Community Services for Seniors
If your home environment is one providing everything you need, want or care about; if your financial status is such that you can afford to remain in your home, then the next step is to explore all the services that are now available in most communities. I live and work in Palo Alto and know a little about what is available here for our seniors.
There are several local agencies that can provide help with personal care, companionship and transportation as well as household tasks such as light housekeeping, shopping and meal preparation.Our greying population has created a whole new profession: Geriatric Care Managers. These people assist the senior with information about resources and options as well as a care plan that will continue to monitor the older adult for changes on an ongoing basis.
Meals can be prepared and delivered to the home, groceries can be ordered by phone and delivered; in some communities a telephone service will call every day to check to the health and well being of a homebound person. Home visits can be arranged and a friendly volunteer will visit the senior in the home, sharing interests and providing light help with chores. Many hospital auxiliaries provide emergency call units so a beeper alert can be sent by the senior who falls or becomes ill and cannot get to a phone.
There are many other services that can help the senior remaining in his home to live comfortably and safely. Services such as heavy cleaning, yard work and home repair are available; low interest loans can be taken for major projects. An architect or home remodeling contractor can be found who will make modifications to the home with such things as grab bars in the bathrooms, wheelchair accessible counters, widening doors to allow for wheelchairs, ramps to allow easy access outside to access either the garden or transporation.
Many communities have day care/health centers that offer a range of socialization activities, health monitoring and therapies on a regularly scheduled basis. These programs provide an alternative to moving out of the home and offers respite to families. Lectures, exercise classes, arts and crafts; field trips - all are available to add to the quality of life of someone who might otherwise feel isolated and disconnected.