Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice’s Kim Nance

WARSAW — At their March 3 meeting, Altrusa Club members received an update from Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice’s Kim Nance about that organization’s programs and services.

Organized over 40 years ago by a group of eight local nurses, Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice is a not-for-profit providing “hometown care for hometown people” filling a need for home care & hospice services in our community.

Home care was the organization’s initial focus, and Nance stressed that it’s about making patients better. To their registered and practical nurses, medical social workers, counselors, physical, speech and occupational therapists, aides and volunteers, it’s all about the patients. Even after retiring, their team members often return to cover vacations or just to help out.

These very special professionals provide professional health services allowing patients to stay at home while recovering from illness, surgery or an accident.  Working with physicians, a personalized plan is developed to promote the highest level of independence and well-being.

Their hospice program is funded by Medicare and Medicaid and provides end-of-life care when a cure is no longer possible. Their program, put into place when a life expectancy is six months or less,  emphasizes quality of life and comfort care and offers medications, supplies, medical equipment, instruction, support and bereavement care.  Hospice care is not limited to a patient’s home.  It can also be provided in nursing homes, assisted living and group homes as well as hospitals.  More information may be received by phoning (574) 372-3401 or by stopping at their office at 1515 Provident Drive.

Altrusa members reported at the meeting that the proceeds from their fundraiser at Culvers on March 2 resulted in over $350 that will support the club’s local service projects like meals for Bakers Youth Club, the club’s adopted class at Lincoln School, front doors for Habitat for Humanity, the annual banquet for College Mentors for Kids and CCS’s Project Independence program.

More information about Altrusa International of Warsaw may be found at their website www.altrusa.org, on Facebook as Altrusa-Warsaw or by contacting members at [email protected].