Co-sponsored by the Foster County Social Services department and the Lake Region District Health Unit at Devils Lake, the purpose of the Homemaker Home Health Aide service is to provide minimal care at home for families or individuals who need some assistance but who do not require or desire to enter a nursing or foster home for full time outside care. All residents of Foster County who are in need of the service are eligible.
A Home Health Aide is a person who has completed two separate 40-1/2 hour courses at Bismarck, according to state regulations, to learn health aide skills and familiarize himself with the extent to which he can provide service in a client's home without overstepping the bounds of the authorized home care program.
After the completion of the course a person qualified in the program can provide services such as light housekeeping, doing laundry, childcare, shopping, preparation of meals and family nutrition and providing information about other community resources.
After completing the full 80 hours, Homemakers move into the category of Home Health Aides and are permitted to provide more personal and extensive services. Home Health Aides may assist clients in home exercise programs (range of motion), give baths, plan nutrition, assist with walkers, canes or crutches, and provide specific health care and personal care services.
Part of the value of the program lies in the fact that it allows personal communication with visitors to those people who do not otherwise receive visitors, however, services go well beyond the benefits of social visits.
Funding for the program, begun in 1966, is provided through federal monies (75%) and state and county monies (25%). Cost per client depends upon the number of people in the family, income level and ability to pay.
A service agreement and application are written up for each client, specifying the services that may be provided for that client. Some service work constitutes nearly a full-time job, while other commitments amount to only several mornings or afternoons a week. Every client is visited at least once a week. The maximum number of visits per week, under the program is three.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 256