Community Nursing Services RN Tee Croasmun cares for patient Jerry Gerving.

Utah’s longest-running nonprofit hospice and home health care agency – Community Nursing Services (CNS) – is an award-winning organization founded in Salt Lake City in 1928. Twenty years ago, the company added a Moab branch to expand homecare options in southeast Utah.

Jerry Gerving, 74, has Parkinson’s Disease and has received weekly home visits from RN Tee Croasmun for the past four years. “They’ve treated me really good,” Gerving said. “They’re great.”

Qualifying patients can receive a wide range of services – including home visits from registered nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapy; immunizations and flu shots; respiratory services; telehealth consults; and hospice care. Additionally, Community Nursing Services’ IV pharmacy in SLC can deliver medications to Moab within 24 hours.

Providers help people manage their insulin for controlling diabetes, and can assist other patients with their catheter/colostomy care program – including learning how to change a colostomy bag and ensure there are no infections.

Community Nursing Services’ “Senior Wish” program offers comfort for hospice patients, said CNS Moab branch manager Camille Trujillo. “We ask patients ‘what is something you’ve wanted to do that you haven’t had the opportunity yet?’” Trujillo said. She recalls a female hospice patient in her 40s who received a pedicure and her hair styled – something the patient hadn’t been able to schedule while hospitalized. Red Cliffs Lodge owner Colin Fryer also donated dinner and a night’s stay at the lodge, along with breakfast the next morning for the woman and her boyfriend.

The “Honor Salute Program” is another CNS program “near and dear” to Trujillo. During home ceremonies for U.S. military veterans who are hospice patients, the veterans are given an American flag, a plaque with his or her name and length of service, and a lapel pin. The ceremony is conducted in partnership with the VFW.

Community Nursing Services RN Kelly Zunich with a newborn patient.

“It’s a powerful tribute, and most often the last public ‘thank-you’ for serving in the armed services,” Trujillo said.

This summer in Moab, Community Nursing Services plans to roll out its Huntsman at Home program to offer both palliative and hospice care at home to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. “If a patient is in a lot of pain we can manage that at home, instead of going to the ER,” said Trujillo. “In-home care increases patients’ comfort and reduces the chances of an immune-compromised person contracting an infection. “We’re trying to minimize travel time between Moab and SLC. We work closely with physicians here in Moab and oncologists from Huntsman.” Community Nursing Services was voted statewide “Best Home Health and Hospice Company in 2021 by “The Salt Lake City Weekly.” The agency’s immunizations program have won the Utah Department of Health’s Utah Silver Syringe award for multiple years for its success in immunizing Utah residents.

CNS Home Health and Hospice is located at 1030 Bowling Alley Lane, Suite 1. For more information: call 435-259-0466, or visit the web site: cns-cares.org.