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Home health care clients angry, confused over program cut

Published 12:00am Thursday, May 4, 2000

Many residents at Riverview Heights receiving home health care say they are sick and tired of not being told what to expect in their future. The frustration and fears are shared over card games, at meals and in the hallways. Much of it stems from a lack of information. &uot;We’re not children,&uot; said Barbara Chisholm, a resident of the Fergus Falls apartment. &uot;We’re adults and I wish someone would simply tell us what is going on – what will happen – and answer our questions. No one has talked to us about any of this. It’s very frustrating.&uot; With the county board’s decision on Tuesday to eliminate the home health care program by July 1, Chisholm said there are even more questions than before…and fewer answers coming in. &uot;We have no idea who to ask,&uot; she said. &uot;That makes the matter even more difficult for us.&uot; Care 2000 has been selected to take over the county’s services for the 30 residents of Riverview Heights receiving home health care. Unsure of Care 2000′s policies, many residents said financial concerns and quality of care issues are foremost on a &uot;wish list&uot; of questions they would like answered. &uot;It’s hard for a lot of us who can’t do things for ourselves,&uot; Chisholm said. &uot;Many of us can’t do things like go grocery shopping or run to the bank. Will the new providers even allow the aides to continue helping us like that?&uot; Living on limited budgets, many residents said the possibility of a fee increase frightens them. &uot;How deep will we have to dig in our pockets?&uot; Riverview resident Bob Linder said. &uot;I don’t receive care, but my friends and neighbors do. I don’t want to see them hurt by this decision.&uot; Riverview resident Rose Martin said she is angry about the county board not requiring an audit into the Public Health Department. &uot;I am totally disillusioned with the whole thing,&uot; she said. &uot;How can they completely ignore a discrepancy like the one staring them in the face? I mean, come on, people. Wake up and do something.&uot; The change is disturbing to some residents. After years of receiving care – often with the same home health aide – the bond is as strong as family. &uot;I wish things could stay the way they are,&uot; Riverview resident Bea Will said. &uot;We like our workers and don’t want to lose them. And they don’t want to leave us, either.&uot; Housing and Redevelopment Authority Director Jeff Gaffaney says he is confident Care 2000 will make the transition as easy as possible for Riverview Heights residents. One of the factors HRA considered in choosing Care 2000 was their commitment to maintaining the bond between client and worker, said &uot;They (Care 2000) have stated that if at all possible, they will maintain the relationships between the clients and the current caregivers,&uot; he said. &uot;If the home health aide is employed by Care 2000, they will keep that bond. And that was important to us, too.&uot; The HRA owns Riverview Heights, which provides low-income housing to older residents.