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CDA funding provides home-health care for seniors, disabled adults
By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
February 21, 2008
Shortly before 8 a.m. on an early February morning, Laura Ajero waits briefly but patiently for Francisco Gomez to answer the door.
It’s already her second home visit of the day and the longtime nurse has 10 more, but she doesn’t appear to be in any hurry. That’s one of the many traits her patients love about her: she takes her time.
Ajero, who provides home-health care to 40 senior citizens and adults with disabilities, visits at least one patient every day. She tended to 17 in 13 hours throughout south Phoenix the day before.
She is one of 14 nurses caring for patients across the Valley thanks to the Foundation for Senior Living, a nonprofit organization of the Phoenix Diocese.
Most of the nurses work part-time, but together, they help more than 2,000 patients like Gomez every year remain healthy and independent through the foundation’s home-health care program. It’s one of 16 services the Foundation for Senior Living provides to more than 25,000 elderly and disabled adults throughout the state each year.
“Our clients are on very limited incomes and typically have no financial resources or family support,” says Bill Myers, director of development with the Foundation for Senior Living.
Gomez is one of those clients with little family support. A few cousins in Mexico are his only surviving relatives.
Fortunately for him, his larger family — his brothers and sisters in Christ who make up the local Church — helps care for him. The St. Anthony parishioner receives home-health care from the Foundation for Senior Living, one of more than 70 organizations funded by the diocesanwide Charity and Development Appeal.
Last year, the Foundation for Senior Living received more than $1 million from the CDA.
At press time, local Catholics have shown their desire to care for their extended family by contributing more than $6.5 million in pledges to the annual appeal since the campaign’s January kickoff. This year’s goal is $10.5 million.
Maintaining independence
“The number one issue for seniors is to remain independent and to live in their own residence for as long as possible,” Myers says.
“It is important because they are happier and feel safer in familiar territory, their emotional and spiritual attitude is brighter and they avoid depression, which often leads to more severe physical ailments.”
Gomez is a good example of that. He once spent time in a nursing home for psychological issues, but has not had one episode since Ajero began caring for him eight years ago.
“As long as I’m healthy, I want to remain in the community because I have friends and I have Church,” Gomez says, shortly before his longtime nurse listens to his heart and checks his temperature for the third and final time this week.
Ajero also fills the insulin syringes needed to treat his diabetes, manages his daily pillbox and orders new medicine when necessary.
“The most important thing is the companionship and the fact that she keeps all my affairs in order,” he says.
Gomez is also under the care of several specialists. Ajero coordinates those appointments, including transportation.
“Usually when the doctor gives him new medicine, he waits until I give him the OK,” Ajero says. “He knows I have his best interest in mind.”
She also cares about his personal interests. The pair goes through mail or insurance paperwork together and discuss healthy eating or politics during Ajero’s 30- to 60-minute visit.
During the Feb. 8 wellness check, they share a laugh after Ajero notices that the ticking of several clocks in Gomez’s tiny, uncarpeted living room are all in sync.
“He’s always laughing about something that happened,” Ajero says.
At the end of the visit, Gomez puts on a flannel jacket, grabs his portable oxygen tank and walks out with his nurse. Ajero advises taking it with him on any trip, “just in case.”
The two pile into her small SUV for a short ride to the community center. She drops off Gomez and heads several blocks east for her next appointment.
She knocks on the door at Ignacio Astoga’s place as a courtesy before letting herself in. The 49-year-old lost movement from the chest down after being in a car accident several years ago.
Ajero greets her patient and asks how his doctor’s appointment went yesterday. His big toe was recently amputated due to an infection.
“They didn’t take them out,” Astoga says of the stitches, between yawns.
His nurse is surprised, but learns the doctor will remove the sutures in a few days. She then unwraps the layers of bandages from his foot. Despite the nurse’s numerous phone calls in the past concerning Astoga’s poorly inflated air mattress, it hasn’t been fixed. That led to pressure sores and the amputation.
Now the bottom of his foot below his toes is turning red. Ajero puts ointment on the wound and wraps it in fresh bandages. She projects that Astoga will be able to go out again in six to eight weeks.
“I’ve never seen him sad or upset,” Ajero says, noting that he’s always in good spirits. She’s seen him every day for three years — and at all hours of the night.
He — like every Foundation for Senior Living home-health care patient — can call a nurse 24/7. Astoga remembers calling Ajero at midnight to change his catheter.
The nurse made sure he had access to appropriate medical devices that helped him maintain a high quality of life and avoid complications.
“Without this nurse, I’d be hurting right now,” Astoga says. “She’s always there for me.”
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