History

In Northern California, a homecare program began in Humboldt County during the 1980s when a community member, Catherine Krause began home visit services for the elderly.  The services, similar to parish nursing, were offered through the area’s Senior Resource Center.

Home care became Medicare certified, which caused changes.  The center could no longer support the cost and services. Sister Nancy O’Connor, CSJ offered to continue providing the home care services with the support of St. Joseph Health System.  Sharing common vision and values, Catherine was pleased with the offer.  Soon, the services were being extended as St. Joseph Homecare, part of the St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.  Sister Cecile Bertheau and Sister Marian Durand supported homecare through Mission Integration providing pastoral visits.

Concurrently further south, the Sonoma and Napa County areas both operated home care services as departments of their respective hospitals. 

During the late 1990’s, competition among home health agencies increased.  The hospitals saw the value of home health services as an expression of their mission and of the value of Dignity.  They also realized the need to find new structures to take advantage of the relationship that already existed among the SJHS ministries in order to minister more effectively.

In October 1999, St. Joseph Homecare in Humboldt and the home care services at Petaluma Valley Hospital, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Queen of the Valley Hospital united to create the St. Joseph Home Care Network.  One of their biggest supporters, Sr. Peggy Detert, CSJ, served as a board member.

Today, St. Joseph Home Care Network, Northern California has an office in each of the four communities it serves.  The persons who comprise the network are committed to the highest standards of excellence in delivering care by ministering the needs of the whole person – body, mind and spirit. They are also proud recipients of the Avatar – Exceeding Patient Expectations Award for 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The home care networks are a special part of St. Joseph Health System.  They fulfill our mission by extending the healing ministry of Jesus into the comfort and privacy of their neighbors’ homes, providing a healing environment that promotes dignity and trust.