Services available in Ravalli County to help seniors through the pandemic

Feb. 5—While everyone is even more isolated than usual due to the COVID pandemic help for elderly community members to keep living independently is important.

Opportunities for services come from independent businesses like Sapphire Lutheran Homes and the Ravalli County Council on Aging.

At Home is a concierge service through SLH geared toward helping elderly community members in the Hamilton area. They offer a variety of services from weekly grounds care, housekeeping, care coordination and gathering supplies.

"We make living a little bit easier, keeping them independent longer," said Mark Granados, At Home director. "Members simply call our front desk just like anyone who lives at Sapphire to make requests or even order a meal for delivery."

He compared the At Home program to "renting a son-in-law" with services like running errands, snow removal, lawn mowing and monthly preventative home maintenance.

"The things they call their children for we can help them with," Granados said. "Depending on the season we will inspect the home to make sure everything is working properly like smoke detectors, air filters, cleaning heater vents and rain gutters. If they need carpet installed, we find someone to install that, of course, they pay the private contractor and the carpet, but we do whatever we can do to coordinate services and help keep costs down."

Members Joan and John Richards have been with Sapphire's At Home program for nearly a year and said with their health issues they truly appreciate the program.

"At Home has been the answer to our needs," John Richards said. "We have been able to stay in our comfortable home due to the housekeeping and yard services. Mark (Granados) and Mikayla (Hammons), transportation driver and certified nurse assistant] have been our cheery lifesavers. Not only do they keep the house clean and the yard neat and tidy, but they also help with 'concierge' items as well."

At Home has helped the Richards with new smoke alarms, changing light bulbs, light furniture moving, window washing, transplanting a few garden items, carrying/moving heavy items, adjusting their shower fan, caulking the shower, putting in tub bars for stability, helping with electronics and turning their mattress.

"I know there is more but can't think of them all right now," Joan Richards said. "Not only would our house be headed for disrepair, but our spirits would have sunk without such help. And Mark does it with expertise, kindness and friendliness. We are truly grateful for this program."

At Home offerings include participating in Sapphire activities and social events, monthly lunch outings, chores, personal errands, transportation, personal laundry service, access to a meal card plan, a 24/7 emergency response system and access to Canyons Athletic Club.

"A lot of it is coordination on our part," Granados said. "Our goal is to maintain their quality of living and make living a bit easier for people who don't want or are not ready to move into a retirement community. It is independent living. It's everything you could expect to receive at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, but you get to stay in your own home."

Matthew Johnston recently wrote a note of appreciation to Granados for the care and support of the At Home program used by his father.

"As you well know, his dementia accelerated quickly and the sense of urgency and personal interest you took in Dad's support and needs has made such a difference in his life," Johnston wrote. "The work you are doing is just tremendous; the care you provide and more importantly, the love and grace with which you provide it is just incredible and we thank you deeply for this.

"We feel very blessed as a family to have met you and become connected to Sapphire Lutheran Homes," Johnston said.

Granados clarified that At Home is not a home health service but home care is a service they can coordinate. He said care has extended to At Home members during the pandemic including testing and vaccination.

For more information contact Mark Granados, director of At Home Concierge Services at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, at 406-363-2800 or visit http://www.sapphirelutheran.org/.

The Ravalli Council on Aging has a focus of "Providing the Opportunity for Independence" and is an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) dedicated to assisting people in Ravalli County 60 years of age and older or those with a qualifying disability.

Executive Director Cathy Orr said keeping people independent is their goal and mission statement.

"We strive to provide the resources seniors need to remain in their homes as long as possible," Orr said. "Everything we do is to help people remain independent, it gives seniors a sense of purpose."

She said allowing a senior the ability to make choices throughout the day impacts on how they feel about themselves.

"When they are no longer managing their own decisions, they may feel like less of an individual and a shell of their former selves," Orr said. "Independence can aid in daily routines which can help promote both memory and independence."

The Ravalli County Council on Aging offers a continuity of care in their services which include Meals on Wheels which are healthy, nutritious meals delivered to homebound seniors. They also have Congregate Meals that provide hot meals and socialization (though not during social-isolation). Legal Assistance is available to seniors needing limited estate planning services. Lifeline Medical Alert Service provides personal emergency alert response.

Council on Aging is a community resource and referral program to assist in finding human resource services, health care programs and professional services. It offers a Money Management Program to assists seniors and at-risk adults who are having difficulty managing their personal finances to ensure bills are paid and critical services are met.

It provides supplemental food every other month to qualified seniors through its Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Homemaker Services (light housekeeping) is available to low-income seniors intended to keep the senior's home clean, safe and clutter-free.

Ravalli County residents of all ages can ride the Bitterroot Bus which provides on-demand, curb-to-curb transportation services and also use of The Loan Closet which provides durable medical equipment including walkers, wheelchairs, bath benches, crutches, bedside commodes and more on a donation basis.

"Aging in place also saves thousands of dollars in private pay, Medicaid and Medicare costs, and the cost of institutional care," Orr said.

For more information on Ravalli County Council on Aging services visit online www.ravalliccoa.org or call 406-363-5690. Call Bitterroot Bus at 406-363-7484.

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