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"Seniors Count" to Meet Needs of Frail Elderly
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
New program to meet critical neds of frail and vulnerable elderly; focusing on coordinating existing services and identifying and filling service gaps
See scenes from Seniors Count Kick-Off Events here!
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Easter Seals New Hampshire announced the formation of Seniors Count, a new initiative designed to meet the critical needs of frail and vulnerable elderly people. |
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Semiors Count Task Force |
| In October, 2001, Easter Seals assembled the Seniors Count Task Force, comprised of 25 representatives from the New Hampshire Division of Elderly and Adult Services, the City of Manchester, hospitals and human services agencies, and private industry. After evaluating the statistics and issues surrounding the elderly, the Task Force was able to establish that many of them are frail (due to age and declining health) and that they often live alone, having little contact with the outside world. Further study made it clear that there are significant unmet needs that present a significant problem for elders living in the greater Manchester community.
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Elizabeth Brown, Arlene
Kershaw, Ellen Cowan-Stein
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According to Arlene Kershaw, Easter Seals New Hampshire Director of Senior Services, "Many of our neighbors are 'falling through the cracks.' Almost 40 percent of Manchester's frail elderly are seriously limited in their ability to move freely and care for themselves. About 50 percent live alone -- which is a high risk factor for accidents, isolation and depression. And that number is increasing significantly." |
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Contrary to common belief, the amount of money invested in providing services to the frail elderly is remarkably low. Seniors Count Task Force member Ron Allard, retired former Senior Executive Vice President Granite State Manufacturing, "A recent United Way Annual Report in Manchester reveals that only 3 percent of the monies raised by community | philanthropy is devoted to the provision of elder services. Faced with limited support and scant resources, the frail elderly often have to make tragic choices between paying for food, medications, rent and personal care."
Existing state, city and human services agencies are not able to meet all of the needs of the frail elderly. According to Catherine Keane, Director of the New Hampshire Division of Elderly and Adult Services and also a member of the Seniors Count Task Force, "Most of the people Seniors Count wants to help have needs that go well beyond those that can be met by any single agency in the community. Many of them are very old, in poor health, and unsure of themselves in today's fast-paced world. To get the help they need, they not only have to figure out what resources are available and how to coordinate them, but also how to advocate for themselves! These are tasks that can baffle anyone, let alone a frail elderly person."
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The plan for Seniors Count is to develop a consumer-focused model of care, according to Task Force member Mary Mongan, retired former Commissioner New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, | "We don't want to duplicate any of the programs that are currently in place. Rather, we want to support them with planning and coordination of services. Our common goal for is to help frail elders get the information and support they need to remain safely in the community for as long as possible. For example, we are considering creating a network of providers trained to provide case management; and encouraging the growth of new services to fill the gaps."
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The Seniors Count Task Force has received administrative support from Easter Seals and a founding sponsorship from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "We are pleased to support the Seniors Count initiative, because it is in keeping with our mission of improving the health of the people we serve," says Gray Somers, Vice President and General Manager | for Anthem. "It is also part of our continuing commitment to and collaboration with the senior community in New Hampshire."
Seniors Count is beginning with a one-year pilot project designed to serve 100 vulnerable seniors in greater Manchester. In the pilot, protocols are being developed and the program will be tested, evaluated, and modified to ensure that Seniors Count delivers the maximum benefit as cost-effectively as possible. At the end of the pilot project, the intent is to expand the program to include additional vulnerable seniors in the Manchester area. The long-term plan is to offer Seniors Count on a state-wide and, ultimately, nationally basis.
Sponsorship opportunities for the pilot program have been identified in the areas of transportation, respite care, financial support, community education, public awareness, and more. Corporate sponsorships and private philanthropic contributions will be targeted to support Seniors Count Services and to build awareness of the plight of the frail, socially isolated elderly -- people who need a helping hand but are often invisible to the community at large. This will be achieved through a communication campaign similar to the ones that are currently helping to build a sense of national urgency about dealing with the plight of children in poverty, women with breast cancer, and people with HIV/AIDS.
For additional information on Seniors Count, contact Kathleen Crane, Senior Vice President of Development and Communications at Easter Seals New Hampshire (603) 621-3456 or Arlene Kershaw, Director of Senior Services at (603) 621-3558.
See more scenes from the Seniors Count Leadership and Provider Kick-Off events here.
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