Home Care Stories
Home Care Nurses Wear Many Hats - November 15, 1999
Colebrook, N.H. - Luck was not with them, but fortunately, home care was in the equation.
Crystal Kostka had been in a car accident in which she suffered multiple trauma on the eve of her 17th birthday. Crystal's injuries resulted in the need for her mother, Tracy, to stay home and provide her care as she recovered. Though doctors suggested Crystal go to a rehabilitation facility, they allowed her to go home under the condition that she receive home care. The assistance of Upper Connecticut Valley Home Health made that possible.
"It was a real relief knowing we could bring her home instead of having her in a rehab," said Tracy Kostka. "We wanted her at home with the family."
Tracy didn't have the medical expertise necessary to tend to all of her daughter's needs, and says the assistance of the Upper Connecticut Valley Home Health nurses brought her great comfort. "It was really peace of mind for me because I really didn't feel I knew what to do to take care of my daughter," Tracy said. She says the hospital had only given her some written instructions and a book on head trauma.
While the situation was different, the feeling was the same for Nancy Ladd, whose mother-in-law was being cared for by nurses from Upper Connecticut Valley Home Health when she was dying of ovarian cancer. She said they trained the family in what they could to do to assist her, but said they were also available when the family had any questions. "They came when we called them, any time, day or night," said Ladd. "We can't say enough good about them. In fact, we adopted them and told them they were part of the Ladd family."
While the nurses were primarily providing medical care to Lona Ladd, the Kostka family had additional needs. With Tracy Kostka staying home to care for Crystal, and two other children to care for, providing necessities for the family became a challenge. Even food was a scarcity, and soon Thanksgiving would be upon them.
Undaunted, Lisa Bouchard, RN, a nurse with Upper Connecticut Valley Home Health, went beyond her medical duties to help the family. "If they have needs, I do what I can," she said. She recruited businesses to donate a turkey and other food, enough to feed the family for two to three weeks. Bouchard even found funding for propane gas so they could cook their turkey. She said people in the Upper Connecticut Valley are very responsive to the needs of others.
While the family was grateful for the food, Tracy Kostka said it was the reassurance provided by Bouchard for which she was most thankful. "It was really great to know I wasn't going to be left totally alone with her," said Kostka.
Alone was how Nancy Ladd felt when her own mother died of cancer, years before the death of her mother-in-law. She said back then, she was unaware of home care. "I couldn't find anyone to help me," she said. "My mother wanted to die at home and couldn't." She said she wished she had known a Lisa Bouchard back then.
Bouchard was hired as a staff nurse by Home Health nine years ago. Since then she has been promoted to supervisor, but still spends a great deal of time working with clients.
"She's always doing things for people. She's very devoted," said Bouchard's supervisor, Elaina Johnson. "She takes care of her people. All of her clients just love her."
Bouchard has done everything for clients from picking up groceries, to house cleaning, meal preparation and bathing. "Most people don't realize all the services we provide, and fail to understand that we do not just service the elderly." Bouchard said. She says she spends a great deal of time simply providing emotional support. "We're pretty well utilized. We wear many hats," she said.
As Crystal Kostka continues to recover, she no longer sees Bouchard or the occupational and physical therapists that also came to the house. Tracy Kostka said she and her family will always be grateful for all they did at the time of the accident and through the stages of Crystal's recovery.
Ladd said she still runs into Bouchard at times and says they will always remain close. "We hug when we see each other on the street," she said.
Upper Connecticut Valley Home Health makes approximately 8,900 home visits per year, travelling approximately 51,653 miles.
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