CARE MANAGEMENT Live out of town? Want to make sure your older parent is ok? Need to know that the plan you put in place is being carried out? Other Services Provided by Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York Senior Adult Services Counseling Related Services Jewish Community Outreach There is a place you can turn to for help. SeniorOptions­Jewish Family Services’ senior adult program. As a child of an older adult, these questions and more cross your mind as your parents get older. You know they want to be independent. And, you want them to be as independent as possible. But, you also know that things can happen, and you need a way to know what’s going on. Through the use of our Care Management service, you can know how your parent is “really” doing. The basic Care Management service consists of • A monthly case aide visit with your parent • Monthly communication with you about your parent’s status • Recommendations and referrals to address developing needs as they arise • Arranging for any other JFS services needed by your parent More frequent case aide visits and communications are available as needed. SeniorOptions Care Management can help ease your concerns and help your aging parent remain in the community for as long as possible. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT Wondering whether • your mother should still drive? • your father should still live on his own? • her forgetfulness “means” anything? • his irritability is a sign of something wrong? There is a place you can turn to for help. SeniorOptions­Jewish Family Services’ senior adult program. As a child of an older adult, these questions and more cross your mind as your parents get older. You know they want independence. And, you want them to be independent. But, you also know that aging can bring with it a set of issues and problems that are difficult to handle. Through our Comprehensive Assessment service, a SeniorOptions social worker or social worker/ nurse team evaluates your parent’s physical, mental, social and living situation. After an extensive interview, SeniorOptions will provide you with a written report with recommendations so that you and your parent can make fully informed decisions and a plan for the future. However, you won’t have to make these decisions alone. A SeniorOptions staff person will sit with you to explain the report and discuss any questions or concerns you may have. This report will include: • a clinical assessment • appropriate resources and referrals • listing of available options COUNSELING Does your parent seem • to be irritable, sad, not sleeping well, eating poorly? • to be worried, anxious, fretful? • withdrawn, less confident, less social? There is a place your parent can turn to for help. SeniorOptions­Jewish Family Services’ senior adult program. Jewish Family Services’ SeniorOptions offers counseling services that help seniors sort out the various feelings and challenges that come with aging. The losses and change that accompany aging can result in feelings of depression and anxiety. Our experienced professional social work staff has the expertise to help older adults sort out their feelings and resolve their concerns. Counseling sessions can take place either at the JFS office or in the older adult’s home, depending on the individual’s need. JFS is a Medicare provider for mental health services. Medicare will pay a portion of the counseling fee; secondary insurance, the individual’s co-pay, or a combination of co-pay and community subsidy may cover the remaining portion. FAMILY CONFERENCES Concerned about changes you’re seeing in your parent? Are family members disagreeing about the next steps? Questioning what’s best for your older parent? Wondering what to expect? Want to plan but don’t know where to start? There is a place you can turn to for help. SeniorOptions­Jewish Family Services’ senior adult program. SeniorOptions, Jewish Family Services senior adult program offers Family Conferences so you can have the opportunity to discuss your concerns with a professional social worker who specializes in aging issues. By addressing the older adult’s current and long range needs, SeniorOptions’ Family Conferences help families 1. understand issues related to aging 2. develop strategies for working together to deal with change 3. gather information about appropriate services These conferences also give the children of aging parents the opportunity to ask questions and explore issues of aging in a confidential and supportive setting. SeniorOptions’ social workers understand how emotionally difficult and conflictual it can be for adult children to become involved in helping to care for their parents. Our staff helps adult children face these challenges in a positive and pro-active way. SeniorOptions social workers have the depth of experience and breadth of knowledge that enables both the adult child and the older adult to feel comfortable with the decisionmaking process. ESCORT AND TRANSPORTATION Does your parent need help? • Shopping or going to the bank? • Making doctors appointments and getting there? • Picking up prescriptions? There is a place you can turn to for help. SeniorOptions­Jewish Family Services’ senior adult program. The Escort and Transportation service offered by Jewish Family Services’ SeniorOptions programprovides one-on-one escort and transportation for shopping, doctor visits, banking and other personal errands. Our outreach worker accompanies the senior adult and assists with shopping, making future doctor appointments and coordinating other personal needs. The senior must be independently mobile; the Outreach Worker may offer an arm but may not lift or transfer anyone. This service is provided on a scheduled basis however requests made on short notice will be accommodated whenever possible. SUPPORTIVE CASE AID VISITS Have your parents' needs changed? Is your mother unable to get out as much as she used to? Does she spend more and more time alone? Are you the only one she has to talk to? There is a place you can turn to for help. SeniorOptions­Jewish Family Services’ senior adult program. Supportive Case Aide Visits offered by Jewish Family Services' SeniorOptions provides visits to homebound or socially isolated seniors. Through SeniorOptions, a worker experienced in the needs of older adults visits on a regular or as needed basis. She offers a compas-sionate ear and provides feedback and guidance that help the senior feel better and able to cope more effectively. For individuals with impaired vision, the Case Aide can also assist with monthly check writing and bill paying. The Case Aide is also available to family members to discuss specific concerns. NNORC Neighborhood Naturally-Occurring Retirement Community Project Jewish Family Services is proud to announce that we have been awarded a major grant from the New York State Office for the Aging to develop support services and programs for a Neighborhood Naturally-Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC) in the city of Albany. The NNORC project is the first of its kind in the area, and firmly establishes JFS as a leader in meeting the needs of today’s older adults. read more about this new program   PROJECT FIVE PROJECT FIVE provides safe, reliable round-trip transportation for: medical and dental appointments shopping and errands religious services (when appropriate) cultural events social get-togethers To be eligible for PROJECT FIVE transportation services, passengers must be: Jewish adults aged 60 or above able to walk independently or with a cane or walker Each round-trip ride costs $5.00. PROJECT FIVE services will soon be available in Schenectady and will become available throughout Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties in the near future. For more information on PROJECT FIVE, or to schedule a passenger interview, please call Jewish Family Services or send an e-mail to Sally Bratspis at sbratspis@jfsneny.org.