From a few hours a week to several hours a day, many elderly in our community need in-home assistance. The need varies from simple companionship to help with activities of daily living, including housekeeping, shopping or medical transportation, remembering to take prescribed medication, cooking, or bathing. Also, from time to time, caregivers need assistance with providing care so that they can attend to other responsibilities.
Our Bridges to Care Manager, with more than twenty years of experience, meets with interested seniors and conducts an assessment to determine what services are needed and what services we can provide. She develops individual Care Plans for each person, collaborates with the aides and, when appropriate, Volunteers, and provides ongoing oversight for individuals and the programs as a whole.
For qualifying seniors, in-home assistance can be provided at several different levels. Nursing Aides are available to provide professional care. In addition, well trained and experienced Volunteers offer services that help.
While we provide services for more than 125 individuals on a weekly basis, the In-Home Care program has more than twenty-five individuals on the waiting list. We continue to seek funds to expand this service to our community.
Apart from the standard in-home care program, we provide respite care for families and caregivers who need occasional care providers. This program offers several different options. Funds are available on a limited basis to provide in-home care, camp tuition for children whose primary caregiver is elderly, and respite care in the Senior Centers during Council activities and support meetings.
If you know of someone in your community who could benefit from respite care, please contact the Council on Aging. Contributions to these programs are always appreciated.