As we and our loved ones age, questions often arise. Are we in the right living environment? What kind of support do I need? What resources are out there to help me make those choices? At JFCS, we offer a range of services to help you determine the right path for you.
Our AgeWell information and referral line (I&R) is always a good place to start for questions about specific needs or resources (412-422-0400). Need to know about home delivered meals or a caregiver? I&R is for you. But maybe you have more in depth questions about where your mom is right now in her aging journey or your uncle as he is growing older. A family consultation may be the option for you. Our care coordinators will sit with you and generate recommendations for services tailored to your precise needs. Consultations can be done once or many over time. As situations change, another consultation can be helpful in taking next steps.
At times, an older adult might need help in approaching a specific task. It could be applying for their long term care benefits, medical assistance, or health insurance related issues. The older adult might not need a great deal of assistance other than that task, but can’t maneuver it on their own. Our care navigator can work with the older adult on this time limited task to help them achieve their goals. If they needed ongoing assistance with that task, we will stay with them on it until the task is complete.
An in-home assessment can also be a helpful tool in determining how an older adult is faring in the moment and what the future might look like. A home visit is the most accurate way of seeing how Dad is in his natural environment. Older adults often will “put on a happy face” at the doctor or when visiting family. But people do not feel the same need to cover issues when they are in their home. The care coordinator will meet the older adult and do a complete biopsychosocial assessment of them. We look at the medical concerns, socialization, activities of daily living, wellness, and relationships. Additionally, we do an initial screen of cognitive functioning as a baseline for the client. With all of this information in our hands, we can present the older adult and their family with a complete snapshot and recommendations for how to continue to age well.
Care management is our last but most long-lasting service that we offer. Stemming from the assessment, our care coordinators can visit with the older adult on a regular basis and help with various tasks and needs. Scheduling doctor appointments, ensuring they have transportation, arranging caregivers, advocacy, and paying bills are just some of the services care management offers. The care coordinator will also communicate with family members in order to keep everyone informed. Families can feel reassured that their older adults are able to thrive in the environment best suited for them. We can provide care management in any home or residential facility, as it is a fee-for-service program. Care management can be short term, perhaps to help get a loved one ready for a move, or long-term over years, to ensure that they are well cared for.
JFCS has been supporting older adults for over 50 years and we will continue to be here to support older adults in their changes and challenges.
Written By: Stefanie Small, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services