Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 19, 2007|Volume 36, Number 7

From the United Way:
‘A Story of Finding Peace’

Providing opportunities for people of all ages to be healthy, active, caring members of society is a focus of the United Way’s Healthy and Connected Communities priority area.

The following story from the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut’s Subsidized Care Program demonstrates the value of a United Way investment in helping people stay healthy, independent and connected.

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Mrs. J* is 79 and suffers from diabetes, osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. She relies on Medicare and the support of a home caregiver from the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut Inc. (VNA/SCC) to maintain her well being.

Mrs. J lived with her chronically ill son in the same house in New Haven for 50 years. She is well educated and is a retired secretary to the president of a large corporation. She even met a few U.S. presidents in her day.

When the VNA/SCC was called in to provide nursing care and pain management for her diabetic condition, Mrs. J had many difficult decisions to make for herself and her son. Given her health issues, her home was physically unsafe and due to roof problems, it would snow or rain inside during bad weather. In addition, she was not able to properly care for her son on her own any longer.

Thanks to funding sources, including United Way of Greater New Haven, VNA/SCC was able to provide a social worker to assist Mrs. J in selling her home, find a quality long-term care facility for her son and deal with the grief of her son’s illness.

Although leery of leaving her home of 50 years, Mrs. J said, “I was terribly lonely, but now I am so glad to be in a beautiful new apartment.”

Mrs. J now has transportation to her medical appointments, new friends, and makes good choices to sustain her health and preserve her integrity.

***
The VNA/SCC is a non-profit, mission-driven home care agency. Nurses and social workers go to patients’ homes every day of the year, around the clock, and rely on funding from United Way and grant programs to operate at full potential.

Each year Yale faculty and staff give generously to United Way through the annual campaign which runs through December 2007. This contribution is invested in Greater New Haven programs such as the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut’s Subsidized Care. Together with United Way, these programs not only support the immediate needs of our most vulnerable citizens, but also work to build stronger communities.

Support the Yale-United Way campaign and help make a positive change in the Greater New Haven community.

*Name has been changed for patient confidentiality.

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From the United Way: ‘A Story of Finding Peace’

Campus Notes