The PA Home Service Program provides nurses/care coordinators who visit the homes of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services are offered to PA residents of any age at no cost to the family, and can continue as long as needed. Over 4,000 families are currently receiving services.
The PA Home Service Program provides nurses/care coordinators who visit the homes of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services are offered to PA residents of any age at no cost to the family, and can continue as long as needed. Over 4,000 families are currently receiving services.
Rachel Polen is a 20-year-old woman who was diagnosed as an infant with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic mutation that effects brain development. Infants with Rett Syndrome seem to develop normally and reach the developmental milestones such as rolling over and crawling, but at about a year old, the child will start to rapidly decline, losing coordination, speech, and the ability to use their hands.
Callie Rose was born at 29 weeks, weighing just 2lbs 11oz. Before her first birthday, she was diagnosed with Spastic-Dystonic-Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, a condition that affects all four of her limbs, making her muscles tight and causing movement to be hard and stiff. Dianna McCord, a Pennsylvania Elks Home Service nurse, has been helping Callie and her family since Callie was about 8 months old.
When Dianna McCord, the Pennsylvania Elks Home Service nurse for Washington County, first met her client Lily Ayres, Lily was just over a year old and living in a trailer with her father Cliff Ayres, who is a single parent. Since their first meeting, the Ayres have been able to move into a house and have received assistance and funding for the resources they need.
