Assembly Member Duprey Makes Personal Visit to Area Home Care Patient and Veteran

PLATTSBURGH, NY (09/04/2007)(readMedia)-- Assembly Member Janet Duprey (R,I,C-Peru), today made a special visit to the home of Mr. Edward Connor to learn about the home care services he receives that allow him to remain at home with his wife, Louise.

Mr. Connor, who has received home care services from North Country Home Services, Inc. since December of 1999, is visited by a Home Health Aide (HHA) seven days a week for one to two hours in the morning and one hour every afternoon. Mr. Connor’s HHA is responsible for health-related and personal care tasks including monitoring health status by taking his temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure and assisting with personal hygiene, dressing, walking and light household duties. HHA’s complete a 75-hour training program and receive in-service training throughout the year. Because Mr. Connor is not mobile and would likely be in a nursing home based on his medical and personal care needs, home care allows him to remain a constant part of his family and community.

“As people live longer and the cost of care increases, it is important that government continue to provide home care with the necessary resources to expand patient access to home and community-based care,” said Duprey. “After seeing home care in action, I’m quite convinced that this source of care is one that has it all – a better quality of life for patients, top-notch personal care and health-related services right at home and a price tag that is much more appealing to taxpayers when compared to other sources of care.”

Providing cost-efficient and quality health care is a major concern for many New Yorkers, which is why Assembly Member Duprey took advantage of “Home Care Connect,” a home care visitation program sponsored by the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. (HCP). Home Care Connect provides State and Federal Legislators the opportunity to observe the benefits of home and community-based care in action.

Sandy Bazzano, RN, OM, Training Coordinator, North Country Home Services, Inc., said, “Our agency strives to keep patients like Mr. Connor at home and out of expensive hospitals and institutions. It’s with the help and support of government officials like Assembly Member Duprey that we have adequate resources to accomplish this task. I’m certain the need for home care will only grow with time and look forward to helping more North Country residents, with the help of the State Legislature, stay in the comfort of their own home.”

“The State’s health care system is going through a major transformation from institution-based to home-based care in response to the growing cost and need for care,” said Phyllis Wang, HCP President. “As this transformation continues HCP looks forward to working with Assembly Member Duprey to bring independence to the North Country’s elderly and disabled.”

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HCP is a statewide trade association representing the full spectrum of home and community-based providers. Through a strong network of regional chapters and an active State office in Albany, HCP is a primary authority of the health care industry.

Home care. Health care. Your care . . . for life. SM