AAA7 Hosts Home Health Aide Graduation


Those graduating from the program were: Clara E. Bell, Mary I. Farleigh, Brittany Rae Gard, Betty E. Jones, Carol E. Louden, Jennifer Moles, Christy Marie Moore, Irene C. Williams and Cheryl York.

Nine women are now ready to start making a difference in the lives of area residents following the completion of Home Health Aide/Homemaker training classes recently held in conjunction with a grant from the Ohio Department of Development.

The Home Health Aide training program was a free 75 hour course aimed at training individuals to work in the home health industry. Two such courses were recently completed this summer, and now the graduates are ready to go to work as Home Health Aides.

The ceremony was conducted in Bob Evans Farms Hall at the University of Rio Grande/ Rio Grande Community College. The university assisted AAA7 with the program by providing classroom space.

Suzanne Shelpman, acting Director of Homecare for AAA7 related to the graduates, “This is a new chapter in your lives. Not everyday will be easy, but the definition of education and work is not, ‘easy’. It’s making a difference.”

Vicky Abdella, Caregiver Support Program Supervisor and the project coordinator for the program related the graduates should have little trouble finding work. A graduate from the first class was employed within two days of class completion.

Graduates should not have trouble in finding employment, but if they need assistance the program offers this as well. Abdella will follow-up with each graduate for 90 days to assist with job placement and transition.