Meridian At Home: Personal Assistance,
Health Care, and Peace of Mind

Meridian At Home nurses monitor their patients’ daily vital signs, weight, and medication.

When John Jupin’s wife died in 2005, it soon became clear to the Manasquan man’s family that he was unable to live at home alone. John, 89, had been suffering from dementia. His wife had been handling most of the household duties as well as caring for her husband and helping him cope. When she died, John’s symptoms — confusion, forgetfulness, and erratic behavior — quickly escalated.

"My father was not able to function independently, but he wanted to stay in his own home and not go into an assisted-living facility," says John’s daughter, Jacquie Jupin- Manzi. "We had to look for a way to help him do that."

With Meridian At Home — a Meridian Health home-based service providing personal assistance and health care solutions to keep families living well and independently at home — Jacquie found the answer.

The agency provides two home health aides/companions who spend a total of five hours a day with John. The aides prepare meals and perform light housekeeping, make sure John takes his medications, accompany him on medical appointments, and keep in close contact with his family. Jacquie says the aides even discuss current events with her father, a retired journalist, and help keep him focused.

"My husband and I both work, and we have an 8-yearold daughter. We can’t be with my father all day," Jacquie says. "Meridian At Home is a very professional service that offers high-quality assistance we can count on."

Supervised by a registered nurse, our home health aides are trained, credentialed, and highly skilled workers who can help you or a loved one with the tasks of everyday living. They can schedule appointments and coordinate transportation, make meals, wash the dishes, and vacuum. Friendly and personable, they are also good company — providing easy conversation and a reassuring presence.

In addition, Meridian At Home offers several customized care solutions combining quality caregiver services and technology to promote independent living. For example, the "Lean on Me" package combines hourly home health aide/companion care with technology like an in-home monitoring device for safety and reassurance when the aides are not in the home.

"Meridian At Home offers the consistency, reliability, and flexibility we need," says Jacquie, who started using Meridian At Home's services in May. "They give us practical help with my father at home, but they also give us peace of mind because they are part of Meridian Health, which has an outstanding reputation."