Patient Determined to Walk Again Receives Support from VNA/SCC Social Worker

While trying to regain the physical strength to walk again, Paul Davis’ gas was turned off in June, leaving him unable to cook a meal for himself in his subsidized housing unit. To ward off the cold in the late fall months, Soffia Jonsdottir, a social worker with the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut (VNA/SCC), donated a space heater to him, which worked well to provide some heat until his electricity was turned off in October. Learning to walk again is a challenge in itself, imaging doing so without social supports, heat or electricity?

As the public relations coordinator for the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut, I have the privilege of telling the stories of our patients and how our clinical staff assists with the healing process by providing services such as skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, etc.  As a non-profit home health care organization, we have a mission to serve the insured as well as the underinsured and uninsured.

Generous grant funding from the United Way of Greater New Haven enables the VNA to provide home health care to New Haven’s underinsured through the VNA’s subsidized care program. Although Medicaid does cover the cost of skilled nursing visits, Medicaid does not cover social work visits; therefore much of our United Way funding is used for Medicaid patients that so desperately need social work intervention.

Paul was one of those patients. After falling in his New Haven home about 8 years ago, Paul has since endured 14 knee surgeries, ankle reconstruction surgery and has gone into septic shock several times. In addition to needing skilled nursing visits from the VNA/SCC, he needed help accessing social services. It was eye-opening to me to see how our social worker, Soffia, worked as a catalyst for change as well as a patient advocate. She was not alone in her endeavors as Paul made necessary calls as well. They contacted Community Action several times requesting an in home assessment for energy assistance.  Although Paul was put on a priority list, he did not receive an assessment. Soffia and Paul also called the utility companies requesting assistance. Additionally, Soffia requested that Paul’s doctor send a letter to the utility companies requesting that his utilities are turned on again.

Their efforts were not in vain, as both his gas and electricity were turned on again in November, leaving Paul time to concentrate on his physical rehabilitation rather than keeping warm. During my visit with Paul, he reiterated numerous times that his goal is to walk again and he does not set goals that he can’t achieve. His spirit is strong and I believe that he will walk again. In addition to providing nursing visits, I think the VNA/SCC has provided access to social services that will help him reach his goal.  I am proud to be part of an organization that provides health and social service supports to those who need it most.