(June 12, 2012) - A Job Fair is scheduled for 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 to fill open positions at Good Neighbor Home Health Care.

The Job Fair will be at Good Neighbor's office in Baxter and is free and open to the public.

Good Neighbor is filling four types of positions: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), home health aide, homemaker and receptionist. Full-time and part-time positions are available. In all, more than 30 people may be hired.

The LPN positions require a current license but the other three positions do not require any licensing or certifications, and Good Neighbor will train those who are hired for those positions. Job Fair participants can drop off applications and discuss specific positions with Good Neighbor managers. Applications will be available at the Job Fair but can also be downloaded in advance from Good Neighbor's website (www.gnhomecare.com).

Good Neighbor offers a wide range of nursing care, including I.V. therapy, wound care, enteral feedings, medication management and care management. Home health aides provide assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming and feeding, while homemakers help with activities such as light housekeeping, laundry, preparing meals and running errands.

The need for a Job Fair is in response to Good Neighbor's recent growth throughout its service area, especially in the Deerwood-Crosby area and around Pequot Lakes, Pine River, the Gull Lake Chain and the Whitefish Chain of Lakes.

Good Neighbor, which now employs 165 people, is benefiting from a national trend toward patients electing to receive medical treatment and non-medical services at home instead of at a long-term healthcare facility. Nationally, baby boomers are responsible for a significant portion of growth in home health care as they're reaching retirement age. They tend to be educated, they have access to more information that shows the benefits of home health care, and they have more discretionary income to pay for home care.

Baby boomers and the elderly make up a substantial portion of Good Neighbor's business, but a significant part of its business includes younger clients and children. Research shows that people of all ages want to receive their care at home and not in a facility. They tend to heal faster because they're more comfortable and less stressed.

The U.S. Department of Labor says that the number of jobs in the home health care field will increase by more than 65 percent from 2010 to 2020. That includes LPNs and home health aides.

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(June 16, 2010) – The Minnesota Department of Health recently surveyed Good Neighbor Home Health Care and found it in full compliance with federal certifications regulations.

The state Department of Health periodically surveys home health care agencies like Good Neighbor if they want to be federally certified as a Medicaid and Medicare provider. Good Neighbor was one of the few agencies found to be in full compliance by the state during the past several years.

The survey involves a state Department of Health team that visits and interviews a sampling of patients to determine if the level of care is sufficient and the caregiver is qualified and follows proper procedures in caring for the patient. The survey also includes a review of the agency's personnel files, training requirements and clinical records.

"We're very proud of our nurses and aides, who provide a high level of patient care day in and day out," said Sherrie Christensen, Good Neighbor founder and president. "They work very hard to maintain their certifications and professional qualifications. This is a testament to a staff that's committed to excellence in home health care."

Based in Baxter, Good Neighbor has been serving central Minnesota for over 25 years. It provides a wide range of home health care, including medical care such as skilled and private-duty nursing, and physical and occupational therapy. Good Neighbor also offers non-medical care such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, etc. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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