City of Butler declares November as Home Care and Hospice Month

Nov 3 2010

Today officially launches Home Care and Hospice Month and VNA of Western Pennsylvania is excited to celebrate the many health-related services that can be brought into a person's home to help restore health and maintain independence. Home Care and Hospice Month also provides a special opportunity to thank the hundreds upon thousands of healthcare professionals in the area who make home care and hospice services a reality. These professionals dedicate their lives to visiting patients in their homes and provide them with high-quality, cost-effective medical services.

“As the population of Pennsylvania ages, the need for long-term care increases”

"As the population of Pennsylvania ages, the need for long-term care increases," says Kristy Wright, CEO and President of VNA of Western Pennsylvania. "As we celebrate Home Care and Hospice Month, we want to bring to light the many benefits that these healthcare services provide. Home care allows patients to receive high-quality, cost effective healthcare while remaining independent at home. In doing so, home care decreases the need for an extended hospital stay or the possibility of moving into assisted living or nursing home facility."

To observe this commemorative month, the City of Butler has declared November Home Care and Hospice Month through a proclamation signed by Mayor Maggie Stock. Mayor Stock said, "Each November the citizens of the City of Butler join VNA of Western Pennsylvania to celebrate the many benefits home care and hospice provides our community. This holiday also provides us the unique opportunity to thank the many home care professionals in our area who help make home care an option. Their hard work, dedication and compassion allow each of us to remain in the comforts of our own homes while we receive proper medical attention. Because of that, we can't thank them enough."

Home care is a growing necessity as hospital stays become shorter and the community becomes more educated about this healthcare option. Annually, nearly 153,000 Pennsylvanians remain in their homes while they receive the care they need to be healthy and independent. To care for these patients, Pennsylvania employs approximately 12,000 home care aides, nurses and therapists and last year alone, these home care professionals made roughly 3.5 million visits to see patients in their homes.

Wright adds, "Each November, we also like to take the opportunity to thank our staff, all the family caregivers in the area, and our patients who provide us the opportunity to honor this annual celebration. We look forward to celebrating many more Home Care and Hospice Months together."

VNA of Western Pennsylvania has been providing home healthcare services to the community since 1965 including nursing, personal care aides, private duty, hospice, medical equipment, remote health monitoring, emergency response system, health screening and wellness promotion.