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Enhanced Elder Intervention – There is help!
By Lisa Lungo
Mr. Santos (not his real name) was a 74 year old widower with no children who for many years had lived alone in a small, rented apartment. Santos had diabetes, arthritis, and was being treated for prostate cancer. John Smith (not his real name), his neighbor of many years, provided good support, particularly when Santos was feeling weak and tired from his treatments.
One day, Smith found Santos very worried and upset. There was no food in the house, and he had no money to buy any. He also needed prescriptions filled and had no money to pay for them. Smith helped him get his medications and some food for that day, but he knew Santos needed more help than he could provide. Santos agreed to let Smith call Elder Services’ Enhanced Elder Intervention (EEI) Program on his behalf.
With funding from the Berkshire United Way, the City of Pittsfield, the Northern Berkshire United Way, and the Williamstown Community Chest, Elder Services is able to offer the Enhanced Elder Intervention Program, a safety net for at-risk Berkshire seniors. Through this program, specially trained workers visit with seniors, assess their needs, and assist them in connecting with supports and programs that can help.
Santos was contacted by an Enhanced Elder Intervention Specialist. Although initially he was reluctant to discuss his financial circumstances with the specialist, he was open to accepting some help. The specialist secured food from local pantries, for which he was grateful. It took several visits for the Specialist to develop a sufficiently trusting relationship with Santos before he was willing to explain his situation.
He had a very low income and could not meet all of his expenses. Over the years, his rent had increased at a rate faster than his income. He now had more medical and medication expenses than he ever had before. He was so far behind in his utility bills that he had received a notice that his electricity was going to be turned off. And when he couldn’t purchase proper food for his diabetic diet, he became ill. Santos was a proud, independent man who was embarrassed to admit that his life was out of control, but he knew he needed help, and he was willing to allow the Specialist to help him.
Together the Specialist and Santos made a plan of action. She assisted him with applications for SSI, food stamps, and fuel assistance.
He was eligible for and began receiving all of these public benefits. She accessed a community emergency fund to pay the past due electric bill. As a SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Information Needs of Elders) counselor, she was able to review his health care and medication coverage to maximize his benefits. She made a referral for home care services through Elder Services to see if there were any in-home supports that would help him.
Today, Santos continues to live in his home. With his new public benefits, he is able to make ends meet each month. Through Elder Services, he receives grocery shopping, a personal emergency response system, and volunteer transportation to his medical appointments. He reports that he is doing well and is very grateful for all the help he received.
Some seniors like Santos need a little bit of help and guidance to help them become aware of services available. Others need much more intervention, because issues such as dementia, depression, lack of medical care, or substance abuse put their health and safety at risk. But the goal is the same - to support seniors to live safely in the community with dignity and the highest possible quality of life.
Enhanced Elder Intervention helps seniors throughout all of Berkshire County achieve this goal. For more information about the Enhanced
Elder Intervention Program, call Elder Services at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.
Lisa Lungo is Elder Services Client Services Director.