Staff Writer
Do you know an older adult who needs help at home but doesn't know where to turn? Perhaps someone in your family is considering an alternative living situation or wants to remain independent, even though he or she needs some assistance with daily living.
A program at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany can help resolve those issues for the elderly and their caregivers.
It's called Choices, a program for older adults in Albany and Rensselaer counties that assists them in maintaining their independence for as long as possible.
Serving elderly
A team of social workers at Choices provides a wide range of community services designed to enhance the health, safety, independence, financial security and quality of life for those who need it.
"Our job is to be aware of the needs in the community," said Jane Sanders, one of the social workers. "We are available for individuals and families."
Some of the services offered include housekeeping; grocery shopping and delivery; mobile meals; transportation; speech, hearing, physical and occupational therapy; home visits by doctors and nurses when needed; home health nursing; and personal aides, visiting companions and LIFELINE, an emergency alert system. In addition, Choices personnel refer clients to legal and financial assistance, counseling, adult day care, and independent and alternative housing.
Staying free
Choices directly supports the independence of the individual, allowing the client to remain "in charge" of his or her own daily life and decisions.
What Choices offers depends upon the individual needs of the clients. An example might be an 81-year old woman who falls in her home and breaks her shoulder. While in the hospital, her doctor determines that she is unable to live alone due to other medical problems and her incapacity to care for herself while her shoulder heals.
"This is where Choices would be called in," said Ms. Sanders. Choices would determine that she might need the services of a home health aide two or three times a week. She also might need transportation services to and from the doctor for checkups. Additionally, the woman might need someone to spend the night so she doesn't forget to take her medication. Through phone calls, networking, and continued case management, Choices would set up and follow through on the services.
Fitting the person
Basically, Choices will provide the type and level of care that the individual needs.
"We may contract with a person for only one month or for an extended amount of time," said Ms. Sanders. "It depends upon the needs of the individual. Every person is unique with their own particular situation."
Choices also provides services to caregivers and family members as the need arises because "it is important to us that family members feel assured that their loved one is getting the care he or she needs.
"Family members call us all the time with concerns about their mother or dad, or loved one. Often, they are frustrated because they don't have answers to their questions," Ms. Sanders explained. "We deal with people on all levels of wellness, from those suffering from dementia and physical disabilities to those that just need a little assistance. That's what we are here for."
(Because Choices participates in the Mercy Healthcare Benefits program at St. Peter's Hospital, it offers some free and discounted services for eligible persons. They work with Medicare and offer a sliding fee scale for clients. They also offer free telephone consultation, including information and referral for individuals attempting to access services. For further information, call 525-1364.)