It’s been said that the act of asking for help and openly receiving it is one of the hardest things to do, yet this act is so essential to our well-being in life.  Just think for a moment how many times you have helped someone, and you know that without your help, the result would have been, at best, bad, and, at worst, disastrous for that person.  You should feel humbled and thankful that your contribution at the moment, whether emotionally, financially, or physically, aided in such a favorable outcome. 

However, what if you hadn’t known about this person’s need?  What if no one asked for your help?  How would you feel, knowing that your friends or family suffered because they didn’t have your help?  And you failed to help them, not because you withheld your assistance, but because they wouldn’t ask for it, thus,  you had no idea that they needed you. 

Some feel that to ask for help is a sign of weakness, as though needing help communicates inferiority to others.  Others may not ask for help when they need it because they have no way to return the favor.  In the American South, we have successfully elevated the idea of the self-made person to the point that we now boast, “I got this,” in the face of terminal illness, emotional breakdown, spiritual trial, and a host of other personal hardships, all the while reluctant to ask for a little help.  Some will say, “I take it to the Lord in prayer.” And to that, I reply, ‘Hallelujah, of course, you should make your requests known to God.”  However, don’t forget that God instructs us to share our burdens (needs) with each other. 

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We all need a little help, and sometimes a lot, now and then.  It requires humility to ask for help, and no one likes feeling vulnerable.  And yet, we are all very vulnerable, living in great need every day.  We need God to grant us our next breath.  I will have whatever financial means God grants me to have.  If I have a need, He will provide.  If I have plenty, it’s because He gave it.  He superintends it all and designs both want and plenty for my good and His glory. 

I guess Job did have the best perspective on the matter.  He said, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  However, there are times when “we have not, because we ask not.”  And it’s in those times that I really what to encourage us to reach out to those around us.  And when we are in need, and someone comes along and offers to help, consider this:  “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father…” (James 1:17 NLT) That means when help comes, and it makes a difference, then it came from above. 

So, if your friend has the means to help, and you know they would want to help, then allow them the joy of being God’s ambassador of grace.  And in due time, you, too, will get the opportunity to serve God and love your friend in a similar way.  Because remember, we need each other.  That’s why God us placed in families, among friends, and at work together, as we work at HealthKeeperz.  People need us every day, and we need them—and God strengthens us for both. 

Helping us help each other is how we will care for all people for the glory of God.

Yours in Christ,
Chaplain James Chavis
 

HealthKeeperz is opening two new offices this summer, serving the rural communities of Robeson and Hertford Counties through the state of North Carolina’s Community Alternatives Program (CAP), a service of NC Medicaid.
 
The offices, located in Lumberton and Ahoskie, will serve hundreds of patients with integrated case management services to ensure patients are safe and receive quality home healthcare and medical equipment as needed. To meet patient needs in accordance with the company’s high standards of care excellence, HealthKeeperz has added 18 new case manager positions—three in Ahoskie and 15 in Lumberton.
 
The Community Alternatives Program is a wonderful alternative for many North Carolinians seeking to avoid placement in nursing homes. HealthKeeperz is dedicated to using the CAP program to help seniors maintain their dignity, lead more active lifestyles, and enjoy the safety and comfort of their own homes.
 
The state of North Carolina designates one case management entity per county, and each agency works with local hospitals and care providers to identify eligible patients. In administering the CAP program across seven North Carolina counties, case managers, who are social workers, work within NC Medicaid-specified budgets to ensure that patients are safe and are receiving services they need.
 
With the addition of the two new offices, the geographic footprint of the company’s CAP offices and the number of social workers serving hundreds of patients on an ongoing basis are truly impressive. Here’s a breakdown of the company’s current impact on North Carolina’s rural, aging population:
 

• Robeson County: 15 case managers serving over 500 patients.
• Hertford County: three case managers serving over 125 patients.
• Northeastern NC (Serving Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden, and Currituck Counties): three case managers serving nearly 100 patients.
• Scotland County: five case managers serving nearly 150 patients.
• Anson County: three case managers serving nearly 80 patients.
• Alexander County: three case managers serving nearly 100 patients.

 
 
According to HealthKeeperz President Tim Brooks, the CAP program has grown from a small part of what HealthKeeperz does to a key element of company’s business.  “Over the last four years, CAP has become central to our business at HealthKeeperz,” he explained. “We are always looking for opportunities to be the agency of choice for the home health needs of rural North Carolinians.”
 
CAP case managers usually follow a routine with patients, with face-to-face visits complemented by phone calls with each patient. If the patient has a new need for medical equipment, healthcare, or even personal care, the case manager will source the appropriate solution within budget. The program even allows for services like adult day care, as well as home improvements like adding wheelchair-accessible ramps. Each case manager builds great relationships with patients and their families, and the relationships can often last for years.
 
For Brooks, serving rural communities is not only a point of pride, but central to the company’s mission to care for all for the glory of God. “A few years ago, the state was looking for a provider for the four northeastern NC counties,” he said. “We responded to NC Medicaid’s request for proposals, and I later found out we were the only agency statewide that responded. I had to put my faith in God that this would work for our business.”
 
“But we tend to do really well in rural areas,” Brooks continued. “God’s hand is on this work, and our Barnabas Culture has now extended to areas of the state quite far from our headquarters. Going rural doesn’t scare us, but our main concern is replicating our culture. Early on, we went up to Elizabeth City to meet with the newly-hired case managers, and we asked them if they could build our culture in northeastern NC.  Each of them took this challenge to heart, and I’m convinced they are as close to the heart of HealthKeeperz as any office we have. Validation of my feelings here happened, as Hortensia Ray Alston-Hayes was nominated for a Barnabas Award last year by her Elizabeth City teammates, and she went on to win the Super Barnabas Award for 2018.”
 
HealthKeeperz is excited by the possibilities of impacting lives of more patients in Hertford and Robeson Counties, all for God’s glory. “These opportunities are where the sovereignty of God has placed us to do well,” explained Brooks. “Our company is from a rural area, and we understand what it’s like to live in these places of high poverty and what that means to people. Even though many of the places where we work are poor, they often have the greatest needs. We, in turn, can do great work, build our Barnabas Culture to care for those at HealthKeeperz who do this hard work every day, and be a God-honoring company in all that we do. Profits aren’t enough—we have to constantly expand what we do, how we care for others for the glory of God as we develop our people and grow our revenues.”
 
For more information on the Community Alternatives Program where you live, contact HealthKeeperz today.