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Managing wellness and health care needs for aging adults
Caring for the caregivers By KATHY AMES CARR
L
isa Weitzman recalls the initial plea for help from a woman who had been living and working in Oakland, Calif., when her mother, who lived some 2,400 miles away in Dayton, had just suffered a massive stroke. The daughter flew back and forth between Oakland and Dayton to care for her mother, but balancing the transcontinental caregiving with her full-time job was not going to work. She quit her job, and moved in with her mother. She decided a relocation to Cleveland would be a more logical long-term solution because of the city’s supply of quality health care networks. The woman contacted the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging for help. “We helped facilitate her mother’s move, and we coordinated online conversations with other family members to keep them up to date on the status of the situation,” Weitzman said. Planning and logistics were coordinated through a phone and email-based care coaching program called BRI Care Consultation, which helps caregivers simplify the process of caregiving. “There are so many resources in the marketplace for caregivers. Sometimes, they don’t know where to turn first or how to access all the different resources,” said Weitzman, a BRI care consultation manager of business development. “This is an easy-to-use, solution-focused program designed to simplify the process for overwhelmed caregivers, so that they ultimately can spend more quality time with their loved one and on taking care of themselves.” Caregiving strain is a common reality for individuals who find themselves squeezed between the demands of work, their personal life and caring for aging loved ones. At least 20% of adult children are taking care of an older parent. Of working caregivers, 8% state that they have been sidelined from job growth opportunities because of their caregiving responsibilities, according to Aging in Place, an online resource hub for seniors and their families. The BRI Care Consultation program streamlines the orbit of responsibilities and decisions that need to be made by the caregiver.
Program’s offerings include:
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Providing disease-specific information that helps inform solid decision-making. “So, if Mom is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and the family member doesn’t know what Parkinson’s is, this program informs them on their best options for care, how to initiate conversations with their loved ones about living options and how to engage
WELLNESS siblings in the discussions,” among the content provided, Weitzman said.
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Connecting users to communitybased and in-home services. Social, in-home and community-based resources run the gamut — from legal or financial aid to insurance information, meal assistance, transportation services and support groups. “We help people access those services, but we are not just a referral service,” Weitzman said. “Our care consultants work with people to secure the service or agency they need.”
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Building a care support team. The program helps involve others who may be able to offer additional support, including family members, friends or neighbors.
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Providing emotional support. Care consultants are available when the caregiver needs advice or even someone who is there to listen and offer support. “Think of care consultants as trusted advisers,” Weitzman said. “We help empower families.” In an effort to bring the value and benefits of BRI Care Consultation to even more individuals, the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging will provide this service under the WeCare brand to a broader range of caregivers as part of a future rebranding effort, according to the organization.
Eliza Jennings offers a number of residential offerings for individuals at different stages of life — from independent living to assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care and hospice care. The nonprofit organization’s network of elderly care services also extends to home and community-based services, including a nurse practitioner house call program and onsite wellness clinics that serve adults in affordable housing. Its adult day services at Acacia Place provide a safe and structured setting within Cleveland’s bucolic Edgewater neighborhood. Patients receive skilled nursing and respite care, hot meals and social activities during their visit, said Sheryl Sereda, vice president of advancement and chief advancement officer at Eliza Jennings. “We focus not only on respite care but on daily care,” Sereda said. “Many caregivers still are in the workforce, and many of them also have children. Our adult day services provide them an assurance that their loved one will receive quality care in a safe and secure place. Plus, this program also enables older individuals to get out, meet new people or see familiar faces. Social engagement is really important, especially as individuals age in place in their home.” Arrangements range from periodic visits or daily visits to regular attendance, she said. “We have begun to offer the service on Saturdays as well. Our doors open at 8 a.m., but it’s not uncommon to see cars in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m.,” she said.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
the caregiver,
We partner with you to provide clear solutions and compassionate, personalized support throughout your caregiving journey.
An intergenerational reality Caregiving no longer is a responsibility relegated only to middle-aged women, who have traditionally shouldered the daily care for a chronically ill or elderly loved one. Families are spreading the caregiving love between members of different generations. In fact, of the 43 million Americans who provide care for another adult at home, 10 million, or nearly 25%, are between the ages of 18 and 34. While only 25% of caregivers overall are male, nearly half of millennial caregivers are male. — MemoryWell News for the Ages
Lifting up their loved ones
In Ohio, family caregivers take on some of the heavy lifting in long-term care services and supports system, providing care that — if provided by paid caregivers — would cost $16.5 billion each year. — SOURCE: Ohio Department of Aging, State Plan on Aging 2019-2022
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I
ndependent Living at the Renaissance Retirement Campus welcomes you into a warm, friendly community surrounded by people who care.
Conveniently located in Olmsted Township, the Renaissance offers a variety of luxurious options and unrivaled amenities to help you design your own vibrant lifestyle. Call 440.235.7112 to learn more.
Visit wecare-youcare.org to learn more. BRI CARE CONSULTATION TM A SERVICE OF BENJAMIN ROSE INSTITUTE ON AGING
26376 John Road | Olmsted Township, Ohio 44138 | elizajennings.org
DECISIONS
S2 March 23, 2020
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Meeting the needs of today’s aging adults By KATHY AMES CARR
M
onsignor Jennings, the founding pastor of St. Agnes Parish, was considered to be a socially progressive thinker of his time. Having received a large amount of money from his brother’s estate, Jennings outlined in his will that the money was to be allocated to build a rest home to meet the needs of the mid20th century’s aging seniors. He died in 1941, and his legacy gave life to Jennings Center for Older Adults. Otherwise now known as Jennings, the Catholic-based organization has evolved to offer a breadth of choices and residences that help meet the needs of 21st-century seniors, from the more traditional assisted living and long-term care facilities, to Alzheimer’s / demen-
HEALTH CARE tia care, affordable apartments, villas and a child care center that promotes intergenerational interactions. “People want to see care delivered in different ways,” Jennings president and CEO Allison Salopeck said. “Aging adults want to remain independent as long as they can, and our variety of residential offerings and community services help them achieve their unique goals.” Over the next 10 years, Ohio’s age 60-plus population is expected to grow by 30%. Assisted living facilities and nursing homes once were the gold
standard in terms of residential solutions for delivering the type of health care for adults as they age. But many of today’s seniors live on a fixed income, and the rising costs of senior living facilities are not always a feasible consideration. Further, the range of community- and home-based services that enable older adults to age in place are leading to a shift in long-term care moving from institutions and into the community, according to The Center for Community Solutions, a Cleveland-based nonpartisan think tank for health, social and economic issues. Organizations such as Jennings recognize the value in making sure they are equipped to meet the needs of the growing population of aging adults here in Northeast Ohio. “If you start at a place where money
LIVE AT HOME
Using a community-based approach, McGregor PACE enables older adults to remain among familiar surroundings while receiving the help they need.
What is McGregor PACE?
2.5 million
Ohio residents are older than age 60. The state’s population over age 60 is growing more than 20 times faster than its overall population.
8%
of Ohioans age 65 and older live in poverty.
76%
of Ohioans age 65 and older have at least one chronic condition. