Twenty years ago, an accidental downstairs fall upended life for Lorraine. Zufall Health was not only central to helping her rebuild during a time of crisis but also remains a trusted partner in her health today.

The fall triggered a series of medical challenges, beginning with a hip replacement. During surgery, doctors discovered Lorraine had atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that increases stroke risk without treatment. Ten days of immobility in bed after surgery worsened her existing knee pain and made walking nearly impossible.

Lorraine was unable to return to her job as an assistant project manager, which also meant losing her health insurance. She enrolled in Medicaid, but financial strain followed, and she had to withdraw money from her retirement savings to stay afloat.

Living in Sussex County, finding a primary care provider who accepted Medicaid was another struggle. After an extensive search, she discovered Zufall Health in Dover, then the organization’s only location. The trip was more than 20 miles each way, but it offered something she couldn’t find elsewhere: reliable access to quality primary care.

Her first impression was of a space that felt busy and overwhelmed, reflecting the demand for affordable care even then. What stood out most, however, was how she was treated. Despite losing her job and income, she never felt diminished.

“I never felt less than at Zufall,” she remembers.

Zufall quickly became her home base as she worked to stabilize her health. Her primary care team coordinated heart care with an outside cardiologist, managed her thyroid condition with an endocrinologist, and oversaw multiple needs through one consistent point of care. Dental care, conveniently available in the same location, also became essential.

With her health under control, Lorraine could move forward in other areas. She secured federal disability benefits and regained a sense of purpose through part-time work.

Now 80 and enrolled in Medicare, Lorraine could go anywhere for primary care. She chooses Zufall because she hasn’t found a medical practice she trusts more. At a time when community health centers like Zufall are facing unprecedented challenges, she values being a patient who chooses the center not out of necessity, but out of loyalty—and to stay healthy for her grandchildren.

“I want to be there to see them get married, and have children of their own,” she says. “I trust Zufall to help me do that.”