free telephone or virtual consultation on trust estate planning)
If you are interested in connecting with any of these professionals or have questions on any of the many services we provide through Wellness on Wheels or its exclusive network of community agencies, please feel free to contact Gigi directly.
As published in Wellness on Wheels Newsletter by Gigi DeSouki, MHA
Gigi DeSouki has a strong background in Health Care Management, with over thirty five years of experience in various areas of domestic and international health care delivery systems. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Masters in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.