Local RN seeks grant funding to continue community service

CHELAN – For the last four of her 35 years as a practicing Registered Nurse, Michelle Jerome has served the greater Chelan Valley from Manson to Chelan Falls visiting, assisting, and educating vulnerable and older adults in their homes. The service Jerome provides is free and is funded by grants and generous donations from those who help Jerome “knit a safety net for the Lake Chelan Community” to use her words.
Jerome’s latest funding, a $23,000 grant from United Health Care, combined with community fundraising to meet minimum budgetary requirements, kicked in last August 1. The problem is, that grant comes to an end on July 31, and Jerome needs to find another one to continue her community outreach.
“I’m looking at a $30,000 budget to sustain my work, supplies and mileage” said Jerome, and the way demand is increasing “that might not be enough.”
Jerome’s fiscal sponsor is the Lake Chelan Lutheran Church. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, the church takes in the funds and disperse them.
Jerome relocated to Chelan from Bellingham four years ago “and never looked back,” she said. She came to the community with a strong background in home care, hospice, public health and mother/baby care.
“There aren’t very many of me in the health field,” said Jerome of her niche service that is part of a push to get communities more involved in the care of their residents.
“Communities are being asked to be more responsible with hospital dollars,” said Jerome. ”More and more insurance companies are seeing that hospitals don’t misapply or waste money.”
Part of the shift to greater community participation involves home visits by someone like Jerome.
“What is different about me is I am grant-funded,” said Jerome. “I can see anybody.”
Those who might benefit from Jerome’s visit includes someone who is hungry, cold, lonely or in an unsafe living situation; a recently discharged hospital patient or one with a new diagnosis needing help managing medications or someone at risk of falling in the home or in need of help with daily living chores.
“I see myself as more of a conduit,” said Jerome, who dispenses education, prevention and referral services along with her other work.
As work allows and with some pending assistance from an experienced writer, Jerome hopes to pursue some grant opportunities to meet future needs while she relies on community fundraising to fill in the gaps along the way.
Those wishing to learn more about Jerome’s services can check Facebook under Lake Chelan Community Nurse. Inquiries about donations or fundraising can contact Jerome at 509-679-9059 or email touchstonehealthchelan@gmail.com.