Independent Home Health opens in Bellefonte
Employees of Bellefonte Borough, Independent Home Health co-founders Shaya Isaacson and Levi Rabinowitz, and staff from IHH’s new office at 20 West High Street, Bellefonte, gathered outside for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, celebrating the office’s official opening. HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Scenes from the ribbon cutting ceremony for Independent Home Health, in Bellefonte, are seen.
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Scenes from the ribbon cutting ceremony for Independent Home Health, in Bellefonte, are seen.
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Scenes from the ribbon cutting ceremony for Independent Home Health, in Bellefonte, are seen.
Employees of Bellefonte Borough, Independent Home Health co-founders Shaya Isaacson and Levi Rabinowitz, and staff from IHH’s new office at 20 West High Street, Bellefonte, gathered outside for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, celebrating the office’s official opening. HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Scenes from the ribbon cutting ceremony for Independent Home Health, in Bellefonte, are seen.
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Scenes from the ribbon cutting ceremony for Independent Home Health, in Bellefonte, are seen.
HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Scenes from the ribbon cutting ceremony for Independent Home Health, in Bellefonte, are seen.
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BELLEFONTE -- Independent Home Health, a growing provider of in-home care services across Pennsylvania, has opened a new office in Bellefonte, marking a major step in its mission to bring comprehensive home health services to seniors in rural communities too often overlooked by the industry.
Founded with the goal of empowering seniors to live independently with dignity, Independent Home Health (IHH) launched in Milton, Northumberland County, and has since expanded to communities around North Central Pennsylvania.
Before co-founding IHH with his business partner, Shaya Isaacson, Levi Rabinowitz worked as an admissions director in a nursing home.
"I literally used to tell people, 'Don't come here,'" said Rabinowitz, who was appalled by the facility. "The place wasn't fit for a dog."
That experience, he said, opened his eyes to the urgent need for compassionate, dignified, high-quality home health care that empowers seniors to live independent and fulfilling lives -- particularly in rural communities, where large corporate providers are often disincentivized to operate due to lower population density and logistical challenges.
"What happens is, big cities have a lot of access to home care, and rural areas are disregarded by providers for being inaccessible," said Rabinowitz. "The big insurance providers -- they have 1.4 million people in Philly. Places like Forksville, Pennsylvania, or Snow Shoe aren't even on their radar. That's one block in Philly to them. But that town is important, and there are people there who still need services."
This imbalance, he said, has created a "huge gap" in care for small towns and other rural communities.
"Over the past few years, we've really found the right recipe to get people living in rural communities -- who for a long time have struggled with care -- finally getting care in their home," he said. "We feel like we are on the forefront of really making a difference in a lot of people's lives."
Through IHH, caregivers -- who are often family members or local community residents -- travel to clients' homes to provide a wide range of services, including mobility support, meal preparation and feeding, medication organization and pickup, emotional support and companionship. The ultimate goal, Rabinowitz said, is to keep clients healthy, safe and independent -- avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations or transitions into more intensive care settings.
"If somebody has consistent care, and no lapses in it, their chances of going to the hospital drastically decreases," he explained, adding that retaining skilled caregivers is essential to providing the continuity of care that leads to better outcomes for clients.
For that reason, he says, IHH places a strong emphasis on caregiver retention -- treating caregivers with respect, making sure they feel heard and ensuring they know they're valued.
Sometimes, he says, this means thinking outside the box. Through initiatives like personalized birthday cards, Caregiver Appreciation Days, benefits such as paid phone bills and offering higher-than-average pay, IHH strives to keep its caregivers engaged, motivated and passionate about their work.
"What that's led to is continuity of care, which means that caregivers end up staying with the people they are serving," Rabinowitz said. "This, in turn, directly improves the quality of care our clients receive."
IHH also works with county agencies and local organizations to identify and support those in need of care. The company has partnered with Offices of Aging, Veterans Affairs and community groups such as local churches to reach underserved populations -- especially veterans, who Rabinowitz noted are a significant part of their client base in rural areas.
With its new Bellefonte location, Independent Home Health continues its mission of expanding high-quality home care to communities often overlooked by larger providers. For more information, visit www.homehealthindependent.com or call 570-726-1920.