LUTHERAN HOME ADDS SERVICES

The Lutheran Home has added home health services to its long-term health care.

The Lutheran Home is a retirement center with short- and long-term health-care and residential-care facilities. The home, 2825 Bloomfield Road, recently received its home health license from the Heath Care Financing Administration.

"This will allow the Lutheran Home to expand its services to outlying areas and to fully serve the retirement community," said Janice Unger, administrator of the home. "We are excited to offer what I consider one of the most valuable services in the country for senior citizens and their families."

Sandy Torbet has been named director of the Lutheran Home-Home Health Agency. She will be responsible for the coordination of patient care, community education programs and working with area physicians and health-care facilities.

Services offered by the new agency include skilled nurse visitation, personal care provided by experienced home care aides, and physical, occupational, speech therapy and medical social services.

"As a fully integrated home health agency, we will collaborate with all area physicians and facilities," said Torbet. The service area includes Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott, Bollinger and Stoddard counties.

Services are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Torbet, of Cape Girardeau, has more than 17 years in nursing experience, five years in home care.

"Our goal will be to keep the patient within home environment," said Torbet.

Torbet, who joined the Lutheran Home in April, has worked for St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital and has experience in cardiovascular, medical and surgical nursing. She also has clinical experience in gastroenterology and neurology.

Prior to joining the Lutheran Home, she was employed at Corvel Corp. at St. Louis as a case manager for workers' compensation and rehabilitation.

The Lutheran Home opened in 1972 as a 60-bed unit, following five years of planning by a number of area Lutheran churches. The first addition to the facility came in the mid-1970s, when 60 beds were added. Since then, the nursing home has doubled in size, to more than 235 beds.

In 1989, the Lutheran Home established the first Alzheimer's unit in Cape Girardeau, a facility with 22 beds.

In 1992, the home opened a residential care section, providing the area's elderly a new living option, living on their own with the full care of a nursing home. The residential care addition includes 26 beds and a separate dining hall.

Construction also continues on Saxony Village, an expansion. The $12.5 million village will eventually include 18 duplex apartments, 40 assisted-living suites and an apartment complex with more than 100 apartments. Some vacancies are available in the Saxony complex.