August 16, 2000
Home health aids provide medical care, friendship
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
As an elderly person living alone, city resident Mary Way gets by with a little help from her friends. Her friends at the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging, that is.
While she receives a variety of services from commission programs, one of the most crucial components of Way's ongoing independence is a weekly visit by Emily Burnett. Burnett is a home health aid and over the two years of their association, she has also become Way's friend, someone whose visits provide a welcome break from the daily routine.
"I look forward to Emily's coming, I like the company because when you live alone it's real nice to have a friendly person come in," Way said. "My son and daughter both live nearby and they both are very attentive and do a lot for me, but they have their own work and children to care for."
While friendship is a natural outgrowth of their close contact, home health aids are more than friends to their clients. They are helping caregivers that tip the balance of many elderly people to maintaining their independence.
Way knows this is true in her case.
When Burnett comes by, she helps Way bathe, fix her hair and change her bed linens. Help with bathing is crucial because the design of Way's bathtub makes it impossible for her to get in and out unassisted. Burnett also takes a blood pressure reading every other week, saving Way from the time and expense of bi-weekly doctor visits.
In addition to her home health aid visits, the Commission on Aging also helps Way with house cleaning, lawn mowing, leaf raking and snow removal - jobs she can no longer manage on her own. She has also received emergency funding to help with an electrical problem and a medication voucher three times a year.
All of these services combine to keep Way in her home, which is very important to her.
"I was born in this house and I grew up here," Way said. "And Heaven help me, I want to stay here as long as I can."
Celebrating Home Health Aid Week this week, organizers at the Commission on Aging wanted to acknowledge the contribution that home health aids like Burnett make to their clients. In all, the Commission on Aging has three home health aids and one LPN to help their clients with personal care tasks, including baths, nail care, hair styles, skin care and changing bed linens.
"The whole aim of our organization is to keep elderly people in their homes," said Dawn Boyd, coordinator of the Home Health Program for the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging. "We could not do this without the home health aids."
Burnett has been a home health aid with the commission for more than three years and finds her job very satisfying. She sees about 30 clients each week, about half of whom receive two visits a week. Acknowledging that being a home health aid takes a certain kind of person, Burnett said she goes home each night from her work knowing that she made a difference in people's lives that day.
"My work is very satisfying, it's a good feeling because you know you are helping people stay in their homes," said Burnett, who trained at Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District. "A lot of clients are really proud and private, they don't want their family bathing them. When you come in the from the outside, it is easier for them."