Personalized, compassionate care at home provided by HART

Guest Editorial by Patricia E. Berggren

Chairperson, Board of Directors

HART Inc.

A 45-year-old man calls in a panic after failing to get his terminally ill wife out of bed to a chair. He is emotionally spent and calls HART (home assistance referral team). Within an hour, a caregiver is at his door to help this couple.

After a trip home to visit elderly parents, their daughter realizes that living in their home without assistance is no longer safe or smart. She calls HART seeking 24/7 care to help manage their medications, meals and daily living. A team of three caregivers is selected to assist her parents, allowing them to remain in their home with their beloved dog and avoid admission to a skilled nursing home facility.

A construction worker suffers a bad fall resulting in a broken hip and has no one at home to care for him upon discharge. His neighbor has heard of HART, and just one call matches him with a caregiver to help manage his recovery.

A veteran, having lost his wife with no family nearby, suffers from depression and longs for daily companionship. He calls HART.

A family caring for a loved one suffering heartbreaking struggles with dementia is burned out and needs to take a much-needed break. HART provides the respite care they so badly need.

These stories represent just a few of the thousands of individuals and families who have received personalized and compassionate care from HART, a not-for-profit organization serving Niagara and Erie counties. Located in Lewiston, this essential community asset has been providing care to seniors and others, allowing them to remain safe and independent in their own homes for over 40 years.

Whether it is a senior asking for companionship or a fulltime, 24/7 case requiring health care assistance, HART’s caregivers range from home care aides to registered nurses, all of whom have been fully vetted with background checks.

The care model provided by HART is unique and personalized for each case. The requestor or a family member interviews caregivers matching their needs and they make a choice. That caregiver or team, if needed, will remain with the person throughout their case, thus providing a sense of safety and familiarity.

Much has been written about the value of helping vulnerable seniors and those with special needs to “age or recover in place.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as: “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably regardless of age, income or ability to pay.”

Today, someone turning 65 has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and support in their remaining years, according to the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

These statistics are having a direct impact on HART’s operation. Requests for care have dramatically increased in both Niagara and Erie counties and, thankfully, our dedicated roster of caregivers has grown considerably to meet this need.

As a not-for-profit organization – that does not charge those in need for referral services – HART operates solely on the generous donations of individuals, businesses, grants and community events.

If you have received home care from HART for a family member, passed our information along to a friend, or simply realize that one day you may need us … please consider a gift to HART or include us in your estate planning. We promise to be here for you well into the future – and hope you will be there for us as we continue to grow.

For information about our services, to become a caregiver or to make a donation, please contact HART at 716-754-8313 or go to our website at hartprogram.org. You can also check us out on Facebook.