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Challenges Older Adults and Their Families Face Today

Challenges Older Adults and Their Families Face Today. Heather E. Brown. The Challenge. Transportation and home accessibility issues are being experienced by caregivers of chronically ill or disabled older adults who are wheelchair bound .

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Challenges Older Adults and Their Families Face Today

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  1. Challenges Older Adults and Their Families Face Today Heather E. Brown

  2. The Challenge Transportation and home accessibility issues are being experienced by caregivers of chronically ill or disabled older adults who are wheelchair bound. • Transportation services don’t offer attendant services • Transportation services are door to door or curb to curb • City codes prevent building ramps • Lifts are perceived as negatively impacting home’s resale value

  3. Avenues Explored Short-term • Home Healthcare and Personal Assistance/Personal Attendant • Medical Transportation • Accessibility and Assistive Technologies • Portable ramps/temporary home modifications Long-term • Home Modifications • Relocating • Assisted Living Facilities • Advocacy & Awareness

  4. Home Health Care • Short-term solution • Home Health Care services can be easily arranged • Services include assistance with wheelchairs • This service must be requested from agency • Challenges • Small fraction of population qualifies for Medicaid waivers • Possible out-of-pocket expense

  5. Medical Transportation • Short-term solution • Available transportation for medical purposes • Services offered by Logistic Care & Dart Paratransit • Challenges • Forms completed by physicians • In-person eligibility assessments • “Non-ambulatory pick up services • Only accepts Medicaid

  6. Accessibility & Assistive Technology • Short-term solution • Home Assessments are available • Costs may be involved • Expert advice • Contractor ready specifications • Challenges • Size and maneuverability • Lifts are negatively perceived • Older adults may have to take a low interest loan

  7. Home Modifications • Challenges • Ramp structure is not feasible • City won’t approve modifications • Out–of-pocket costs • Wilmington Real-estate & Housing • Habitat for Humanity –Neighborhood Revitalization Project

  8. Relocating & Costs of Long-term Care • Older adults will look toward Assisted Living Facilities as a solution • Senior Centers: • Provide support services • Deflect costs of long-term care • Offering solutions supports Aging In Place strategies • In Delaware the average annual costs to: • Maintain an individual in a Nursing Home is $72,000 • Maintain an individual in an Assisted Living Facility is about $39,000 • Support an individual’s health and independence (Senior Centers) is $12,500 (Delaware Aging Network, 2012 and Assisted LivingFacilities.org, 2012)

  9. Awareness & Advocacy • No “one-size-fits-all” solution • Challenge’s reach is much broader than WSC • Raise community awareness • Advocate for services and funding • Work with Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) will continue.

  10. Resources • Delaware Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) (2012-2013). 2012-2013 Guide To Services For Older Delawareans and Persons with Disabilities.pp12-225 • Delaware Aging Network. (2012). The Value of Dignity. Brochure. • AssitedLivingFacilities.org. (2012). Assisted Living Costs.Genworth 2012 Cost of Care Survey. • Retrieved October 2012 at: http://www.assistedlivingfacilities.org/articles/assisted-living- costs.php.

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