Community Services and Programs for the elderly Introduction Caring for the elderly is an activity that requires patience, willingness, due diligence and effective co-ordination of resources in order to optimally benefit the recipients. Community services and programs is one such avenue that caters for the elderly by providing for their mental, physical, social and emotional well-being, and by extension promotes a greater quality of life. Community services help meet the needs of the elderly and attract older people who face barriers to active living. One strong advocate of community based services and a program for the elderly is the American Association of Retired People (AARP) who relentlessly seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle for people 50 years and over. Background to the Problem No service or program that is publicly …show more content…
funded for the aging will be one hundred percent adequate, but there is no harm in doing so as effectively as the resources allow. In an effort to ascertain the extent to which these publicly funded community services fulfill the needs of the elderly in Bronx, Queens and other surrounding communities of New York, an extensive research was carried out using the interview method. Why This Research? • Are the elderly often neglected and essential services and programs are non-existent or inadequate? • Are the services and programs fulfilling the needs of the elderly? • Are service providers enabling ready access to these services and programs? • Are there gaps in available services? • Are there any improvements in the services and programs implemented since 2014? Research Questions In order to accurately investigate the extent to which publicly funded community services and programs are provided in New York, the following questions were used: • Is there adequate provision of community services and programs for the elderly in New York City? • Are the elderly motivated to procure a better quality of life through these services and programs? • Are the services and programs provided meeting the needs of the elderly? • Is there a relationship between the services and programs provided and the quality of life of the elderly? Significance of the Research The objective of this research was to determine the extent of the community services and programs that are available to the elderly in the Bronx, Queens other surrounding communities of New York City . Service providers need to make adjustments to their services and programs in order to be more effective. They need to understand the importance of motivation to the elderly which will stimulate their interests and improve their quality of life. Therefore, the researcher sought to find out if a lack of community services influenced the longevity of the aging in their delivery, thus resulting in them being limited to the needs of the elderly. The results of this research aim to inform and educate, whereby an attempt can be made to motivate service providers to become more proactive and equip themselves for the elderly. Providers can also benefit as the findings should reveal any weaknesses that may exist in the system and corrective measures be administered to prove useful to the elderly. Identification of Variables Independent variable: quality of life for the elderly Dependent variable: provision of community services and programs Intervening variables: adequacy of services and programs; motivation Supportive Literature Community services and programs are an essential aspect that involves the whole person.
It involves the mental, physical, emotional, and medical domains of the individual’s life, but due to the fact that many of these services are publicly funded, gaps exist. Cox (2007) reported that “community resources were generally perceived as inadequate. None of our participants had ready access to social workers in the office, so arranging home health care, adult day care, and other community services added to the difficulty of primary care” (p. 82). Not only are the services and programs inadequate, recent economic dilemmas and ‘recession’ has reduced public spending to meager allowances. Another sore problem is Medicare and general health care programs for the less wealthy. This was the sentiment echoed by one physician interviewed: “If you told me I had to run this place on the basis of what I get from Medicare, I would have to tell you I couldn’t do it, which is kind of sad, because they claim that they’re bankrupt and everything. Where in the hell are they spending their money? They sure ain’t giving it to
me.” The field visit to the Moshulu Montefiore Senior Centre at the corner of Gun Hill Road in Bronx and the Sunnyside Community Services Center at the corner of Queens Blvd in Queens revealed that there were services and programs available for the elderly. These included: Hot Lunch Daily Holiday Parties and Birthday Celebrations Art Classes Discussion Groups Health Education Tai Chi Modified Exercise Poetry Class Free Legal Advice Day Trips Entertainment: Games, Concerts Walkin club Computer and Technology Classes with Internet Connection among other activities. I found them to be well-rounded in light of the fact that they are publicly funded community services by the New York City Department for the Aging and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene respectively. I was quite impressed on the clean surroundings and caring staff at both centers exhibited. At Montefiore, a voluntary contribution of $2.00 was all that was required. The sore point they all pointed out was the limited availability of transportation. This was a recurring problem in others that I visited. The extent of the services at Moshulu Montefiore showed just how important the elderly were