'Aging in Place' program for seniors receives federal grant

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — A program that aims to help seniors in Lackawanna County stay in their homes has received a boost from the federal government.

Organizers said it will allow them to expand into Wayne County as well.

The program, called "Aging in Place," was created a few years ago by Neighborworks of NEPA.

Occupational therapists and contractors work together to make homes safer for seniors, hopefully allowing them to stay in their homes as opposed to moving to assisted living or a nursing home.

Paul and Mary Ann Bauman spent the majority of their married life in a home in Scranton's west side. When Paul's life was coming to an end earlier this year, there was nowhere else he wanted to be.

Mary Ann called Lackawanna County's Area Agency on Aging, which connected her with Neighborworks. Then a crew with the Aging in Place program came and installed a stair glider, grab bars, and a ramp. All things Paul needed to stay home.

"The idea originally was for him to be able to stay here, and he was here until the last day of his life," Mary Ann said.

There are a lot of stories like Mary Ann's in Lackawanna County.

Neighborworks has been struggling to keep up with the demand of its Aging in Place program. But, officials have just announced they've received $1 million in federal funding to help expand the program.

"That funding is going to help us to, not only double down on our investment to help seniors here in Lackawanna County, but https://en.search.wordpress.com/?src=organic&q=hospital beds it is also going to help us expand our services into Wayne County, which we're really really excited about," Neighborworks of NEPA's president & CEO Jesse Ergott said.

The program's administrator, Mary Endrusick, said its biggest problem actually helped them secure the federal grant, Aging in Place has 150 people on a waiting list.

"With the million dollars, bed hospital and I just get giddy whenever I get to say that, we'll be able to clean up that list in Lackawanna County, we'll be able to bring on more contractors, more occupational therapists," Endrusick said.

Mary Ann Bauman said the changes made for her husband Paul are now making all the difference for her.

"And I think with all the work that they did, I will now be able to stay here too, and that was the ultimate goal," she said.

Neighborworks thinks the new grant will help them make improvements in more than 200 homes in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties.

3 Types of Adult Day Care

If your loved one lives with you, but you need help that will allow you to go to work and engage in other activities, then adult day care might be the solution for you.

Adult day care centers are designed for older individuals who need help with activities of daily living or who are isolated and lonely. At the centers, seniors are able to socialize with others while receiving assistance and supervision. It’s especially beneficial for https://www.sondercare.com/blog/ those who can no longer structure their own daily activities, desire social interaction or can’t be safely left alone at home. At the same time, the centers give caregivers a break from around-the-clock care and provide peace of mind that their loved one is in good hands. There are varying levels of adult day care that cater to seniors’ specific needs.

Three Adult Day Care Options

Social Day Care

These facilities focus on enriching seniors’ lives through an engaging social community and activities that build upon each individual’s skills, knowledge and unique abilities.

Daily activities usually include:

Creative expression through arts and crafts

Musical entertainment and group sing-a-longs

Mental stimulation games like bingo

Stretching and gentle exercise like chair yoga

Discussion groups about books, films or current events

Holiday and birthday celebrations

Local outings

Nutritious meals and snacks

Besides recreational activities, some programs provide transportation to and from the center, social services like counseling and support groups for caregivers, and health support services such as blood pressure monitoring and vision screening.

Adult Day Health Care

These facilities typically use the term Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) because they provide medical services and physical, occupational, and speech therapy to seniors. They are usually staffed with an RN and other health professionals. It is common practice for the program to require a health assessment by a physician prior to admission.

ADH centers provide frail adults experiencing physical, mental or social problems associated with stroke, isolation, confusion or other conditions with the opportunity to meet new people, participate in activities and enjoy daily life in a comfortable, supervised setting.

Joint Medicare and Medicaid participants may be eligible to receive ADHC from a local Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). These programs serve individuals who are 55 or older, certified by their state as needing nursing home level care, able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment and living in a PACE service area. While all PACE participants must be certified to need nursing home care to enroll, 93 percent live in the community and get their daily care at a PACE adult day health care center.

