1.  Personal Care

Trained staff provide assistance with basic needs for personal hygiene and grooming, laundry, meal preparation, etc. When getting in and out of the tub or shower may be dangerous or too exhausting for the client to do alone, the Aide will assist to the degree needed. Client privacy is a major concern. Client independence is encouraged for those things you are able to do alone. Meals-on-Wheels is not available in all areas of the Bootheel and in some cases the meals provided do not comply with the dietary restrictions of some clients. In addition, these meals are served only at mid-day Monday thru Friday. Most people require more than one meal per day! Personal care aides prepare meals in the client's home for those who are unable to obtain nutritious food without assistance.

2.  Homemaker Care

Homemakers perform routine housekeeping tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, mopping floors, cleaning bathroom fixtures, cleaning kitchen appliances and fixtures, etc. Services are scheduled in advance for specific day(s) and hour(s) of the week.

3.  Advanced Personal Care

Specially trained aides provide assistance with special, more skilled, though routine health maintenance procedures such as ostomy care, bowel programs, exercise programs, transfers from bed to wheel chair using special equipment, etc. Advanced care is most often needed by individuals with chronic illness or permanent disabilities, such as those with limited self-care ability due to paralysis. Advanced Personal Care services gives those with a handicap a hand with the health care they need without restraining them from the things they can do. EXAMPLE: Someone paralyzed from the waist down is able to do most things for himself once he is up in the wheelchair. He may need help though with a daily bowel program, an exercise program, catheter care, bathing, and the transfer from bed to wheelchair each morning and the transfer back to bed each evening.

4.  Respite Care

Occasionally, it is unwise or unsafe to leave someone home alone, even for short periods of time. Still, they prefer to remain at home and do well there with minimal assistance and/or supervision. In those cases, VNA will provide a Sitter to stay with the client during those periods when the regular caregiver must be away or is asleep. The Sitter will assist the client to the bathroom, place food that has been prepared within easy reach and assist with minor difficulties for an otherwise independent or stable person. 

5.  RN Authorized Nurse Care

Routine, semi-skilled nursing services such as pre-filling medication reminder trays and insulin syringes; routine monthly diabetic nail care; skin assessment when limited mobility or chronic illness makes the individual susceptible to skin breakdown; venipunctures to obtain lab specimnes when bloodwork is needed but the indiviual is physically unable to travel to the lab or doctor's office to have the test run; and other preventative and maintenance health care is provided by a nurse by VNA Community Services in Nurse-Authorized visits.

Payment Methods:

Medicaid (Title XIX) and some Private Insurances are used to pay for services for these clients of VNA Community Services.

Eligibility Requirements:

Medicaid guidelines require a Level of Care assessment and prior authorization from DHSS before any In-home services can be reimbursed under the Medicaid benefit.  Long term care insurances may also require limitations in handling Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

Additional Notes:

Private Purchase can be made for any length of time. Call VNA direct at 1-800-286-5892 ext.1157 to request services or ask questions.  Be sure to ask for VNA when the DHSS Caseworker asks which agency you prefer.