Supportive and Preventive Services
Nurses are challenged to help older adults maintain independence. Supportive and preventive services support independent individuals in maintaining their self-care capacity so that they can avoid physical, emotional, social, and spiritual problems.
Financial Services
Director office of the Social Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, Wartime Veterans, Banks, social services agencies, religious org. The Social Security Administration may be able to help older persons obtain retirement income, disability benefits, supplemental security income, and Medicare or other health insurances. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide financial aid to older veterans and their families. Pension checks can be deposited directly into checking accounts.
Employment
Nurses can refer them to employment services.
Nutrition
The departments of social services can supply information about and applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help older persons purchase food within the constraints of their budget.
Housing
Local social service agencies and departments of housing and community development can assist older persons in locating adequate housing.
Health Care
Health services for older adults are provided by health departments, HMOs, private practitioners, and hospital outpatient services. In addition to health services, these providers may help older adults obtain transportation and financial assistance for their health care.
Social support & activities
Churches, synagogues, mosques, Bureau of recreation and other groups may also sponsor clubs and activities expressly for senior citizens. AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) can provide valuable information on services that keep older persons active and independent, ranging from creative leisure endeavors at home to discount travel opportunities.
Counseling
Financial problems, the need to locate new housing, strained family relationships, widowhood, adjustment to a chronic illness, and retirement.
Consume Affairs (Better Business Bureau)
Get-rich-quick schemes before investing their funds.
Legal and Tax Services
Competent legal assistance, Bar Association, Internal Revenue Services can help older people prepare federal tax returns.
Transportation
Older persons often receive discounts for bus, taxicab, subway, and train services. American Red Cross may be able to direct persons to services accommodating wheelchairs and other special needs.
Education
Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
A Medical Emergency Response System, is a small battery-operated transmitter device a person wears (around the neck, on a belt or wristband, or in a pocket) that can be used to signal for help by pressing a button.
Shopping at home
Persons who are homebound, who are geographically isolated from services, or who have busy schedules may find it useful to shop at home through mail-order catalogs, home-shopping services on television. Internet shopping reduces the inconveniences and risks associated with traveling to a shopping district, maneuvering in stores, handling large sums of money in public, and carrying packages. Many libraries have a service in which books and tapes can be borrowed by mail.
Volunteer work
Nurses can also encourage older adults to participate in volunteer activities. American Red Cross, Service Corps of Retired Executives, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, a sense of self-worth.
Assistance with Chores
Social service agencies, health departments, private homemaker agencies, and faith communities have services for older persons that help them remain in their homes and maintain independence.
Home-Delivered Meals
Persons unable to shop and prepare meals independently may benefit from having meals delivered to their homes. Wheels is the most popularly known program for home delivery of meals. If Meals on Wheels is unavailable, departments of social services, health departments, and commissions or offices on aging should be consulted for alternative programs.
Home monitoring
Home monitoring systems, Two-way audio and video devices allow patients to interact with their providers from their homes. Devices can be used to signal patients when to take medications and perform other tasks. Medication administration systems exist whereby family members and caregivers in another location can be informed if a patient has not taken drugs as scheduled.
Telephone Reassurance
Daily telephone call–usually at a mutually agreed on time to provide them with social contact and ensure that they are safe and well.
Home Health Care
Medicare is limited to skilled home care: 1. Be homebound 2. Have services ordered by a primary care provider 3. Rehabilitative services 4. Need intermittent.
Foster Care & Group Homes
Require supervision to protect them from harm.
Adult Day Services
These centers provide health and social services to persons with moderate physical or mental disabilities and give respite to their caregivers. Although the primary focus is social and recreational, there usually is some health component to these programs, such as health screening, supervision of medication administration, and monitoring of health conditions.
Day Treatment and Day Hospital programs
Day treatment and day hospital programs offer social and health services with a primary focus on the latter. Assistance is provided with self-care activities (e.g., bathing and feeding) and therapeutic needs.
Assisted Living
The housing unit is adjusted to meet the needs of older or disabled persons (e.g., wide doorways, low cabinets, grab bars in bathroom, and call-for-help light). Also known as residential care facilities.
