“It was pretty evident that my father-in-law wasn’t taking care of himself,” recalled Susan Ward. “We didn’t know what doctors he was going to or not, and what they were saying.”

After spending a week caring for her father-in-law, Susan quickly realized how bad the situation had become. “I started to call different agencies to see what could be done,” she said.

Susan’s frantic phone calls eventually led her to Vikki Dargenio and her medical case management company, A Nurse in the Family. “Vikki really came right at the nick of time,” Susan said. “When we hired Vikki, she knew immediately what needed to be done, and she was able to talk to the doctors and get the right care for Frank.”

Vikki started accompanying Frank to all his doctor’s appointments, helping to eliminate any confusion and ensure that he always had an advocate present. “When I take a patient on, I really become part of their family,” Vikki explained. “I am the quarterback of the healthcare team and my goals are to keep people at home and make sure they get the medical care they need.”

After caring for four of her own family members, Vikki realized that every patient needs an advocate, especially senior patients who are often referred to multiple specialists with limited explanations. “Dr. John Sabatini actually recommended that I start this business after seeing what I had done for my family. He told me that it was amazing and that there was really a need for this,” Vikki recalled.

As a registered nurse with a background in long-term care, Vikki is uniquely positioned to help ailing seniors receive better medical care and remain in their homes longer. Since the initial recommendation that started her business, she has had several medical professionals acknowledge the importance of her services.

“It is very helpful that you come to these appointments. And on top of that, I can tell you really care,” Dr. Daniel LeBovic, a hematologist, told Vikki during one of her many visits to his office with a patient.

For Frank and his family, Vikki’s care and compassion changed everything. The family no longer had to worry about whether Frank was receiving the best possible medical treatment or if he was correctly following the doctor’s orders. By managing all of Frank’s medical appointments and helping the in-home companion caregivers better serve his needs, Vikki made it possible for Frank to continue living at home until he passed away in May of 2012.

“Frank remained in his home, and Vikki was with him until the very end,” Susan remembered. “She was very competent and always knew what needed to be done. She was there whenever we needed her, and she was so good to him.”

O’Neill founded the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging and was its director for 37 years. In this position, she aided seniors through planned and community services, such as senior centers and individual counseling and assistance. At 77, O’Neill is a freelance writer and a proud member of Friends Life Care at Home.

“Friends Life Care at Home has that added quality that long-term care insurance doesn’t have, the OnCallT care coordinator,” explains O’Neill. Though she has four grandchildren and family who frequently visit her, O’Neill wanted a professional to help manage her home care should she be in need. A characteristically independent person, O’Neill admits to feeling uncomfortable receiving help from others. Living in her own home, however, makes receiving needed help significantly easier for her.

“My goal all my working years was to keep people independent in their homes. I wanted to follow my own mission,” says O’Neill. She joined Friends Life Care at Home six years ago and has had the experience of it being there for her when needed. Being a member helps her achieve her goal of living in her own home indefinitely. “My home has memories, pictures, and keepsakes; it means so much more to me than just a house.”

Living at home also allows her the opportunity to pursue other interests. O’Neill has recently promoted a new idea for community dining. It is called ‘Y-Dine-Alone?’ She convinced an area restaurant to offer an evening where people who want to “eat out,” but are reluctant to go alone, may have the opportunity to dine with others in the same position. To help attract participants and local restaurants, O’Neill had a Web site developed, www.y-dine-alone.com, and she provides it with fresh content.

O’Neill has remained an active and vibrant woman who exudes compassion and intelligence. She fulfills her personal interests by continuing to write and by helping people from different walks of life, and she is pleased to have Friends Life Care at Home available to her at just a phone call away.