ElderHelp of San Diego

Increase Capacity
ElderHelp will expand the availability of Care Coordination services as a donation based alternative to costly care options by establishing meaningful relationships to help to promote our services and further expand our reach within the community. ElderHelp will conduct a minimum of 500 outreach activities, each year, aimed to reach isolated seniors, family caregivers and senior service providers.

ElderHelp provides a vital information and referral service for many seniors, or their families, who are looking for help. We provide extensive information about our programs and suggest abundant other resources based on their needs.
Healthcare
Care Coordination will ensure members have access to healthcare services needed to maintain healthy lifestyles. Through Seniors A Go Go, seniors have safe reliable transportation to doctor's appointments and activities that keep them engaged with each other and the community. Care coordinators provide medical advocacy and health literacy, enhancing clients' understanding of medications, doctor's orders, and other essential medical information. We will reach a new population of seniors in need by collaborating with healthcare providers to link social services to holistic wellness.
Family Caregiver Support
ElderHelp will assist older adults, their families and caregivers in navigating the issues they face as they age. Information and referral calls assist families and caregivers with access to the resources and supports necessary to age in place and to avoid, or postpone, long-term care placement.
Isolation
We will decrease feelings of isolation among our clients by providing over 25,000 individual instances of care from degreed social workers and gerontologists, as well as vetted and trained volunteers. 90% of respondents to our semi-annual survey will report feeling more connected to their communities. In addition, volunteers will provide a minimum of 11,000 hours of volunteer services each year to keep seniors from feeling isolated and alone.
Care Coordination members will lead more satisfied lives, living in their own homes with independence and dignity. Each year, 85% of Care Coordination members will report leaving their home more often and feeling more connected to their communities. Through Housing Services we will engage those living in residential communities with supportive services such as food distribution, social activities, and guided advocacy.

ElderHelp's Strategies are:
1. Family Caregiver Support: Provide a minimum of 3,000 information and referral calls to provide seniors, their families and caregivers with access to the resources and supports necessary to aging in place in order to avoid, or postpone, long-term care placement.
2. Isolation: Decrease isolation by providing 25,000 touches (individual instances of care) through degreed Social Workers and gerontologists as well as through trained and vetted volunteers. In addition, volunteers will provide a minimum of 11,000 hours of volunteer services that keep seniors connected to their communities.
3. Increase Capacity: Expand the availability of Cared Coordination services as a cost-effective alternative to more costly care options by establishing meaningful relationships within the community that help to promote and further expand our reach within the community. ElderHelp will conduct a minimum of 500 outreach activities aimed to reach isolated seniors, family caregivers and senior service providers. ElderHelp will enroll 100 new clients during the fiscal year.
4. Home Modifications and Falls: Improve home safety, increase awareness and knowledge of factors that lead to falls including unsafe behaviors, physical environment, assistive devices through home safety assessments and interventions made by Member Care Coordinators. Fewer than 10% of ElderHelp's case load will have falls. Fewer than 10% will have subsequent falls.
5. Independence: 85% of Care Coordination clients will report leaving their home more often and feeling more connected to their communities.
6. Healthcare: At least 70% of all rides provided will be for medical related appointments. Care Coordinators will increase medical advocacy and health literacy provided to members by 25% during the funding period, enhancing clients' understanding of medications, doctor's orders, and other essential medical information.

ElderHelp's history dates back from the early 1970's. At that time, fewer than 10 organizations were serving seniors in San Diego County. For more than 47 years, ElderHelp's programs and services have successfully provided opportunities for over 245,000 older adults in need, improving their physical and mental health through socialization, recreation, care coordination and by providing improved access to healthcare. ElderHelp is a tested model that is gaining national, and even international, attention. Interest in our service model is as far reaching as Japan, highlighting a need for similar services abroad. We receive approximately 5 calls per month from people who are interested in starting an ElderHelp model in their area. Our Executive Director receives invitations to speak at national conferences, including American Society on Aging.

Our strategic alliances allow us to raise awareness of senior needs in the community while also reaching more seniors. We are doing the following:
1) Partnering with 2-1-1 San Diego, an information and referral hub
2) Expanding our HomeShare program to the San Diego North County areas
3) Providing social services to residents of Sandford Hotel and Mission Cove, senior single room occupancy, low-income residences in San Diego county.
4) Partnering with Alzheimer's San Diego and Southern Caregiver Resource Center to provide a continuum of care and support for families and their aging loved ones.
5) Working with local corporations and organizations to advance the needs of employed family caregivers which benefits families and the workplace.

One of ElderHelp's biggest challenges is to reach the homebound senior who is isolated and lacks adequate support to safely remain living in their home. ElderHelp's outreach plan includes casting a wide net to reach isolated seniors and anyone who may know a senior in need including family, friends, and neighbors. ElderHelp's Outreach Manager is constantly researching and participating in opportunities to increase public awareness to reach seniors of all income levels and backgrounds.
ElderHelp has additional challenges to confront. Recent studies show that 90% of seniors want to "Age in Place." In San Diego County, the proportion of seniors is increasing at an alarming rate.