Commission declares it the business of the month

The Lawrence County Commission recognized A&L Home Health Care as the county business of the month for February at its meeting Tuesday.

Located in Proctorville, A&L Home Health Care was founded in 2005 and served Lawrence and Gallia counties, and has now grown to serve two additional counties as well.

“We started out in 2005 with five people who had a desire to bring quality care to our patients,” Dawnetta Abbott, CEO and president of A&L, said. “…We started out with only non-skilled patients and then grew to serve skilled patients. We also serve physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing in these four counties.”

A physician prescribes skilled home care, where a person may need additional help. Non-skilled home care is not covered by Medicaid and is paid for by the individual client.

“We started out with five employees, and we now have more than 350 employed,” Abbott said. “And we serve more than 550 patients in the community.”

Also located in the A&L Home Health Care building, the ABBE adult education center recently began, which teaches nursing and medical courses.

“We are here to facilitate the delivery of professional health care services needed in the patient’s home setting in order to accomplish independent, functioning and good health, prevent institutionalization, facilitate early hospital discharge and to provide care and support to the terminally ill patients and their families,” A&L’s website states. “Each member of our health care team will work with you to establish a plan of care in which all disciplines involved can participate. Our agency has operational policies and procedures that will promote the objective in your plan of care.”

Along with Abbott, all of A&L’s office staff was present at the meeting.

In other action, the commission:

• Received and filed the Dog Warden Report dated Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, 2018.

• Approved a resolution clarifying the terms of retirement for Earl Fry.

• Met in executive session with Matt Capper and Peggy Reynolds regarding personnel; hire, fire, reprimand. No action was taken.

• Met in executive session with Maria Demingo regarding final contracts. No action was taken.