Dear Editor:
This letter is to honor a program that works, The Hudson County Visiting Homemakers. My personal situation involved my 87 year-old great Aunt Roberta Whitehurst. She was the widow of my great uncle who died during Pearl Harbor. She developed Multiple Sclerosis late in life. For the last 5½ years she was ambulatory. My desire was to keep a promise to her by not institutionalizing her but I couldn’t house her as I had no space and she had only limited use of her hands. She needed to be bathed, fed, medicated, lifted out of bed to a wheelchair and transported to doctors; thus I had no way of stopping institutionalization. Enter VHS.
Every day for 5½ years they maintained her independence and quality of life. My aunt was a difficult person. A tough case. VHS did not waiver in providing service. They sent recently deceased Ida Barker. A Christian from the old school; she lifted my almost 200-pound aunt into her wheel chair, cleaned, fed and could be seen shopping for my aunt via public transportation.
When I lost Ida it was like losing an arm. Joyce Deas was the other seasoned vet. Despite being bedridden 5 years, my aunt never developed a bed sore. This was Joyce’s doing, and I will remain in her debt. Ida’s permanent replacement would be Geneva Crawford. In her last year my aunt needed to travel to doctors frequently and Geneva would take her. When my aunt had doctor’s visits very early VHS sent the wonderful Judy Phillipis and Dorothy Campbell. I miss you guys already and couldn’t have done it without you.
Special mentions to Elsie Johnson, Ivonne Moltinero, Blanco Ferrer and Elizabeth Rolon. Special thanks to Administrator Gwani Beals and Reina Mayor who made sure emergencies on weekends and holidays were covered. I would be remiss not to include the staff at Ocean Towers, Denise Brown and Doris Boney took a personal interest by connecting with VHM and closely monitored my aunt’s needs. Denise knew my aunt couldn’t swallow and would buy hard candies. Both Denise and Doris established a relationship with social service agencies to insure the utmost quality. Maintenance staff Henry McNeil and Lloyd not only saw to my aunt’s special maintenance needs but many nights at 3 a.m. my aunt needed to go to the hospitals and medical could only get in by awakening them.
It’s a shame that this vital program is being slashed. We can land the Mars Rover at a cost of billions of dollars but we can’t serve our seniors in the dusk of their lives.
I urge you to write letters to the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, particularly Freeholder Bill O’Dea who has a long-term affection for this program, to Governor McGreevey, State Senator Glenn D. Cunningham, Legislators Louis Manzo and Tony Chiappone.
Steven Pinkney