In The Media

Agency provides 24/7 health support
3/21/2012
By Lisa Korman

As a community-benefit organization and nonprofit provider of home health care, hospice care, pediatric specialty services, bereavement support and children/adolescent behavioral health programs, Home Nursing Agency impacts thousands of Centre County’s residents of all ages every day.

By providing charitable support to families who have the greatest need, the Home Nursing Agency’s Foundation helps to lighten the burden for individuals with limited or no resources — thanks to partnerships with Centre County businesses in fundraising events.

With support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the agency’s nurses, therapists, aides, counselors, nutritionists, social workers, clergy, hospice volunteers and grief specialists completed almost 40,000 home visits last year through the following services:

• Home health care: Serving all ages since 1968, the agency offers care when an injury, chronic illness or surgery affects one’s quality of life. With a dedicated night team, nurses are ready to respond and care for patients’ needs during nights and weekends. Recognized nationally for best practices in medication management and patient/ caregiver education, our disease management programs and resources help to prevent ER visits and rehospitalization.

Through specialized services such cardiac care, wound care, rehabilitative therapies, nutrition and telehealth, we help chronically ill patients manage their health conditions independently and effectively, while reducing health care costs.

• Hospice care: As Pennsylvania’s first Medicare- certified hospice, Home Nursing Agency emphasizes comfort and addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of a patient coping with a chronic or life-limiting illness. Partnering with board-certified hospice and palliative care physicians and nurses, the agency’s specially trained staff works closely with patients’ health care providers to develop a plan to provide treatment, support, personal care, and a number of specialized services for both the patient and family.

Centre County residents serve as hospice volunteers and play a special role by offering respite and companionship to many patients and families.

• Private duty home care helps Centre County residents avoid premature placement in a long-term care facility by providing the support they need to remain in the comfort, safety and privacy of home. Whether a person needs a few hours of assistance a week or 24/7 care, our personalized, nonmedical home care services provide the level of support needed.

Additionally, our private duty staff is thoroughly trained and receives cross-training in areas such as CPR and rescue breathing, fall-risk assessments and Alzheimer’s disease. Such training enhances our staff’s ability to continually identify and respond to one’s specific needs.

Because of Home Nursing Agency’s unique continuum of services, our private duty clients also have around-the-clock access to the agency’s customer contact center for coordination of medical care through registered nurses should the need arise.

Lisa Korman is the Centre County administrator for Home Nursing Agency.