Minnesota agencies launch efforts to vaccinate homebound seniors

“It’s no easy task,” said Darla Groshens, a registered nurse with Hennepin Healthcare who helped launch the home vaccine program. “When you go into people’s homes, you can encounter all kinds of problems — lack of food or people not taking care of themselves — that require immediate attention. The reality is it’s really labor-intensive.”

While the work is challenging, Groshens described vaccinating seniors in their homes as “one of the most fulfilling experiences” of her 28-year career as a nurse. Some of the homebound seniors she sees have been living with anxiety for the past year and have broken out in tears of joy and relief after getting their shots.