Times Union: ‘I’d Rather Take Him Home’ — Pandemic’s Devastation Fuels a Home Care Boom

The Times Union featured The Eddy Visiting Nurse and Rehab Association (EVNRA) in its story on the recent growing demand for home care. The newspaper interviewed Lisa Lemery, MS, OTR/L, director of patient services for EVNRA, who discussed the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on families as they seek care for their loved ones.

From the article:

Lisa Lemery, a director with the Eddy Visiting Nurse and Rehab Association, said there was an initial dip in home care demand when the pandemic began as elective surgeries were postponed and fewer people required post-acute follow-up care.

Demand picked back up, however, and now appears to be exceeding what it was prior to the pandemic, she said.

“People don’t want to go to rehab because their loved ones can’t visit them and there’s that potential exposure to other people,” she said. “It’s definitely a more secure feeling for the patient to get that care at home.”

The same scenario has played out for family with loved ones in nursing homes, she said.

“We’re seeing patients go from nursing homes back to the home setting — which we don’t typically see, because usually the nursing home is someone’s last stop,” she said. “But because the loved ones can’t go visit the nursing homes and see their relatives, they’re saying, ‘You know what? It’s not worth it. I’m taking them home.’”

Click here to read the full article.