From the “Community Challenge” series, editorial page, The Courier-Journal, by Deborah Moessner, President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and Honorary Chair of ElderServe’s 2008 Champion for the Aging Award Luncheon.
May 5, 2008
Helping the elderly helps all of us
My mother just turned 90. She lives in her own condo in a Florida senior citizen community where she has plenty of companionship, a strong support network and access to excellent care. She is one of the fortunate ones. Many elderly Americans are not so fortunate. They subsist on meager Social Security income, have few social contacts and live in fear of losing their independence. Kentucky's elderly are particularly vulnerable. This state ranks 48th in median household income for the elderly ($23,262 vs. $28,722 for the U.S. as a whole) and has the highest percentage of elderly living in poverty (13.3 percent vs. 9.9 percent for the U.S.). In addition, many Kentuckians live a sedentary lifestyle, which puts them at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses that often afflict seniors. And the problem is getting worse as financially strapped state and federal governments continue to slash spending for social programs. So it's more important than ever for the local community and non-profit organizations to pick up the slack. That's why I became involved with ElderServe, Inc. In 1997, I met ElderServe's chief executive officer, Harriette Friedlander, and I was immediately struck by her passion and her knowledge of the issues confronting the elderly. ElderServe is the largest non-profit senior services organization in the Louisville metropolitan area. Founded as Senior House in 1962, the agency offers a wide variety of services to improve the quality of life for older adults in our community and enable them to live safe, secure and selfdirected lives. In addition to providing at-home services to thousands of older adults throughout the community, ElderServe operates at two sites -- Dosker Manor in downtown Louisville and the Oak and Acorn Intergenerational Center in West Louisville. Other community agencies offer programs such as walking clubs, fitness centers and other services to help seniors stay physically fit and ensure that they receive some of the preventive care they need. But ElderServe provides a number of unique programs designed to assist those seniors who are especially frail or homebound. These programs include:
Senior Companions -- is structured for volunteers who want to assist their less-able peers; the Senior Companions program is simply seniors helping seniors. Senior Companions help clients recovering from hospitalization or dealing with isolation and provides respite care to families with loved ones diagnosed with chronic illnesses. TeleCare -- offers a regular, reliable means to check on the safety of Metro Louisville seniors who are isolated, homebound or simply need the reassurance of a regular contact. Trained volunteers can verify the well-being of participants and provide a link to other services if needed. Senior Crime Victims Assistance -- provides a comprehensive array of services to seniors who have been the victims of violent crimes, or personal or financial abuse. Services include help with filing police reports, emergency crisis intervention, replacing identification, obtaining Emergency Protective Orders, working with police and counseling. In cases of violence and abuse, the Emergency Crisis Response Team provides 24-hour care for up to five days. Information about these and other ElderServe programs and volunteer opportunities can be found at elderserveinc.org. As a non-profit, ElderServe depends on the local community not only for financial support, but also for volunteers. A few hours of your time can make a major difference in someone's life -- and in your own life as well. Just ask Dorothy Montgomery, who serves as a volunteer Senior Companion to two elderly clients. "As a Senior Companion, I've made two new, great friends," she says. "We do lots of things together -- go for ice cream, take walks, go shopping together, play cards and go to country music shows. We have enriched each others' lives, and I thank God every day for putting us together. Without my two friends, I would not have the full life that we share." The elderly -- particularly those 85 and older -- constitute one of the fastest-growing segments of our population. This explosive growth is placing a tremendous strain on our resources. By helping the elderly maintain their independence, ElderServe not only improves the quality of their lives, but also eases the burden on families, on institutional-care facilities and on taxpayers. Get involved. DEBORAH MOESSNER President and general manager Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kentucky