Welcome to the new online home. HomeCare Matters Home Health & Hospice is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing home care and hospice services in the comfort of your own home. Here are some “quick links” to review our new website:

About HomeCare Matters – A look at our history, service area, mission, vision, and core values.

Our Services – What we offer our community and area.

Our Team – Get to know who we are at HomeCare Matters.

Volunteer Opportunites – Our success depends in large part on the generosity of our volunteers.

Learn More – How to discover more about who we are and what we have to offer.

A look of shock and surprise spread across the faces of Gregg and Judy Brinkman as their names were announced as Volunteers of the Year during the 86th annual Bucyrus Area Chamber Dinner on October 13, 2011.

Five years ago, HomeCare Matters Home Health & Hospice was blessed with these two very special volunteers who both donate a tremendous amount of time to serving their community. We got to know Gregg & Judy back in 2006 when they went through our Volunteer Training Program at HomeCare Matters Home Health & Hospice. Both Gregg and Judy provide respite opportunities for caregivers of patients as well as providing support by running errands and transporting patients to important appointments. Over the past five years, they have spent thousands of hours and miles caring for our patients and their families.

Gregg and Judy are also fundraising volunteers, donating their time to work in our HomeCare Matters Funnel Cake Stand to raise money for patients who have no means to pay for their health care. No patient is ever turned away because they cannot afford their care so fundraising is vital to help us continue to provide care to those disadvantaged patients. Judy actually is one of the managers of the stand, she works diligently all summer helping the other managers to keep the stand clean, organized, and running efficiently at the various events and festivals.

Gregg and Judy have also helped with special projects. For example, Judy is a part of a group of volunteers who make holiday cards for our patients, all the nursing home patients in Crawford County, and all the Meals-On-Wheels folks, and Gregg has baked cookies for various events we have throughout the year.

The Brinkman’s are not just an asset to HomeCare Matters; they also deliver Meals-On-Wheels and are actively involved at the Bucyrus Nazarene Church where Judy drives the church van to pick up those who don’t have transportation to church. In addition, Gregg & Judy reach out to their neighbors and others in the community – either shut-ins or those who are just struggling and in need without family in the area to help.

These two deserve to be recognized for all of their hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication. They are always here with a can-do attitude. Positive, compassionate, and full of enthusiasm, Gregg and Judy seem to have a special sense of knowing when someone needs a little extra kindness. They truly are the kind of people that make our community a great place to live!

Our Winter Staff Spotlight shines on Dr. Larry Leone.

Larry Leone, DO, is the HomeCare Matters Medical Director. Dr. Leone has been the HomeCare Matters Medical Director since 1995. He graduated from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985 and completed his internship in 1986 and his residency in 1987. As Medical Director of HomeCare Matters, he oftentimes will provide care to those hospice patients that are without a primary care physician or their physician chooses to not be involved once they become hospice appropriate. He has made himself available 24 hours a day for HomeCare Matters hospice patients. He currently resides in Galion with his wife, Beth. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, camping, traveling and most outdoor activities.

We believe that knowledge helps to build healthy lives and healthy communities. To request a speaker for your club or organization, please contact our agency with your desired presentation topic, date, time and location of your meeting. There is no charge for our speakers.

At any given time, staff, friends, and associates can speak to your group, club, or organization about the following:

• Home Health Services
• Hospice Philosophy, Benefits of Hospice Care
• Advanced Directives (Living Wills)
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Caregiving
• Stress Management
• Community Resources
• Medicare vs Medicaid
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Companioning and Caring for the Dying Person
• Grief Support
• Pain Management
• Spiritual Distress
• Related to Children
• Raising Self-Esteem
• Death & Dying
• Grief Support

“Your staff is wonderful! They were all very caring and helpful with my mother. Keep up the good work! Your services are outstanding! – Bucyrus, Ohio