News
Neighborhood Health Agencies is always striving to ensure outstanding care. Read on for just a few examples of our success.
October 21, 2007 - The Philadelphia Inquirer article: Solace when life grows short
Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester provides a respite for care-givers and gravely ill patients alike.
Please follow the link to the article: Philly.com Article.
June 15, 2007 - DailyLocal.com article: New to the neighborhood
WEST CHESTER -- Chester County‘s first dedicated in-patient hospice facility will open here this summer.
Housed in the former home of the West Chester Rehabilitation Hospital, which left the space last fall, the 16-bed Neighborhood Hospice is a division of the nonprofit Neighborhood Health Agencies Inc.
Please follow the link to the article: DailyLocal.com Article.
March 30, 2007 - Neighborhood Health Agencies, Inc. Gets National Recognition
At a recent national conference, the National Council on Aging, in collaboration with the Falls Free Coalition, recognized Neighborhood Health Agencies, Inc. (Neighborhood Visiting Nurse Association/Neighborhood League Health Services) as having one of the nation's 10 most creative home safety assessment and modification programs and practices.
Over a period of nine months, the national groups' Falls Free Coalition Home Safety Workshop designed and conducted a national search for creative programs and practices aimed at reducing home hazards. Leading experts in home safety created a self-nomination survey that resulted in more than 60 completed self nominations.
In addition to national prominence, Neighborhood Health Agencies, Inc. (NHA) will receive a cash award and certificate recognizing the agency's outstanding achievement in promoting a safe home environment. NHA's Senior HealthLink program, in collaboration with the Chester County Health Department, developed a Home Safety Survey that student nurses from four area nursing schools administer during visits to senior citizens' homes. In addition, NHA has developed a Fall Risk Assessment Form that is currently being implemented in fall risk screening events throughout Chester County.
"Assessments of home safety and fall risk are a high priority for NHA's Senior HealthLink program," declared Outreach Coordinator Mary Jo Baldino, RN. "We know that falls are a major contributor to seniors losing their ability to live independently at home. So anything we can do to maximize home safety and minimize the risk of falls will help the seniors we serve to maintain their sense of independence and well being."
Now celebrating its 95th anniversary, NHA has been providing home health, hospice, personal care, and outreach services to communities in Chester County and surrounding areas since 1912.
May 27, 2005 - Telemonitoring Offers Home Care Patients Improved Health, Peace of Mind
Living with a serious medical condition like congestive heart failure (CHF) often means days of uncertainty and fear.
“You are constantly trying to guess if your symptoms are reaching the point where you need to call the doctor, or worse,” said Carrie Ballentine, 78, of Downingtown, PA. “Sometimes you don’t even realize you are feeling poorly until things are pretty bad.”
CHF patients like Mrs. Ballentine must constantly monitor – and battle – a build-up of fluid in the lungs, legs and other parts of the body, caused by the heart pumping ineffectively. Symptoms can quickly elevate to a critical point where an emergency room visit or hospitalization is required.
Since October 2004, many of Mrs. Ballentine’s fears have been alleviated, thanks to a new “buddy” she’s made through her home health care provider, Neighborhood Health Agencies (NHA). The Health Buddy® appliance is a tabletop monitoring device that allows patients to self-monitor vital signs and other health indicators, such as weight, temperature, blood sugar and pulse. It also asks a series of health-related questions, regarding how they feel, eating habits, medications, etc. Once recorded, the information is transmitted to a nurse, who assesses the information for any alerts. If something looks out of line – based on pre-determined patient standards – a nurse is able to quickly intervene with medication adjustment or other treatment.