Client Testimonials
“For people like myself, living with a disability is difficult. Besides dealing with the obvious physical or mental challenges, I’m often forced to seek help from others just to remain independent and be able to live in my own home for as long as possible.
Since the HELP pilot (now HELP2Day Initiative) under IFPHA organization has been coming to my home at Arrowhead Apartments the last couple of years, the quality of life for me and my fellow residents has improved a great deal, particularly because of their dedicated service and concern throughout the pandemic.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in our complex was extremely helpful since transportation for many of us is quite difficult. I trained as an embedded CHW for several months until my disability made it impossible to continue. But the experience was very rewarding and allowed me to contribute to my community by helping others in situations similar to my own. It was a blessing I enjoyed very much.” — Robin Miller
“★★★★★”
Getting you there for on-time check-in…
Staying through to get you home.
August 2023—A new client coming from Swain County, N.C., into Asheville for a medical procedure recently gave IFPHA’s transportation service a five-star review and permission to share her experience, in part, here:
“As a senior citizen and no immediate family members, I was desperate for assistance with transportation and aid for a necessary medical procedure. Their professionalism, absolutely perfect,” Janice Ander Foltz, Eastern Band Cherokee, wrote of IFPHA’s Community Health Worker supervisor Angelique Scott, LPN, and Community Nurse Kathey Avery, RN, BSN.
She said our proficiency and affable natures eased her mind in a situation where it was mandatory that she have a driver, and one who could stay while she underwent the out-patient procedure that took about four hours.
Coming from more than an hour’s drive away necessitated an overnight stay in Asheville for Janice besides making local and longer-distance transportation arrangements. Not always easy or affordable to accomplish—and sometimes causing people to avoid or delay necessary procedures or important diagnostic testing.
“Angelique was responsive to my needs, and a careful driver,” Janice wrote, noting, too, that she was made comfortable and felt well protected during the rides. And, “She was adamant (in reminding me) I wasn’t to drive for 24 hours, making certain I had another person arriving to take me (back home).”
“I couldn’t do medical dates without them. Fact,” Janice wrote. “Will always rely on you, and already recommended you to five others. My best to success.”
Respectfully Yours, Janice Ander Foltz
[referred to IFPHA by a nurse at Cherokee Hospital]
Neighbors As Helpmates
SETTING IFPHA’S CHW MODEL APART is the concept of embedding. Residents of subsidized housing communities are recruited and trained as community health workers and then are available to check in on their neighbors, quickly connect them to IFPHA’s community nurse and services, and otherwise help promote good health and safety measures.
Ava Roberts of Arrowhead Apartments in Asheville, our pilot location, was one of the first. Besides being a consistent, direct link between our community nurse and LPN and the residents, she has an added source of income and skills-building. “I like being a CHW and helping others,” she says.
Within allotted hours, beyond routine tasks like getting out fliers for the monthly engagements and help setting up, embedded CHW’s also can choose things they feel is helpful to residents and their well-being.
Ava saw a need for cooking assistance for some residents with disabilities. So, she initiated that individually for some such as Walter here—and, along with Arrowhead’s management team, also cooks and provides a monthly meal open to everyone.
“I love to cook for others at Arrowhead,” Ava says. “I also help some of the residents with household chores, taking out their trash, and I go with Walter and stay with him during his radiation treatments.”
“I love Ava’s cooking, and she takes care of me,” Walter says.
Asking What’s Needed
Doing a chronic illness survey at Hillcrest Apartments around Easter 2023 the IFPHA team had a timely meet up with Beth. She told them, sometimes tearfully, about several issues she was dealing with, one of them a need for soft, easily chewable food because of an ongoing dentures problem.
The team returned later with a hot meal for her, and then with some groceries including low-sodium soups, applesauce, and creamed cereals mixes. And as a little spirits booster — a cheerful Easter card and potted tulip plant.
“I just want to say my tears now are for good things. You gave me another reason to live. I have to let my plant grow up! O thank you God."
Real Help in Real Time, plus a little bit extra.