News Release

Caring for Geauga County’s Seniors Today and in the Future
SENIOR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM LAUNCHED

Geauga County truly is one of the best places in Ohio to live, work and raise a family.  It is a caring, safe and vibrant community where all persons are valued.  One example of this is the effort underway to ensure that Geauga County’s senior citizens are well cared for today and in the future through a dynamic collaborative called Geauga Community Impact.

Geauga Community Impact, or GCI, is a collaboration of community leaders from local businesses, faith groups, law enforcement, health care, government and neighborhoods that have come together to plan for the future of Geauga County’s health and human services. Care Corporation is proud to participate as a member of this important community project.

Funding for the collaboration has been provided, in part, by the Lake-Geauga Fund of The Cleveland Foundation, Geauga County Department on Aging, Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Geauga County Department of Job and Family Services, Geauga Family First Council and United Way Services of Geauga County. 

Initally, GCI utilized secondary data (social indicator reports, census data and the Geauga Community Plan), focus groups (with business leaders, the GCI Steering Committee, Job and Family Services consumers, residents of Chagrin Falls Park, and Geauga County senior citizens), stratified random sample household survey, key informant surveys, asset surveys, 2-1-1 call data and other Geauga County Community Plans and Strategies. 

After hundreds of volunteer hours reviewing survey results, gathering community data, and engaging in dialogue with the various social service agencies and for-profit businesses that provide services to seniors within Geauga County, nine priority issues were identified as needs in the community. The nine issues include:

• affordable housing,
• transportation,
• services to homebound seniors,
• prevention of chronic physical diseases,
• support of persons who are unemployed or under-employed,
• addressing the basic needs of low-income families,
• improving communications to promote a sense of community,
• ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education, and
• improving coordination of the social service system.

To move forward, task force groups were formed to tackle various issues.  These task forces are responsible for developing strategy and resource plans to help create positive, lasting change. 

Homebound Task Force

Presently, a task force is working services to homebound seniors.  The Homebound Task Force is addressing issues regarding health care services for Geauga’s homebound seniors.

This task force began with the collection of data through an “e-survey,” regarding Geauga County’s older adult population.  This e-survey gathered the opinions of stakeholders in Geauga County who provide services for homebound seniors or interact with them and their caregivers.  The goal was to document what stakeholders believe are important services for homebound seniors in Geauga County and the capacity of the county to provide these services today and in the future.

The results?  Some expected, others challenging!  With respect to income, 100 percent of respondents believe that service needs of high-income homebound seniors are being met.  However, there appears to be a need for additional services with low-income homebound seniors and those, with frailty, needing intermediate level of care.   In addition, 100 percent of the respondents reported the need for additional funding that would allow the community to increase the capacity to care for our homebound seniors.

Elizabeth Petersen, RN, Vice President of Operations at Care Corp, serves on this critical Homebound Task Force. “Care Corporation is committed to our community.  We are pleased to play an active role in making sure our senior citizens receive the health care services they need now and for years to come,” Petersen says.  “Senior citizens are one of Geauga County’s most valuable resources.  It is thanks to their hard work, dedication and foresight, Geauga County is such a wonderful, peaceful place to live and work in today.  We owe them a tremendous debt, and one way we can pay them back is to provide our seniors with quality, compassionate health care.  The Homebound Task Force was formed to learn what deficiencies may exist in our community as well as plan for future needs.”

There are three primary purposes of the Homebound Seniors Initiative:

1. To ensure that all homebound seniors in Geauga County are offered choices about available services.
2. To expand the capacity of Geauga County to provide services to frail and dependent older adults who live in the community by
   • Designing a care-managed, multi-point-of-entry, service-delivery model
   • Initiating a holistic geriatric assessment.
3. To enhance the quality of life of frail and dependent Geauga County residents 60 years and older who live in the community by:
   • Helping them access needed benefits and services
   • Assisting their family caregivers
   • Enhancing the information base for professionals and paraprofessionals who work with them.

The intention is to design and pilot a model supported by multiple community resources for the short term and sustained for the long term.

The GCI Homebound Initiative’s lead agencies include the Geauga County Department of Aging, Catholic Charities and University Hospitals Extended Care Campus (formerly known as Heather Hill).

“Perhaps the biggest thing we identified as the GCI Homebound Task Force was the need for a case management program in Geauga County,” reports Petersen.  “Many people live in Geauga County who do not have family in the area or anyone who can oversee their medical care – specifically a person who can keep in contact with a patient, make referrals, etc. With this new program, any Geauga County senior interested may participate.”

