Tama County Public Health & Home Care is more than a department–we are a lifeline for our community. Today, some people are asking whether Home Health should continue in Tama County due to our budget. But they have not talked with us, learned what we do, what revenue we bring into the county, or seen the people who depend on these services every single day.

Every week, our staff visits 118-134 patients in their homes. Almost half of them are Veterans who once protected us–and now depend on us to help them stay safe and healthy. Last year, our team completed thousands of nursing, aide, and homemaker visits. These are not optional services. They are essential care for people who cannot go without it.

Because Tama County has no hospital, our role is even bigger. Without Home Health, many people would have no one to check their blood pressure, help them recover after surgery, manage their medication, or make sure they are safe at home.

Home Health also supports important programs that reach families, older adults, and children across the county. These include Foot Care Clinics, Maternal Health and Child Wellness Program, SKIP (Supporting Kids in Prevention), Community Outreach, and more. Each year, these programs serve thousands of local residents. If Home Health disappears, many of these programs will disappear with it.

Across Iowa, hospitals and healthcare agencies are reducing services, and many are no longer able — or willing — to serve rural areas. Patients are often sent home after long hospital stays without even receiving basic support, such as help with bathing or ensuring they have safe, reliable care waiting for them at home. As these gaps grow, more residents are turning to us because we remain the safety net for Tama County.

If Home Health services are removed, many residents — especially elderly people and Veterans — would lose access to basic care they depend on. Some may even be forced to leave the communities they love simply to access the most basic help. The impact would be immediate, and it would be felt by families across the county.

We have served Tama County since 1966. We know our people. We help them stay in their own homes — the place where they feel safe, comfortable, and connected.

Removing Home Health would not just “change a program.” It would harm Veterans, older adults, parents, and children. It would take away care that people have earned and depend on. It would weaken the health and future of Tama County.

Our message is simple: Home Health is not a luxury. It is a lifeline. And our county cannot afford to lose it.

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Stacy Koeppen is the CEO/Executive Director of

Tama County Public Health and Home Care.