Delivering all needed medical and supportive services, a PACE program provides the entire continuum of care and services to seniors with chronic care needs while maintaining their independence in their homes for as long as possible.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Day Care

These programs provide social and health services specifically for seniors with cognitive challenges. In this setting, activities appropriate for the participants’ functional abilities are provided in a secure environment to prevent wandering, and the staff has specialized training in dementia care.

How to Select a Care Center

First, start by considering the needs of your loved one. Are social activities important to them? Do they need assistance with walking, eating or taking medications? Is mental stimulation a priority? What are their exercise needs?

It is important to consider your own needs as well. Are you looking for general support? Some free time? Help with transportation? These questions will help you determine which of the three main types of adult day care centers (social, health-focused or specialized Alzheimer’s/dementia care) will be the best fit.

One in four seniors suffer a fall each year and nearly half of people age 65 or older sustaining a fall do not resume independent living. Connecticut's homecare experts at Assisted Living Services, Inc. (ALS) have seen firsthand the threats to personal safety that the elderly encounter on a daily basis in their own homes. During National Falls Prevention Month in September, ALS is sharing ways to create a safe environment and utilize new smart home and personal technology.

"The unfortunate reality is that some of our clients are hospitalized after a moderate to severe injury and are unable to return home," said Mario D'Aquila, MBA, COO of Assisted Living Services, Inc. in Cheshire, Fairfield and Clinton. "We work with families to prevent these accidents in the first place by providing a complimentary home safety assessment at any residence in Connecticut.

D'Aquila explains an experienced senior home care specialist uses a Quality Assurance Checklist to evaluate the living situation and identify areas of weakness, then makes recommendations such as reducing clutter and installing hand rails, to effectively lower the risk of falls. Specific technological devices from sister company Assisted Living Technologies, Inc. (ALT) may also be recommended after completion of the evaluation.

D'Aquila addresses the top causes of falls and how to prevent them:

Slips and trips can be prevented by wearing proper footwear, wiping up spills and cleaning excess messes, removing cords and hazards like scatter rugs, providing adequate lighting at nighttime and using bathroom safety devices properly.

Physical inactivity can actually lead to more falls! Participate in exercise or activities that improve balance.

Medications may have side-effects that can lead to https://www.sondercare.com/blog/ falls such as blood pressure, sedatives, diuretics, anti-depressants, and pain medications, need to be discussed with a doctor, who may be able to make adjustments or provide advice to reduce symptoms contributing to a fall.

Poor vision can be prevented by getting an eye exam, potential cataract surgery, and avoiding the use of multifocal glasses when ambulating.

Improper use of assistive equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs and others. Make sure the person is trained to properly and safely use equipment by their doctor or medical equipment specialist.

"I don't get much in Canadian pension. And the cost of everything has gone up so much," said Dixon, who would like to see an increase to the old-age program.

"I get Folger's large containers of coffee, right? They are usually $6.97. I went to Sobeys the other day and they were $14. The cost has gone up so much you can't afford to eat."

Dixon also worries about health care for seniors, especially when it comes to home care and long-term care facility wait times.

"I know people in here who should be in the hospital. They should be in a long-term care facility but they're not. They've been on waiting lists for five, six years but they're still in here," said Dixon.

"And homecare has gone down too because they don't have anyone to work. People are missing visits from homecare because there's no one to work."

Anne Rogal is a senior living in Richmond County who has been helping Fair Vote Canada do outreach by handing information out in her community. Fair Vote is an organization pushing for proportional representation in government.

"I think that the system is broken. I have been handing https://www.sondercare.com/blog/ out stuff for Fair Vote Canada in the hopes that people will ask candidates about electoral reform and get all parties on side with that issue," she said.

"But I might as well be invisible as far as candidates. Have not seen a one and if it weren’t for the odd bit of junk mail and a sign here and there, I would barely know that an election was on. I am unfortunately inclined to agree with everyone who is saying that this election was unnecessary."