Hospice, Social Services and Nursing Homes Provide Services for Elders (USA)

Hospice, Social Services and nursing homes provide services for elders

By Callie Jones, Journal-Advocate staff writer

10/21/2010

Adult protective services, hospice and nursing homes were among the topics discussed at a presentation at Northeastern Junior College on Tuesday, part of the “Takes More Than Love” series.

NJC and Sterling Federal Credit Union are sponsoring the series, which wraps up next week with a presentation on “Social and Recreational Opportunities.”

This week, Betty Zimmerman, supervisor for Logan County Social Services Adult Protective Services program, spoke about the program for at-risk adults.

An at-risk adult is someone who is: Unable to protect themselves; unable to perform or arrange for services that will help them protect their health and safety; and/or lacks sufficient understanding or lacks the capacity to make or communicate decisions that keep them safe and healthy.

If someone has a concern about someone else they can call Social Services and ask them to assess that person to see if they need some help.

To avoid financial abuse:

• Watch out for people who are eager to manage or take control of your finances;
• Don’t sign documents giving control of your finances to someone else without checking with a family member or someone you trust;
• Don’t commit large summons of money to anyone without talking to someone else first;
• Make sure that friends and relatives check on you frequently to make sure you’re okay;
• Don’t allow yourself to be isolated from friends, family or other people in your community;
• Consider direct deposits for any of your monthly income;
• Have your bank statements sent to you and someone else so they can check for unusual activity;
• Always have someone review documents you don’t understand when you’re asked to sign something.
When Social Services gets a referral they will contact the adult that was reported and ask them questions to see if that person understands what’s going on. If they don’t understand what’s going on then Social Services will probably contact a trusted family member and explain the situation. 


Abridged
SOURCE:    The Journal Advocate










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