Home and community based care is a range of preventive and supportive health and social services, that are provided to older individuals so that they may remain independent in their own homes and communities.
Many older individuals have needs which do not require the twenty-four hour structured setting of a long-term care facility. Often those needs can be met by periodic assistance with personal care and assistance with home management or other in-home services.
Some home and community based services are funded by federal and state tax dollars. Many organizations also offer services on a private pay basis. For a list of the many organizations in the community that provide services, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 330-746-2938 or 1-800-686-7367 for a copy of our Resource Guide.
Some of the services that may be available in your community include:
Adult Day Care programs provide services to persons with moderate physical or mental handicaps, who live alone or with family in the community. Individuals attend the program for a portion of their day, and enjoy a safe, therapeutic environment under the supervision of qualified personnel. Adult Day Care also provides respite for the care giver. Programs vary, but most offer meals, health and medical monitoring, rehabilitative therapies and assistance with mediation. Socialization and recreational activities are key components.
Chore Services provide help with household tasks such as shopping, simple household repairs and other light work for persons unable to perform these tasks for themselves in their home.
Congregate Meals Programs provide low-cost, hot, nutritious noon meals to older persons in a group setting. Persons age 60 and over are eligible to participate, their underage spouses may participate as well. Recreational and social activities are often included at the sites.
Counseling helps clients and their families cope with social, mental, emotional and sometimes medical factors affecting their total well-being.
Escort Services provide transportation and an escort to accompany older persons to assist with such tasks as grocery shopping, banking, and getting to and from medical appointments.
Friendly Visitor/ Telephone Reassurance is a program of regular visits or calls, which provide companionship and a safety check, to homebound persons with a handicap or illness.
Health Services give older adults with chronic illnesses medical services, prescription drugs and equipment to help with their special needs.
Home Delivered Meals Programs provide a nutritious meal delivered to the home of older persons who are homebound due to illness, incapacitating disability or isolation. A formal needs assessment is required for participation on home delivered meal programs.
Home Health Aide services provide in-home personal care assistance with bathing, toileting, mobility, etc., or the training of the client to perform these procedures for themselves.
Housekeeping Services include housecleaning, laundry, essential shopping, errands, and meal preparation for independent older persons living in their own homes.
Information and Referral Service is a number to call for help, assistance and referrals to agencies where further help can be attained.
Legal Services provide professionals who help older adults with legal problems related to guardianship. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, tenant/landlord, consumer, public utilities and other issues.
Personal Care Services provide basic health maintenance or personal hygiene to individuals in their own home.
Protective Services help assure that an older person's rights are not violated, and that his or her interests are protected.
Respite Services provide temporary in-home care to older individuals with physical and/ or mental conditions that require constant care. The goal is to relieve the care giver and all that person time away from their care giving role. Respite visits are usually limited in duration.
Senior Centers offer educational and recreational programs as well as social services for older persons.
Senior Companions are volunteers who provide companionship, friendship and support to older adults with special needs. Senior companions are elderly volunteers.
Support Groups assist people experiencing difficult situations through help, support and understanding from others who are going through similar experiences. Support groups are usually led by a professional facilitator.
NOTE: This is only a partial list of the services and organizations available in the community. For additional information about services, contact us at 330-746-2938 or 1-800-686-7367.
