November is National Home Care Month
November is Home Care Month ... Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is a locally-based, home health care agency serving Allamakee and a small portion of Clayton and Winneshiek counties. Registered nurses and certified home care aides travel to offer assistance to individuals who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Kathy Wagner of Monona, pictured above with Home Care Nurses Katie Rathbun, at left, and Rachel Berns, at right, states, “I utilized them through my insurance as long as I could. I couldn’t ask for a better group to work with. They truly helped me get better. I would keep them all if I could!”. Submitted photo.
As the elderly population continues to grow and individuals desire to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible, home health care will continue to be a driving force in health care delivery in the next century.
Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is a locally-based, home health care agency serving Allamakee and a small portion of Clayton and Winneshiek counties. Registered nurses and certified home care aides travel to offer assistance to individuals who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
Home health care has proven to be cost effective in that nursing home placement can often be postponed if there is in-home assistance available.
“Home care services cost only a fraction of hospitalization and nursing home placement and we can successfully care for these comparable health problems right in the home,” states Lisa Moose, RN, Community and Home Care Director. “Besides these positive factors, people are usually happier and heal more quickly at home.”
The registered nurses at Community and Home Care offer skilled home care services for those who need some assistance while they are recovering from a recent illness, surgery or hospitalization. Skilled nursing staff can assist with medication management and wound care, provide education regarding catheter and colostomy care, oversee in-home rehabilitation programs, assess blood pressures, perform lab draws, provide IV therapy, and instruct patients regarding their individual health needs. RN staff are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help with urgent needs that may arise.
Home Care Aides can provide assistance with personal cares including bathing, dressing, and home exercise programs to help patients remain safely in the comfort of their own homes.
Rehabilitation within the home is also available through Community and Home Care. Licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists can evaluate, develop and implement a complete rehabilitation program, which can include exercises, strengthening, improvements in ambulation, and assistance with speech problems.
Kathy Wagner of Monona has recently received home health services. “I was hospitalized for three weeks and came home to this wonderful home care service,” states Kathy. “I utilized them through my insurance as long as I could. I couldn’t ask for a better group to work with. They truly helped me get better. I would keep them all if I could!”
In addition, many other public services are offered by Community and Home Care such as blood pressure screenings, immunization clinics, and health promotion visits.
Anyone who is interested in receiving home care services should contact Veterans Memorial Hospital Community & Home Care at 563-568-5660 or consult with their physician, who can order these services for them.
