With Home Care, every day is independence day for Carolyn McCorriston
Sometimes Carolyn McCorristin, a retired secretary from Hainesport, didn't feel like getting out of bed in the morning. It wasn't because her knees or back bothered her, or that she didn't get enough sleep. It was because she simply didn't feel like it.
Then, things got worse. McCorristin didn't feel like taking a shower. "That's when I knew something was seriously wrong," she says.
Beating depression
McCorristin was suffering from depression. "While it's common, depression is not a normal part of aging and has harmful effects," says Elizabeth Bowker, RN, clinical supervisor for Virtua Home Care "Left untreated, depression causes a decline in physical, mental and social health."
McCorristin turned to Virtua for help. Virtua offers a host of programs for older adults with depression, including an inpatient program at Virtua Memorial Hospital. This program serves patients with a variety of emotional or mental health conditions.
Virtua Health provides another solution
McCorristin was successfully treated for depression and returned home. But, a few years later, she suffered a major heart attack and discovered she couldn't keep up with activities around the house. "It became hard to take a shower because I was so dizzy. And, doing simple things like making the bed and washing laundry left me short of breath." McCorristin, whose husband passed away more than 10 years ago, again turned to Virtua for help. This time it was Virtua Home Care.
"Virtua Home Care provides hospital-level medical and nursing support in the comfort of a patient's own home, while allowing that person to remain independent," says Bowker. Home care can include nursing care for diabetic problems, wound and surgical management and injections.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are home health aides who assist with activities of daily living such as bathing and meal preparation. "Our staff brings more than skills and experience to their patients' homes, there's a willingness to go the extra mile."
A special bond
This is exemplified by the relationship between McCorristion and her home-health aide Christina Deal. For the past 10 years, Deal has helped McCorristin remain independent and in her own home by helping her shower, wash dishes and dust furniture.
"In addition to my home care duties, I enjoy spending time with my patients and getting to know them. This includes watching our favorite daytime soap operas together and catching up on the news of the week," says Deal. "It's nice to have someone to talk with," says McCorristion.
Deal, who entered health care after caring for her dying grandfather for three months, feels the same way about McCorristin: "Caring for my grandfather inspired me to become a home-health aide. It's my relationship with people like Carolyn that makes me happy I did."
A reason to celebrate
With treatment for depression and the help of Virtua Home Care, McCorristin is doing much better. In fact, this past May she celebrated her 75th birthday with her sister, some friends and Deal. "She is much more than my home-health aide, she is an extension of my family."
Later that month, McCorristin celebrated another milestone - her 10-year anniversary with Virtua Home Care. Deal, Bowker and McCorristin celebrated with cake, balloons and roses. Here's to another 10 years.
For more information about Virtua Home Care, call 1-888-Virtua-3 (1-888-847-8823).