by Mary Gallagher, Program Director, Payne-Phalen LAH/BNP

 The lion’s share of funding for Living-At-Home/Block Nurse Programs comes from local, state, and federal grants. Some funds are targeted to specific populations, such as Ramsey County residents, people with memory loss, those taking part in an exercise program, or who are providing care for a family member. At the end of each quarter programs tally the number of seniors who received various types of services in the funding categories and report to the funding sources.

While gathering information for a reporting deadline, the Payne-Phalen BNP’s director received a call from an elder who was confused and potentially in a crisis. Phone calls to and from the program’s volunteer public health nurse, Bonnie Berguetski, and other support persons took up much of the morning. With guidance and assistance with breakfast and his morning medications, the caller was fine without paramedics needing to show up and he didn’t require a trip to the emergency room. 

The director returned to reports wishing there was a place on the report forms to include what  hadn’t happened — that due to intervention of our program’s staff and volunteers, $2,000 in costs of ambulance service, an ER visit, and medical costs were not incurred.    

Other staff and volunteers can also provide examples.  While delivering groceries, volunteers heard the sound of water running in the home of a woman who is hard of hearing. They investigated and turned a faucet off, preventing further damage to her home due to the leaking, and contacted her family to follow up.

Ana Diaz, Payne-Phalen BNP’s Medical Advocate, educates elders about medications and health conditions so they are able to follow their doctor’s treatment recommendations and manage chronic health conditions. Over half the elders Ana sees regularly have diabetes. By monitoring seniors with this disease, Ana helps them avoid serious side effects such as kidney failure, blindness, and circulation problems that could result in amputation.

The nurses who conduct our four monthly community blood pressure clinics have referred several seniors to doctors when they were concerned about readings, and heard later that persons’ doctors changed a medication, averting potential problems.  

By keeping seniors healthy so they can maintain their independence, the cost of nursing homes ($5,500/month or more) can be postponed or avoided. Ten East Side elders who were able to stay in their homes for 12 months translates to over six million dollars saved.   

We are proud of the good things we do. What’s important to consider, although harder to show, are the many benefits to seniors and their families because of what doesn’t happen.