FEATURE
ELDERSERVE CAN BE A Model for the
Community
Waqar Saleem, MD
N
ot a week passes without me
hearing the question, “What
can I do for my elderly parents
to keep them safe?” It’s mostly
asked by a child of a loved one,
but occasionally by other caregivers as well.
These can be some of the hardest discussions
to have with families. Mostly, elderly parents
want to stay independent in their own house, while caregivers want
their safety, either in their own home or in a facility setting. There
are no easy answers for these questions. It’s even harder when there
are no family members.
With aging comes a number of challenges such as poor cogni-
tion, decreased mobility and a host of chronic medical problems.
This population is particularly vulnerable to issues like elder abuse,
financial fraud, loneliness, psychiatric issues like depression and
anxiety, poor mobility, poverty and insufficient nutritional meals,
to name a few. With health care costs rising and limited funding,
the elderly are less likely to seek out help to address these issues.
In Jefferson County, we are fortunate to have number of health
care entities focused on elder care. These include some great long-
term care organizations, assisted living facilities, home health care
organizations and a few non-profits. One of these entities is the
non-profit organization ElderServe.
Since 1962, ElderServe has been supporting adults aged 60
and older in Jefferson County. Their program includes four major
goals. I’d like to review these goals and examine how they can be
implemented by the Louisville community at large.
1. SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE THROUGH CARE
MANAGEMENT, HOME CARE SERVICES AND ADULT
DAY HEALTH CENTERS.
Care management helps to navigate geriatric care resources. The
goal is to answer questions regarding affordable housing, social
activities, legal and financial issues, safety and security.
Home care services include light housekeeping, laundry, meal
preparation and cleanup, shopping, appointments, companionship,
bathing, grooming, dressing, eating and medication reminders.
An Adult Day Health Center is an excellent option for elderly to
live independently as their caregiver goes to work. The center has a
nurse on duty to take care of seniors with health issues, check blood
sugar and blood pressure, and handle emergencies. They serve lunch
MARCH 2019
19