Iowa Return to Community initiative spreads across state

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – The Iowa Return to Community initiative launched in 2019 to help older at-risk Iowans stay in their homes rather than hospitals. After seeing success in five western Iowa counties, the program is looking to spread out of Siouxland.

The initiative has been helping Woodbury County residents over 60 for more than five years by providing specialized services to help older residents stay in their homes. 

“The great part is that they’re in their own home and they’re able to stay in their own home where they are most comfortable,” Connections Area Agency on Aging regional community engagement specialist Pam Wurster said. “So we just go in and help them, and we call and we check up on them weekly and see how they’re doing and if there’s any more services that they need.” 

Not only does the program provide quality care for the patient, it also provides peace of mind for the patient’s family. 

“If there’s a family that lives out of town and they can’t always be there with their parent, they know that they have a company like us that will check in on them,” Wurster said.

The Hospice of Siouxland and Siouxland Palliative Care said there are many benefits to having patients stay in their homes

“We try to keep them within their home, try to keep them out of the ER and out of the hospital,” medical director Dr. Amy Callaghan said. “Because when you’re looking at a quality of life, typically quality is not getting poked and prodded in a hospital or in an emergency room.”

Those who use palliative care are provided treatment and relief from their symptoms where they are the most comfortable.  

“Being in the home is such a vital part of the aging process, the disease process, whatever you want to call it, because you’re comfortable,” Hospice of Siouxland and Siouxland Palliative Care executive director Jacque Kreber said. “It’s your familiar surroundings, your family can come over.”  

Whether you, your parents, or grandparents need specialized care, it’s better to act sooner than later.    

“Our goal is quality of life,” Kreber said, “and a lot of times getting in there, actually majority of the time, getting in there early allows us to help with that quality, help with that pain management, help with that symptom management, help educate the family.”

The Return to Community initiative is currently looking to expand to other Iowa Area Agencies on Aging.

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