to the community. In an interview with a volunteer coordinator at the facilities she informed me that this program enables older adults to remain mentally and physically active and enhance their self esteem. According to Novak (2012), “Plonczynski (2003, p. 215) includes volunteer work and religious activities in her definition of physical activity” (p. 319). The more physically and mentally active you are the better your health and the longer you live. Also, I was informed that there will be an Open House on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm offering Demonstration Classes, Art Exhibit, Legal Forum, Health Resource Forum along with recruitment forum and lectures, educating members along with visitors on what is being offered. This was the only avenue for many elderly in the surrounding environs, and the success of the program was due largely in part to the tremendous support of the community and volunteers. “The City of New York does its part” said the cheerful co-ordinator, “but it is still not enough. We have to thank God that we do have this for our super citizens.” She expressed the desire to resurrect the Gardening Club to aid in the therapy of the elders. On the other hand other programs and services provided by Sunnyside was awe-inspiring as they had strive to break barriers which contribute and promote active living. These are: Mental Wellness where seniors are offered counseling services. Social Adult day Program in which support is being offered to those who are mentally and physically challenged, where they can me left for care during the day while family goes to work. This program also offers door to door transportation. Friendly Visits/Pet Pals. this is when a volunteer who shared the same interest of an elderly who is unable to go out, visits once per week for an hour to do mild activities ( story time, games, current affairs) with them and all to aid in taking care of the pet along with duties or task such as pet grooming and purchasing supplies. Case Management is also offered for adults 60 years old and over, in which a case manager identifies their needs of being unable to perform their daily activities, or acts on their behalf in getting them connected to programs and benefits such as Access-A-Ride, Meals on Wheels and Bill Paying Assistance etc. Benefits Counseling where those who are unable to afford certain essentials such as rent or medical are assisted by a Case Assistance Counselor who will help them to enroll into benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption and so on. Caregivers Support Network aid in giving counseling sessions to caregivers who are caring for family members 60 years old and older in helping them to cope and understand the needs of their love ones. They are also directed to the Social Adult Day Program and Home Health Aid which are means of physical help in providing care (Senior Programs). Novak (2012) noted that “centers also offer transportation, meal programs, and social activities that attract older people who face barriers to active living” (p. 327). Upon the researcher’s visit to a Jewish Center, the setting was less robust as the above mentioned centers, but nonetheless, the surroundings were clean and visible services being carried out. This center is more like an assisted living facility, but the director said this was because many of the elderly there were without close families and this environment provided them with a ‘home-like’ setting. They had: • Bingo daily • Music and Entertainment • Happy Hour • Movie Evening • Sabbath Services.
What does ‘care’ mean? Care is the provision of what is necessary for your health, welfare and protection of someone or something. However when you talk about ‘care’ in a care practice the term changes and becomes more about enabling people to meet all their needs which would refer to their social, physical, emotional, cognitive and cultural needs. The individual is central to the meaning of care in this context.
Niles, N. J. (2014). Basics of the U.S. health care system (2nd ed.). Retrieved July 14, 2016, from http://samples.jbpub.com/9781284043761/Chapter1.pdf
Despite the established health care facilities in the United States, most citizens do not have access to proper medical care. We must appreciate from the very onset that a healthy and strong nation must have a proper health care system. Such a health system should be available and affordable to all. The cost of health services is high. In fact, the ...
Barton, P.L. (2010). Understanding the U.S. health services system. (4th ed). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
spends about 15% of its gross domestic product on healthcare, thereby making it the largest sector of the economy” (Goldman, D., & McGlynn, E., 2005). “Americans are not healthier than some of the other developed nations, regardless of these extensive costs” (WHO, 2010). “Almost 40 million Americans are uninsured and about 18% of Americans under the age of 65 receive half of the recommended healthcare services” (Goldman, D., & McGlynn, E., 2005). “Though, quality of care was noted not to vary much in cities with respect to lack of insurance, poverty, penetration of managed care and availability of physicians and hospital beds” (Goldman, D., & McGlynn, E., 2005).
People’s lives are changed every day by their actions and experiences. This past summer, I participated in a community service project, an experience that opened my eyes in many ways. I was a volunteer at the County Memorial Hospital. In my time as a volunteer at the hospital, I was able to meet patients and staff members from all over the world and learn about their life experiences. Listening to all of their stories has made me truly appreciate everything which I have.
