Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg has opened its new home health division, Senior Independence, offering home and community-based services to older adults in Lynchburg and central Virginia.

Located at 2025 Tate Springs Road, Senior Independence offers home health programs to help older adults remain independent in their homes.

"We successfully completed our initial state survey and are ready to provide services," said Kelly Riley, R.N., Home Health Administrator for Westminster Canterbury. "Our primary goal is to meet the health care needs of clients where they reside."

Senior Independence is an affordable, comprehensive program that offers seniors the help they require and the confidence they need to stay at home. Westminster Canterbury's new division offers a wide range of services, including skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapies, IV therapy, wound care and feeding tubes, among others. Senior Independence also provides home health aides, homemakers, companions or personal aides. Payment is private pay or through insurance, depending on the service.

Home health is a natural extension of the continuing care industry, said Kelly. "Home healthcare offers a means for qualifying clients to live in their own environment and avoid premature healthcare admissions," she said, noting that home healthcare is considered one of the most efficient and effective ways to manage chronic illnesses.

"Home healthcare not only helps patients avoid higher cost services such as acute-care emergency department visits, but also shortens hospital stays and can help reduce the number of physician visits."

The new home health division is the result of a strategic partnership between Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg and Senior Independence, a division of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services. Westminster Canterbury owns and operates the home and community-based services program with ongoing technical support from Senior Independence.