Senior Assessment Program Launched

University Hospitals Extended Care Facility agreed to reinstate their Senior Assessment Program, starting July 1, at University Hospitals Extended Care campus, located on Bass Lake Road. 

“This was big.  I applaud University Hospitals for reinstating this senior assessment program,” says Petersen.

According to literature distributed about the program, if you or someone you love is experiencing frequent falls, memory lapses, depression, or having difficulty managing home life, the Senior Assessment Program at UH Extended Care Campus can help. 

Susan Juris, President of UH Extended Care Facility and co-chair of the Homebound Task Force, explains that the Senior Assessment Program provides a one-day, comprehensive assessment for the older adult.  The program’s goal is to assist older persons, their families and primary care physicians in identifying special health care needs and provide optimal, individualized solutions.

“The program features a one-day, multi-disciplinary team assessment, including a physician, health care psychologist, physical therapist, and social worker.  This health care team will meet with your loved one. An occupational therapist will also visit the home to assess the level of safety. Within two weeks, the team meets with you and your family to present a comprehensive report and written recommendations which will give you the knowledge, tools and resources to plan a safe future,” Juris says.

Juris points a benefit of the Senior Assessment Program is it eliminates the need for families to schedule multiple appointments.  She adds, “The goal of this program is to help Geauga’s older citizens who might need assistance, plan for and realize and independent and productive lifestyle for as long as possible.

An assessment is needed when an individual is experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Multiple health problems
• Confusion or memory loss
• Behavioral change, including depression or anxiety
• Difficulty in performing daily activities
• Weakness, caused by de-conditioning or other health problems
• Problems resulting from multiple medications
• Uncertainty about one’s ability to live independently

Who can benefit?

• Older adults
• Family members
• Primary care physicians
• Caregivers

The Senior Assessment Program involves a one-time fee of $250.  This fee may be waived according to income.  The physician part of the bill will be picked up by Medicare.  The GCI Homebound Task Force is also applying for grants to help underwrite the cost for the Senior Assessment Program. 

“The aging population in Geauga County requires certain programs be available.  This is one of them,” states Juris.  “We are happy to respond to our community’s needs.  We see on our campus patients and residents who could have benefitted from early intervention.”

Kimm Leininger, LISW, Executive Director United Way Services of Geauga County and project director for GCI, adds, “This is truly a community project.  I believe there is a huge advantage bringing non-profit, social service agencies together with for-profit businesses in our community to work together to plan for the needs of our senior citizens today and for the future.  Business professionals think differently and they bring a new perspective to the table.  This creates additional efficiencies resulting in increased financial revenues to allow for necessary capacity building.”

Leininger continues, “We created a model where there is no wrong door –no matter where the individual is in the aging process. It is also all client choice.  If a client chooses not to participate in the case management program, that’s alright, too. I encourage seniors to call University Hospitals Extended Care Campus at 440-285-4040 and request a Senior Assessment.”

The ultimate goal of the Senior Assessment Program is to ensure all homebound seniors living in Geauga County are offered a full array of services.  “We have an aging population in Geauga County, and it is great to be able to strategize together, not only for needs we identify today, but for the future.  Through Geauga Community Impact, we were able to get our arms around what is happening in our community.  We believe we have an opportunity to grow services and enhance the care provided to the senior population in Geauga County.  Having a case manager working with each client, keeping abreast of medical needs and advances, is a great first step.  We desire to help seniors stay in their homes longer.  We are not creating a new agency; we are pooling existing community resources for the benefit of our seniors and our community.”

Care Corporations’s involvement in GCI

 “I think Liz Petersen, of Care Corporation, has brought to the table some fantastic ideas and creative ways collaboration can happen.  Liz understands what we are trying to accomplish.  As a willing participant providing some of the case management through Care Corp, Liz is also willing to speak up if there are concerns, putting issues on the table.  Their involvement has been a huge benefit for this community,” Leininger states.

Juris concurs, “Liz has been great.  It’s been wonderful working together to solve a real need in our community.”

Petersen encourages seniors to also become involved in senior centers, community volunteer programs, faith-based organizations, library programs, safety programs, chore and home repair programs, health and wellness programs, etc. as ways to stay connected to the formal service delivery system.

To arrange for an assessment, please contact the Senior Assessment Program coordinator at 440.285.4040.

Offered at:
The Liberty Assisted Living
University Hospitals Extended Care Campus
12340 Bass Lake Rd. Chardon, OH 44024

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