Welcome
HEALTH SERVICES
Elderly Health Screening Program
The Elderly Health Screening Program provides health screening services, follow-up care and programs related to health promotion and wellness to persons age 60 and over at various locations throughout Connecticut. Services offered range from screening tests for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers to screenings for dental disease, mental health issues, nutrition counseling and physical activity programs. The Health Screening partners listed below offer a variety of services both on and off site.
New Haven–Bella Vista Health Clinic
Fair Haven Community Health Center
374 Grand Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513
Tel: (203) 777-7411
Tel: At Bella Vista
(203) 469-5331
http://ct.gov/ag/lib/ag/seniors[1].pdf
Adult Day Centers
Adult day centers can provide many things for the elderly including hot lunches, nursing services, personal care, social events, recreation, transportation, and caregivers. The following offices provide such services in new Haven:
- Goodwin-Levine: 203-789-1650
- Mary Wade Home: 203-562-7222
Advocacy for People with Disabilities
The Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities in New Haven promotes the coordination of resources for adults with disabilities and takes the appropriate actions to ensure adherence to relevant federal, state, and local regulations.
Disability Services for the city of New Haven
203-946-7651
Elderly Protective Services
This program investigates reports of known or suspected physical or mental abuse, exploitation, or neglect of adults age 60 and older who are living in the community or long term care facilities.
- 203-974-8029
Emergency Shelters
These shelters provide necessities for people experiencing a period of dislocation, crisis, or emergency. The following shelters are in New Haven:
- Care Ways Shelter: 203-492-4873
- Christian Com Act: 203-777-7173
- Columbus House: 203-773-9673
- Emergency Shelter: 203-777-2522
ConnPACE
This program is Connecticut’s State Pharmacy Assistance Program that can help people pay for their prescription medicines. The application link is below and the completed application must be mailed to the following address:
- ConnPACE
- PO Box 5011
- Hartford, CT 06102-5011
- ConnPACE Website
Geriatric Assessment
The following organizations employ experts to conduct a comprehensive exam and provide recommendations for care and support. This is important to diagnose age-related health issues and provide understanding in a senior’s situation.
- Hospital of Saint Raphael: 203-789-4222
- Dorothy Adler/Yale: 203-688-6361
NUTRITION
Elderly Nutrition
DSS is required by law to administer programs that provide nutritionally sound diets to needy elderly people. Programs must provide one meal per day, five days a week. These meals are either delivered to homes or offered at congregate sites. There is no charge for the meals, although contributions are encouraged. Both federal and state funds are used to pay the program costs.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ps99/rpt/olr/htm/99-R-0948.htm
Services necessary to assure the health, safety and welfare of elderly people, as well as services to assist elderly or aging persons to enjoy wholesome and meaningful living and to continue to contribute to the strength and welfare of the state. Services include social services, information and referral, health insurance (CHOICES), prescription drug assistance (ConnPACE), home health care (CHCPE), protective services, and conservator of person or estate. The agency also oversees continuing care retirement communities (CCRCS).
Elderly Nutrition Program
The Elderly Nutrition Program serves nutritionally balanced congregate meals to individuals 60 years of age and older and an accompanying spouse of a participant regardless of age. These meals are also available to disabled people with disabilities living in housing facilities that are congregate meal sites. Congregate meal sites are also known as Senior Community Cafes. Congregate meals are served once a day for five or more days per week at approximately 200 meal sites in Connecticut. These meal sites are located in senior centers, elderly housing facilities, schools, churches and other community settings. Some agencies also deliver meals to homebound or isolated older adults. The meals are served at no cost or by donation.
http://www.211ct.org/informationlibrary/Documents/ElderlyNutritionProgram_SeniorCommunityCafe.asp
SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY
Rehabilitation Services
Through the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, the agency provides services to people with most significant physical or mental disabilities to assist them in their effort to enter or maintain employment. The agency also oversees a statewide network of community-based, consumer-controlled, independent living centers that promote independence for persons with disabilities. The agency determines medical eligibility for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits for individuals who are unable to maintain employment due to the severity of their disability.
http://www.ct.gov/agingservices/site/default.asp
Rehabilitation Services
Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders (CHCPE)
The Connecticut Homecare Program is a state and federally funded program that provides an array of home care services. The program helps eligible Connecticut residents age 65 and older continue living at home instead of prematurely going to a nursing facility. Services offered may include adult day center, adult foster care, assisted living services in approved managed residential communities (MRC), care management, chore, companion, home delivered meals, emergency response system, home health, homemaker, minor home modification (based upon availability of funds), and visiting nurse.
http://www.ct.gov/brs/site/default.asp
CHERISH Elder Shelter Program
Description: The CHERISH Elder Shelter Program is an emergency shelter program that provides short-term, safe housing for victims of domestic abuse who are age 60 or older. The domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, verbal or financial; it occurs in the victim’s home and is perpetrated by a person known to the victim. The CHERISH program also provides counseling, advocacy with court procedures in cases of arrest and emotional support. In addition, it offers educational programs about elder abuse to the community including police departments, hospitals, senior centers, church groups and civic groups. It offers a support group for women age 60 and older who are victims of abuse, home visits, assistance with finding appropriate permanent housing and with obtaining restraining orders and referrals to other agencies, including those that provide legal assistance and to the Department of Social Services’ Protective Services for the Elderly Program.
People who are eligible include:
- Any person age 60 or older who resides in Connecticut and is in need of shelter services.
- Families and concerned individuals are encouraged to call for information and referrals.
Contact Information:
For information on services:
CHERISH Program
Telephone: 203-736-2601 Ext. 354
To report cases of suspected abuse of the elderly, neglect or exploitation, call the TOLL-FREE REFERRAL LINE at 1-888-385-4225.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Temporary assistance for needy families is available. This federal legislation provides block grants to states to fund programs that provide services and benefits to needy families.
http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305152
GAPS IN RESOURCES
Gaps exist in the funding for the services and programs already in place. Many seniors are finding out the hard way that Social Security alone is not enough when it comes to covering basic living costs (Bosak, 2009). This is especially true in Connecticut, which has a much higher cost of living than the national average. Some specific areas to work on include:
Adult Protective Services
Connecticut ranks 32nd out of 35 states in the amount of money it provides for adult protective services. Also, only 446 of the approximately 800 elder abuse reports filed in 2009 were completely resolved or referred for prosecution (http://www.briankaschel.com/Articles/More-Funding-Attention-Needed-on-Elder-Abuse-in-Connecticut.shtml). While there are agencies to call to report domestic violence and elder abuse, there are no agencies in place dedicated to the prevention of elder abuse, and no agencies specifically in New Haven.
Hearing and Vision Loss
Medicare and most other insurances do not cover hearing loss services or products and therefore in Connecticut, unless an individual is under age 13, a veteran, or on Medicaid/Title 19, and individual will have to pay 100 percent of all hearing aid costs, which can be thousands of dollars. There are no organizations located in New Haven dedicated to providing services for the seeing or hearing impaired.
Money Management
There are no organizations specific to the area of New Haven that serve to educate and assist individuals in managing their financial situation.
How Nurses can Help
Nurses have the responsibility to advocate for their patients. Nurses who are out in the community have the ability to assess the needs of the people they serve, and can therefore advocate to legislators and government officials for funding for seniors.
Nurses have the power educate citizens and other healthcare professionals community, and can also promote awareness about elder abuse and the resources available to those who feel unsafe.
References
Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, (2012). Don't give up: Just take a look in the blue book, City of New Haven
Bosak, C. (2009, March 10). Study sheds light on elderly 'gap'. The Norwalk Hour. Retrieved from here
