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A good choice to have…
By Robert P. Dean, Executive Director
Agnes is a widow in her early 80’s who suffers from heart problems and arthritis. Agnes, who is legally blind, has a history of falling. These falls occur as a result of poor vision and balance, and occasional dizziness. In February 2001, Elder Services received a call from Agnes’ daughter, who was worried about her mother. Agnes had suffered a fall at home, breaking her right arm. As a result, she would be unable to meet many of her own needs.
An Elder Services Case Manager visited Agnes at home. During the visit, Agnes and the Case Manager determined that Agnes needed help with bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping. Agnes’ Case Manager set these services up, together with Meals on Wheels, five days a week. With this support, Agnes was able to continue to live at home for the next year and a half.
Then in November 2002, Agnes fell on her front steps and broke a bone in her upper left arm near the shoulder. After returning from the Emergency Room, Agnes called her Case Manager. She said she didn’t know how she would manage if she couldn’t get more help, and she was afraid that she might have to leave her home. Her Case Manager came to visit her. As a result of her new injury, Agnes now needed help
With her personal care twice a day - in the morning, to get ready for the day - and in the evening, for bed time preparation. Agnes also needed more help with meal preparation (particularly breakfast and supper), and with cleaning and laundry.
Fortunately for Agnes, a pilot program - known as the Community Choices Program - had just begun at Elder Services and across Massachusetts. The Choices Program provides enriched services to eligible elders - like Agnes - who are at imminent risk of a nursing home placement, who need a greater level of services to continue to live at home, and who choose to live at home rather than go to a nursing home. Elder Services set up the additional services Agnes needed so that she could live where she chose to live - in her own home.
Although the Community Choices program is less than a year old, it has grown to the point where it now serves almost 400 people a month statewide. The program saves a considerable amount of money because it costs less to provide enriched services in someone’s own home than it does to pay for someone to live in a nursing home.
Despite its success, the Community Choices program faced the fate of many other elder programs and services during this past spring’s budget discussions....the possibility of a significant budget reduction or of elimination. Fortunately, elders and their advocates refused to accept this outcome and successfully advocated for the continuation of the program. As a result, Agnes and elders like her can continue to receive the services they need where they choose to live. It’s good to have a choice.