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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information State Home Care Program helps older adults remain independent
Helen Johnson was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. After spending vacations at her sister’s summer home in Becket, she and her husband relocated to Pittsfield. Helen’s eyesight had been steadily deteriorating since 1969 when she had surgery for a brain tumor. When Helen’s husband died 25 years ago, she knew that she needed a smaller home and moved into Berkshiretown, a senior housing complex. Johnson recalls, “I knew I needed some help, but didn’t know who to call. A friend suggested Elder Services; I’ve been a client ever since.”
Johnson has been receiving Home Care services since 1980. Throughout the years, her services have been adjusted as her situation has changed. Currently, she receives assistance with cleaning, laundry, home delivered meals, volunteer transportation, and has a home health aide once a week.
“The services have been wonderful. I don’t know what I would have done without them.” Johnson states. “The workers are courteous, caring and cheerful. I call Pauline, who brings my meal everyday, ‘Sunshine,’ because she is so nice. I am so grateful to Elder Services for helping me remain in my own home. It’s the place that I am happiest.”
Elder Services' Home Care Program assists elders to remain in their own homes with independence and dignity. Working in this program are 15 Client Services Coordinators, two Client Services Supervisors, a Client Services Manager and a Client Services Director. Over 1,000 elders a month received Home Care services
The process of receiving home care services begins with a referral. Referrals come from a variety of sources — hospitals, doctors, family, friends, and elders themselves. Once a referral is received, it is assigned to a Client Services Coordinator, who calls the elder within 24 hours to let him or her know that a referral has been made and to insure that the elder is interested in a visit. On the first visit an assessment of the applicant’s health, living situation, and unmet needs is done to determine eligibility. Eligibility for Home Care services is based upon three criteria: an elder must be age 60 or over, have a critical unmet need such as personal care, meal preparation, or grocery shopping, and be income-eligible.
Once an elder is determined to be eligible and has worked with the Client Services Coordinator to design a personalized service plan, the Client Services Coordinator meets with his or her supervisor and a nurse from the Health Services Department to discuss the needs of the elder and the plan that has been devised. For example, one State Home Care client might need assistance with cleaning, laundry, and personal care for a total of three hours a week, while someone else might need home-delivered meals, assistance with cleaning and laundry and a personal emergency response system. An elder’s particular physical limitations and level of care he or she needs will largely determine the program into which the person is placed. Client Services Coordinators meet with the elder every three months to reassess needs.
At the time of initial assessment, if an elder is found to be ineligible for State Home Care services, he or she could still receive Meals on Wheels, or could still benefit from the expertise of a Client Services Coordinator for up to six months through the Elder Care Advisor program. During this time, the Client Services Coordinator can provide information on other community services and assist in the arrangement of those services as appropriate.
Elder Services can also help elders who need only a small amount of service to remain independent. Rose Gillis lived in Lynn, MA until 1998 when she moved to a Berkshire retirement community. Her son was living in the area and wanted his mother to be close to him. Mrs. Gillis states, “I just love living here. It’s wonderful, we go on trips, the people here are like family, and the food is excellent. The only thing that I have a problem with is remembering to take my medications on time. Elder Services helps me with this by sending in a nurse weekly to set up my medications and a home health aide daily to remind me when to take them. I feel so much better since I’ve been taking my pills the way I’m supposed to, and my nurse Jim makes sure that I do this.”
The limited service package that Gillis receives from Elder Services is not typical of State Home Care, but is an example of Elder Services’ ability to design individualized service plans to meet the specific needs of each elder. Since Gillis lives in a retirement community, many of her needs are met through her housing arrangement, however, medication set-up and monitoring and are not provided, and without these services she would not be able to remain there. Gillis adds, “I’m so grateful for the help that I receive from Elder Services. The people who come in are just great, and they help me so much.”
For more information about Home Care services, contact Elder Services at 413-499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.