American’s health-care system is in turmoil. According to Bradley and Taylor (2013), “we spend nearly twice what other industrialized countries spend on health-care” (para.2). See figure 1;
Do you enjoy paying medical bills? Healthcare accounts for about 1/6 of the entire economy, more than any other industry. Researchers find that the spending on health care totals about $2.5 trillion which is about 17.5% of America’s gross domestic product: a measure of the value of all goods and services produced in the United States (New Health Insurance). It covers money paid to health care providers such as hospitals, outpatient centers, veterans’ affairs and other clinics, doctor and dentist practices, physical therapists, nursing homes, home health services and on-site care at places such as schools and work sites. Also included are retail sales of prescription and nonprescription drugs, premiums paid to health insurers, and revenues of makers of medical devices, surgical equipment and durable medical equipment such as eyeglasses, hearing aids and wheelchairs. It also counts out-of-pocket payments by consumers for health insurance premiums, deductibles and co-payments, along with costs not covered by insurance. Healthcare is one of the biggest economic problems Americans are facing. Medical care and health insurance expenses are impacting the lives of many Americans today. The focus problem, which once was uninsured Americans inability to pay for their medical care expenses are no longer a problem that is affecting only those who are uninsured, but is also steadily becoming a problem for those with health insurance. The problems of health care are affecting many American people: the uninsured/underinsured and insured, the unemployed and working, children and retirees, single individuals and families, men, women and small businesses. The list goes on. These problems can be solved in a dramatic reform to socialized healthcare. ...
... more prone to chronic illnesses. As for Medicaid, it needs to improve its chronic care management. Chronic care management should be made more affordable to those with chronic illnesses (Baicker, Katherine, & Amy Finkelstein, 2011). This way, the program will be more beneficial to more people. The program should also introduce, and support home and community based services. Providing care in home settings will be much cheaper than nursing homes. Moreover, Medicaid needs to come up with customized beneficiary services. Patients’ needs are not equal. Therefore, Medicaid should be flexible enough to abandon the one size fits all mentality. Anyway, that notwithstanding, we cannot ignore the fact that Medicare and Medicaid have revolutionized healthcare in the United States. Giving credit where it is due, these two programs continue to save millions of helpless lives.
Nearly every American can agree that our current health care system needs reforms. Primarily do to the fact that 45.7 million Americans are without health insurance. That's approximately 16 percent of Americans who sometimes have to do without healthcare, or face crucial financial responsibility. The main issues are admission to healthcare, and the affordability of health care. Before 1920, doctors didn't know enough about diseases to really provide useful care to sick people. Therefore the...
In addition, declining birthrates may cause people to have less familial care and support as they age. To be able to provide the necessary care for senior citizens, a government funded long term care insurance program is needed. Medicare is the federal program that provides health coverage for people who are 65 and older (Green, 2003). Although many assume that Medicare provides long-term care, these benefits are very limited and are not efficient enough to accommodate the much needed care services for older adults. For example, Medicare programs do not help pay for personal care services such as eating, dressing or using the bathroom, even though these “activities of daily life” are the most needed services for most seniors (Green, 2003).
Studies address financial barriers to providing health care services to rural patients. There a disparate amount of people who are not insured and rely on government resources to help assist them in health care finances which is difficult for health professional to have a successful practice (Stamm, Lambert, Piland, & Speck, 2007). In addition, elderly lacks access to social and health services and does not have insurance to pay for services. In this study mention how “rural elders are more likely to enter in nursing homes at earlier ages because of loneliness and depression” (p.301). Additionally, professional practicing in rural areas are pressure to service clients in the rural community due to low socioeconomic and isolated population growth which cause the practice to be difficult to provides for the community. It is important for social workers to be aware of the different challenges their client face while seeking health care services in the rural
America is a country where everyone is free to live however they like, but it is possible for some people to live a happy life, if no one is around to take care of them. Nearly three hundred million people reside in the America, and out of those three hundred million populations, senior citizens make a 12 percent of the entire population. A senior citizen is commonly known as a person who is over the age of 65 and living on retirement, or known as social security benefits (Census Bureau). Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt implied the act of Social Security in 1935, seniors are regularly provided a financial help, but seniors, along with financial help, seeks also accompany of someone who can look after them. Because of constantly growing needs of senior citizens, government as well as many non-profit organizations is working on helping seniors. Therefore I decided to research on this particular issue in my community, and I found that 64.5% of seniors are living alone in metropolitan area of Atlanta.
The lack of service delivery is a vital subject that is tackled by countless residents and government officials. Thus, distinct methods are needed to safeguard that services are delivered below the leadership of local government. The purpose if this essay is to converse about the reasons why governments commence on Alternative service delivery mechanisms. This will be accomplished by bestowing definitions of precise concepts by also considering technological improvements as Alternative service delivery methods. Furthermore, this essay will recognize alongside suitable examples, the acts played by voluntary associations and private contractors in advancing competent and effectual ability to deliver services.
Community engagement is the active participation of local residents and community groups in the decisions that affect their lives (Herefordshire Council, 2013). Therefore, community engagement should be about engaging in open communication to ensure the council understands the needs of the local community.