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" Dedicated to supplying services to clients enabling them to remain as independent as possible, at home, when undergoing stress and/or hardship due to illness, disability, injury or limitations due to age." When Gladys Chetney’s mother, Anna Lewis, became too disabled to be left at home alone during the day, Gladys began searching for reliable people to assist in her mother’s care. Gladys, a widow from Malone, New York, worked full time as Finance Director for the Malone Central School District and could not be at home with her mother during the day; however, her resolve to keep her mother out of nursing home care was strong and that resolve motivated Gladys to be instrumental in starting what was to become North County Home Services. In addition to her regular job, Gladys was also Treasurer of the Tri County Council on the Aging for Franklin, Essex and Clinton Counties. William Clermont, who was the Executive Director of Alice Hyde Hospital was also a member of that Board and when Gladys mentioned the need for home health care to Mr. Clermont, he made her aware of an article he had read about starting an agency just for the purpose of home health care. Gladys then approached Stanley Rockhill of Franklin County and asked if he knew of any grants that would fund a home health care program. There was money available, but with many requirements. A training program had to be written, and because the State Health Department did not have such a program at that time, finding guidelines was a daunting task. Gladys solicited the help of Charlotte Franklin, a registered nurse whose husband, Dr. Martin Franklin, taught for the Malone Central School system. Charlotte Franklin developed the training program with some help from Gladys Chetney, who provided the rest of the information for the grant. Before anything further could be pursued, the New York State Health Department had to approve the training program. In 1980, the grant was approved with the title Home Care Registry which was actually an employment agency with training requirements. The aides were trained and assigned to people in need. They worked out their own pay schedule and hours and the agency ran that way for about a year until it was time to rewrite the grant. Because the program was technically a County program, the legislators insisted that it become insured which was a financial impossibility. The program continued on its own with Dorothy LeFleur working as Director with no salary. |
North Country Home Services Executive Director, Rebecca Leahy, speaks with Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward at