LuAnn Henning, registered nurse, and Judy Hoff, licensed practical nurse, have a combined experience of 25 years caring for the elderly. Beginning this month, the two have opened a home care business called ProHealth Home Care, offering basic-care services for individuals 55 and over staying at home or in assisted living facilities.
"Our plan is to provide care to everybody as though they were our own family," Henning said. "That's where our passion for this idea comes from."
Henning and Hoff, longtime nursing acquaintances, both saw the opening of the business as a fulfillment of a dream.
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Katina Tengesdal/MDN - - Judy Hoff, licensed practical nurse, and LuAnn Henning, registered nurse, discuss plans for their home health care business.
"It's something we've both always wanted to do. It's like our dreams just clicked together," Henning said.
The care services ProHealth Home Care is providing range from help with home modifications for safety, to medication reminders and assistance with personal care.
"We'll help with personal care," Henning said. "For example, a lot of people come home with physical therapy exercises, and nobody helps them do them, so it doesn't get done. We would help. We would also do simple housekeeping, provide companionship, help them run errands, or take them to the doctor."
Fact Box
ProHealth Home Care services
- Service assessments and coordination
- Personal care (bathing and hygiene)
- Monitoring of vital signs
- Medication reminders
- Telephone reassurance
- Supervised exercise program
- Home modifications for safety
- Meal preparation
- Housekeeping
- Transportation and errands
- Companionship
- Respite care
"Or maybe they just need someone to check in with them on the phone every day or give them medication reminders. We can do that, too," she added.
Services ProHealth aren't licensed to provide include skilled-care services such as IVs or catheterization.
When a client first contacts ProHealth, the first step is an initial assessment. Henning and Hoff will check the client's home for safety and make recommendations and perform a nursing assessment of the client that includes a physical checkup and taking a medical history.
From that assessment, Henning and Hoff can gauge what a client's needs are. One reason they started their own business is for the ability to be flexible according to a client's needs.
"We have the flexibility for people, if they need an hour a week or two hours a day, we're hoping we can meet their needs," Henning said.
ProHealth's services can be provided on an hourly, daily, weekly, or as-needed basis. Henning explained that they will also locate home-care products as clients need them, such as safety rails for the bathroom.
The demand for home care has been growing, as more individuals hope to stay in their own homes longer.
"What I've been seeing over the last several years is that more people are considering bringing an elderly parent home with them," Hennings said. "That way, their parent gets more private one-on-one care, and it helps with expenses. If we (ProHealth Home Care) could go in and help out, and make sure they're healthy, it's less expensive than having to stay in a facility."
Some home care is covered by insurance, and Henning said she is able to provide information for insurance purposes.
For many individuals still living at home, they may need a little extra help but aren't willing to admit it.
"They're afraid they'll lose their independence, or they have too much pride in admitting they actually might need a little help," Henning said. "To admit you would like or you need help is often an obstacle to getting care."
"It does take that time for people to feel trust and comfort in you, and building that is the key," Henning added. "Judy and I have both been in healthcare so long, we feel we know how to accomplish that."
ProHealth Home Care's office is located in the South Broadway Plaza, Suite EE, in Minot. For more information about ProHealth Home Care or to request an initial assessment, call 509-3960 or 721-1126.