Family Caring for Family: Spoon River Home Health Meeting the Needs of Rural Communities

January 2025 SBS - Hannah Chatterton

Over the past three decades, Susie Platt and her family have revolutionized home health care in rural Illinois. In the early 1990s, Susie was working as a traveling nurse in Florida, where home health care was thriving thanks to the state’s large retiree population. “My background had been Cardiac Intensive Care, but I always felt something was missing,” she recalls. “I always wondered how my patients and families did after they left the ICU.  When I found home health, it was like an answer to prayers; I loved being able to help people stay in their own homes.”

Eventually, though, the pull of home brought her back to Illinois. Susie was eager to bring her passion for home health to her small-town roots, but what she found was surprising: even larger hospitals in places like Peoria, Galesburg, and Canton typically only covered a 20-mile radius, leaving rural communities without access to essential care. It was a glaring gap, particularly for the small towns that scattered the area. With encouragement from her mother, Mary Lou, a fellow registered nurse, and guidance from a trusted mentor, Dr. James Reed, Susie and her mom—along with two other dedicated nurses—founded Spoon River Home Health (SRHH) in 1993.

From its beginnings in London Mills, the organization quickly grew as word spread about their mission to provide professional, compassionate care to patients in rural areas. Today, SRHH serves thirteen counties in West Central Illinois, offering a wide range of medical and non-medical services. The bulk of their clients are within Fulton, Knox, McDonough, Warren, Peoria, Mason, and Tazewell counties. Despite its growth, SRHH has remained true to its roots, earning a reputation as “family caring for family” while bridging the gap in health care for rural communities.

Comprehensive Services, Holistic Care

At its core, Spoon River Home Health is about meeting people where they are—both physically and emotionally. The organization offers a wide range of services to address the diverse needs of its clients. On the medical side, skilled nursing services include wound care, IV therapy, medication management, and nursing assessments. These are often complemented by therapy services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, all tailored to help patients regain independence and improve their quality of life.

For many patients, this care begins immediately after a hospital stay. They focus on preventing re-hospitalizations by catching issues early, with the nurses monitoring patients’ progress and educating them on how to manage their care at home. This approach not only improves health outcomes but also saves patients and their families the stress and cost of additional hospitalizations.

But SRHH’s care doesn’t stop at clinical services. The organization also offers non-medical support, such as personal care, housekeeping, companionship, and transportation. These services are particularly vital for elderly patients who may struggle with daily activities like bathing, cooking, or attending medical appointments. “Many times, the focus of care for the elderly is on physical needs because that is the most obvious. … What is often disregarded is the emotional and social support. Losing your independence is a very traumatic experience and can have a profound effect on the quality of life a person leads.”

Empowering Through Education

Education is another cornerstone of Spoon River Home Health’s mission. From the moment a nurse or therapist visits a patient’s home, they focus on equipping clients and their families with the knowledge and tools they need to manage their health. This might involve teaching a patient how to change a dressing, recognize the signs of a potential complication, or safely perform exercises prescribed by their therapist.

“Planning for a successful stay in the independence of your own home begins with the initial visit of your SRHH nurse or therapist.  So, keeping a client healthy and well is our number one priority, as well as remaining safely in their own home. That can look different for every patient which is why the nurse builds a careplan with client specific goals on the initial visit.”

This emphasis on empowerment extends beyond individual patients. Susie is passionate about sharing holistic wellness practices with the broader community. She regularly speaks at senior centers, Rotary clubs, and even private businesses, offering insights on natural ways to stay healthy. “It is evident that people are hungry to return to some of the age-old practices that our parents and grandparents did.”

Meeting the Needs of Rural Communities

One of SRHH’s defining strengths is its ability to adapt to the unique challenges of serving both rural and urban clients. In areas where access to specialists and other health services can mean long hours of travel, SRHH brings care directly to patients’ homes. Their emergency response systems provide an added layer of security for clients who aren’t ready for full-time care but want peace of mind in case of a fall or injury. “We understand what it is like to have to drive an hour to see a specialist.” This flexibility is particularly important for the rural communities that form the backbone of SRHH’s client base. 

“Living in the communities we serve gives us a valuable perspective.” 

A Family Caring for Families

What truly sets Spoon River Home Health apart, though, is its personal touch. From its beginnings as a mother-daughter venture, the organization has grown into a family-run business in every sense of the word. Today, Susie and her husband, Brian, manage day-to-day operations while their children and other family members contribute to the business. But it’s not just about blood relations; the staff and even patients become like family. That’s what makes Spoon River Home Health a unique and stand-out option for home health services.

Looking Ahead

As Spoon River Home Health prepares to celebrate its 32nd anniversary in February, its commitment to providing high-quality, personalized care remains as strong as ever. Whether it’s skilled nursing, therapy services, or holistic wellness education, the organization continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of its community.

Susie Platt and her team share the “same values and heart for small towns and caring for our neighbors.”

Susie encourages anyone interested to please call or email SRHH or Susie at susan@srhhs.com because “Asking questions is important. Who you have come into your home to provide your care is YOUR choice.”

In a healthcare landscape that often feels impersonal, Spoon River Home Health stands as a testament to the power of community-based care. For the people of West Central Illinois, it’s more than a convenient service—it’s a lifeline, bridging the gap between hospital and home and building a foundation for better health, one patient at a time.