KNA, which raises funds through donations from townspeople and through an annual mail appeal, recently sent out letters to townspeople as part of that appeal. The letter acknowledges that these are difficult economic times in which to seek donations, but notes that it is just that much harder for people of limited means. "When someone in this circumstance becomes ill, his or her daily struggles to make ends meet can become a full-blown crisis," the letter, which is signed by KBNA president Diane Woodward states.
KNA Board of Director Sabine Gibson said recently, "KNA promises that people who don't have insurance or who do not have enough insurance, will always be able to get home health care. The VNA bills us for the visits and we pay quarterly."
The program is so confidential that the board does not even know who has received the service. Patients are referred through the town social worker, through churches, the school, doctors and through other contacts with people who may perceive the need. "A lot of people have paid their dues," observed Mrs. Gibson. "Referrals are made discretely. Sometimes, it's not even medical and all the help that is needed is getting a driveway patched or something like that. There are little things we can do to help people stay in their own homes and not end up in a nursing home on Medicaid"
She said that the agency feels very fortunate to be able to work with New Milford VNA because the latter organization consistently ranks among the top 10 percent of the country's 8,000 home health organizations for quality fo service. "We could contract with anyone we want," she said, "but we use New Milford VNA because it is consistently ranked very high."
Mrs. Gibson noted that Andrea Wilson, director of New Milford VNA, attends all the KNA meetings.
When KNA began in 18943, it had its own nurse who visited local families. The consolidation of services with a larger organization has brought many advantages, however. "New Milford actually has monitors that stay in people's homes now that can tell the nurses if anything is wrong," Mrs. Gibson reported. "If someone has diabetes and they haven't taken their insulin, they will know it in New Milford." Even with this recent advance, most people still get regular visits when they need assistance.
Mrs. Gibson said that the town gives the KNA an annual grant of about $21,000 to help with the expense, but she noted that if the KNA did not exist the town would become responsible for providing all the service. "If you don't have an organization like the KNA, people fall through the cracks and can get in financial trouble," she said.
"There have been years when we have felt we would give it up because fund-raising is too painful, but this is a service we want to provide. This is really a service we offer to the town and we hope to make people aware of it and the need to support it.
"We get 95 percent of our support from the people who have received our services" she continued. "We have little old ladies who faithfully send us $5 every year, but we want to appeal to those lucky enough to not have to use our services."
The KNA is also proactive in trying to preserve the health of Kent residents. With the VNA it provides blood pressure screenings, flu clinics­-one is planned for Saturday at Town Hall-and Lyme disease education.
For the past year the KNA has funded the "Flex Appeal" program, an exercise series for senior citizens taught by a physical therapist from New Milford VNA. The program has proved to be very popular with participants at the Kent Senior Center.
Anyone wishing to support the work of the Kent Nursing Association can send donations to KNA, PO Box 367, Kent CT 06757.