Joining forces for seniors

Oct. 02--Senior care can be a daunting process, according to Robert Garcia, an account executive with Trellis Supportive Care.

There's Medicaid, Medicare, insurance needs, lengthy forms, different costs, a variety of acronyms and more.

Garcia knows this, and so do other senior care agencies across Davidson County.

It's the main reason why HIPSS -- Healthcare Industry Professionals Serving Seniors -- was formed.

HIPSS of Davidson County is a collaborative group of local senior care agencies that meet to network, educate and exchange ideas to improve the resources provided to the elderly.

"Anytime you can put together everyone for the betterment of the seniors, you're better off doing it as a group," said Garcia, president of HIPSS of Davidson County. " ... We can certainly be in competition with one another, but collectively we can do more. That's when it really brings out the professionalism in all the individuals because we're doing it for the sake of the people we serve."

HIPSS originated in Winston-Salem in 2007, and a chapter in Davidson County was eventually formed.

More than two dozen organizations are a part of HIPSS of Davidson County, with specialties in memory care, adult day care, health, fitness and therapy, home care, home health, hospice and palliative care, medical equipment, senior services, skilled nursing and transportation.

Leisha Tripp, a nurse with Piedmont Home Care and secretary with HIPSS, said the organization is about meeting the patients' needs.

"We are pulling a bunch of resources together," Tripp said. "We may not always have what the patient needs per say, but we know someone who does."

The organization's website, hipssdavidsoncounty.info, has a list of member agencies. The list is organized into categories with names, phone numbers and logos for each senior care organization.

David Stevens, president of Providence Transportation and vice president of HIPSS of Davidson County, described HIPSS as a one-stop shop for senior care.

"People do wait until the last minute, and it's not until that crisis happens and then all of a sudden they're like, 'Where do I go?'" Stevens said. "We would like to be an organization that can help them get the resources they need quickly."

Shannon Holland, Home Instead Senior Care's community engagement coordinator, said when she first joined HIPSS, she realized just how difficult it is to navigate senior care because of the vast amount of resources and choices available. She added that if a person can educate themselves before something happens, he or she can make those choices before the choices are made without his or her control.

Holland used the example of veterans benefits, which is a resource that she says many don't know is available. HIPSS can provide a helping hand, however.

"If you have a trusted resource that can direct you somewhere that's maybe going to save you money and help you have additional income coming in, wouldn't you want that person who's going to say, 'You know what, these are your options,'" Holland said. "You can go with this company, they're going to charge you $500 or you can go with this company and they're going to do it for free. And by spreading the word about these benefits, that helps the senior."

The group holds monthly meetings and hosts different speakers to educate themselves about the current issues facing seniors.

Michelle Atkins, sales and marketing manager for Brookdale Senior Living and treasurer with HIPSS, used the example of seniors' lifestyles, such as learning how to care for transgender, gay and lesbian seniors.

"We're having to teach ourselves and learn the best ways to respect those differences and how to handle that and how to educate other seniors on what another senior might be doing or experiencing that were never conversations that we had in the past," Atkins said.

Garcia said any senior care agency is welcome to join HIPSS of Davidson County. He hopes someone from the faith community can join HIPSS in the future.

The HIPSS president also said representatives are open to attending meetings of local civic groups to give presentations of what HIPSS can provide.

To Garcia, the end goal is always to find the best practices and ideas for taking care of seniors.

"I can assure you, between us all, we will find an answer," Garcia said.

For more information about HIPSS, email hipssdavidson@gmail.com, or visit hippssdavidson.info and its Facebook page. If interested in becoming a member of HIPSS, contact Atkins at miatkins@brookdale.com or call (336) 470-5661.

Ben Coley can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 227 or at ben.coley@the-dispatch.com. Follow Ben on Twitter: @LexDispatchBC

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