HCR will be at Hoag this evening to discuss home care health services

Local pastor says many senior citizens aren’t accessing services that would help them live longer, healthier lives

ALBION – Representatives from HCR Home Care will be at Hoag Library at 6 p.m. today to discuss the agency’s services in the community.

HCR has been invited by the Rev. Mark Washington of Kent, who is pastor of the Greater Lamb of Life Church of God in Christ in Rochester.

In Rochester, the clergy helped spread the word about the home health care services that are available in the community, and covered by Medicare and health insurance.

The Rochester pastors were part of the Diverse Care Project to promote the home healthcare services, especially among the African American and Latino populations, which Washington said were underserved.

There has been an historic lack of trust in the healthcare system in communities of color, Washington said.

“Black seniors have higher rates of heart disease, are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable cardiac-related causes, higher rates of diabetes and obesity, and higher incidence and mortality rates from many cancers,” Washington said.

There also is a long tradition of these communities taking  care of their own, which furthers exacerbates the introduction of home care, he said.

He would like a similar Diverse Care Project initiative in Orleans County and welcomes all clergy members to assist with promoting HCR Home Care and other health services.

He noted the some key health challenges in Orleans County:

• Rural challenges & aging population – Seniors in Orleans County face compounding barriers related to geography, limited infrastructure, and socioeconomic constraints.
• Severe physician shortage – In 2023, the patient-to-primary-care-physician ratio was 13,397:1, far above the state average.
• Geographic isolation – Seniors struggle to reach medical care, grocery stores, and essential services due to the county’s rural layout.
• Lack of care facilities – Few adult care, rehab, or nursing facilities are available locally, especially for short- or long-term needs.

For more information about the Diverse Care Project initiative and promoting home health care in Orleans County, Pastor Washington may be contacted at (585) 410-0568, or at markawashington4@gmail.com.