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 Johnstown Couple Experiences Value of Home Care Options JOHNSTOWN, PA - For Dick Clark, a retiree from the United States Navy, and his wife Evelyn, the staff of Home Nursing Agency's Home Care Options has brought calm to stormy seas. “They have been our voices of reason and have helped us through some difficult periods over the past two years,” said Evelyn, who's overcome myriad challenges since January 2002 when she first underwent an operation for a pacemaker. Last fall, Dick, 84, had knee surgery and following the operation experienced a mild stroke that affected his speech. Meanwhile, Evelyn, also 84, has been dealing with range of motion challenges in her arm and knee posed by rheumatoid arthritis. Home Health Aide Laverne Kinkead and Nurse Lynn Shaffer have played pivotal roles to ensure these Garfield High School sweethearts that have been living side-by-side for 61 years regain strength and maintain independence in their Roxbury apartment, which reveals subtleties of Dick's Irish heritage, while reflecting Evelyn's warmth and impeccable taste as a life-long homemaker. Both exude much enthusiasm and many smiles when speaking of their only son, Richard Jr., and his wife Angela, who live further east in Doylestown and who keep in very close contact with Dick and Evelyn and their caregivers. “Our recovery process has stayed on course. We've been able to rest so much more comfortably since we've had the support and interaction of Lynn and Laverne,” said Dick. As a Licensed Practical Nurse for Home Nursing Agency, Lynn has observed Dick and Evelyn's healing process, monitored their blood pressures and circulation, while providing medication management and companionship. While caring for the Clarks', Lynn has also observed how well the couple complements one another. “I know they're thankful for our services, but I'm equally grateful for the opportunity to have met them and to have witnessed what a true marriage and partnership should epitomize,” she said. Over the past few months, Dick, a former Bethlehem Steelworker, has made great strides in the recovery of his speech with the help of therapists at the nearby Crichton Center and through Evelyn's guidance during in-home speech exercises. “We've come a long way since last November. We have been able to focus on getting better since many day-to-day concerns like the shopping, laundry, housecleaning and transportation are taken care of by Laverne,” said Evelyn. “If anyone were to open my drawers and look into my closets, they would think I had done the laundry because Laverne does it exactly the way its always been done. She does everything perfect for us and is so punctual too,” said Evelyn. Laverne would not have it any other way. She believes the value of home care rests in the tradition that a family's comfort does not have to be compromised in any way while recuperating from injury or illness at home. She identifies the customs, likes and dislikes of her patients and then acts accordingly. In retrospect, the couple admits that contemplating the decision to receive home health care and assistance was a little daunting at first because of their long-standing independence and the disconcerting notion of having someone they didn't know coming and going from their residence. “This was something we were not accustomed to, but after our initial assessment from Home Nursing Agency, we believed they were the right Agency for us. At that time, I had no idea just 'how right'! It's been a win-win situation from the start,” Evelyn said. “Lynn and Laverne are out of this world.” And according to the Clarks', it's not an exaggeration to say Laverne has become a natural fit into their personal care and daily routine in addition to relying on her for regular trips to the hair salon, the barber, doctors' offices, church services and even some outings at places like Eat n' Park. For a couple that sends one another Valentine's Day cards through the United States Postal Service, they are extremely thankful for their progress everyday and for each other's companionship and are most forthcoming in admitting Lynn and Laverne are just like 'family'. Synopsis of Home Nursing Agency Home Nursing Agency is one of the largest and most diverse Visiting Nurse and Community Health Associations in Pennsylvania serving over 16,000 individuals over the past year throughout various counties including Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Centre, Huntingdon, Franklin and Fulton. As a non-profit, health and human service organization employing over 800 people, Home Nursing Agency has demonstrated its innovation and responsiveness over the past 35 years through the expansion of its health network to include private duty, hospice, adult day services and mental health counseling as well as numerous community initiatives. 
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