Background

The vision of the Home Healthcare Project (HHC) began with two Dutch nurses who felt led to help elderly Egyptians who are unable to care of themselves. The nurses presented their concept of offering physical and spiritual home care to non-hospitalized elderly and sick persons CMF management in 1997 after realizing that many elderly patients extend their hospital stays merely because they can not receive any nursing care elsewhere, and have no one to look after them in their homes. CMF management gladly welcomed the idea and began training students by providing classes focusing on basic geriatric nursing care.

Staff and Activities

Currently, there are 25 trained care providers of which eight are full-time. They visit and stay with patients in their homes while offering the basic nursing care they need. Care duration varies; some patients receive only short-term care for curable sicknesses, while others continue to be treated for permanent conditions.

The amount of care that goes to each of the elderly presently served by HHC depends on need. While some only require several hours of attention, others must have round-the-clock care.

At the present time, HHC is serving 15 elderly patients. Both patients and their families are benefiting from the services offered by HHC. While the patients are being seen and visited by the care providers, they have an opportunity to hear about Christ’s love. And, as might be expected, many of the patients are curious as to why they are being helped and served with such unconditional love and are invariably touched to hear about the One who can save them.

Future Plans and Current Needs

The HHC is planning to make the ministry more self-sustained by renting some of the equipment needed by the elderly to patients at low cost. The money raised through this method could be used to help poor families who have family members in need of the care provided by HHC; furthermore, HHC plans to expand by training additional staff so that more elderly people can be served.

The HHC project is specifically in need of equipment used in geriatric care, such as walkers and other aid items. Financial support is needed as well, as the clinic plans to accommodate more patients, and therefore is seeking to train more healthcare providers.