The Legacy at Home Receives National Accreditation, Only Jewish Sponsored Home Health Agency in U.S.

Feb. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- The Legacy at Home, a home health care agency serving seniors in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, recently received accreditation from the National Institute for Jewish Hospice (NIJH) as the only Jewish-sponsored home health care agency in the United States. The Medicare certified, Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) accredited, comprehensive home health agency, began serving families in July of 2011.  The Legacy at Home has since served more than 300 families and employs more than 100 experienced home care professionals and caregivers.

“To be recognized as the only Jewish-sponsored home health care agency in the U.S. by an institute that has been accrediting and training agencies all over the country is truly an honor,” said Elizabeth Mason, administrator, The Legacy at Home. “This speaks to our deep connections in the Dallas Jewish community, and to the value we place on being sensitive to each family’s needs, especially our Jewish families, that we serve.”

The NIJH was established in 1985 to help alleviate suffering during serious and terminal illnesses. NIJH recently embarked on an accreditation program providing on-site training to any hospice, geriatric center or hospital in the U.S. focusing on sensitivity training for caregivers who care for Jewish individuals, making it particularly special that they have accredited The Legacy at Home as the only Jewish-sponsored home health agency in the country.

“What that means for a family is that our staff members are trained to be sensitive to the unique needs of a Jewish patient,” continued Mason. “We reached out to the NIJH and requested this training and certification in order to better serve our community. The training that the NIJH provides allows The Legacy at Home caregivers and nurses to respond to a variety of issues they may encounter while providing care in a Jewish home, including observance of holidays, kosher dietary laws, as well as end of life and mourning practices.”

The Legacy Senior Communities, parent company of The Legacy Willow Bend, The Legacy Preston Hollow and The Legacy at Home, has a long tradition of involvement with the Dallas Jewish community and with organizations serving the Jewish population, including the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Family Services, among others.  Ongoing services include free health screenings and complimentary chair massages at the Jewish Community Center and a designated Jewish community liaison with responsibility for keeping The Legacy Senior Communities involved in the Jewish community.

“The Legacy at Home’s ability to provide a continuum of care sets it apart from other home health agencies,” said Brian Barnes, chief operations officer, The Legacy Senior Communities. “Our two communities – The Legacy Willow Bend and The Legacy Preston Hollow – provide a wide variety of residency and care options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing. The Legacy at Home allows us to provide our patients with a unique continuum of care option by extending the high quality of service provided in our communities to the individual’s home. This creates a more positive experience for the patient and an improved quality of home health care.”

The Legacy at Home was established through seed money and a loan provided by the Dallas Home for Jewish Aged Endowment Foundation and through a gift of $100,000 from an anonymous donor.

“We have received immense support from our board of directors, the community and our management team,” said Barnes. “This support is allowing us to continue our 60-year history of providing superior services to Dallas/Ft. Worth area seniors and their families.”

The Legacy at Home is a home health care option for seniors in the Greater Dallas area that brings an experienced team of professionals to the home to continue recovery from an illness, injury or surgery. The skilled team of nurses, therapists, dieticians, and medical social workers offers coordinated services to ensure each person’s transition is seamless.

The Legacy at Home provides Private Duty Services and Personal Care Services. The Private Duty Services include private duty nurses who provide wound care, medication management, and diabetic care IV therapy. Physical, occupational, speech therapy and respiratory therapy is also available. The Personal Care Services offer certified nurses’ aides and personal assistants for assistance with activities of daily living, respite care, and companion services.

Please call 972-244-7700 or visit legacyathome.org for more information.