Laura Byrne
November 2019
Laura
Byrne
,
RN
Home Based Primary Care
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
North Chicago
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

Mr. M is a homebound veteran that Ms. Laura Byrne manages in her caseload. He is bedbound and is cared for by his elderly wife. They live in an old ranch that sits on the ground that he farmed for over 50 years. They barely have money to make ends meet; they get a monthly delivery of food from the local food pantry. They are behind in their utility bills payments; they have not had hot water in their home for almost a year. The hot water tank broke and they could not afford to fix it.
More recently, their roof started leaking and caused damage inside their home. Ms. Byrne, not wanting the patient and wife to face a winter without hot water and a leaky roof, began searching for community resources to help. She was able to get the veteran in touch with CAP (Community Action Project). CAP will provide a new hot water tank and a new furnace. CAP is also going to pay their utility bills. Ms. Byrne helped the wife contact the home insurance to fix the roof. Thanks to Ms. Byrne's persistence, the veteran can remain safe and warm in his home.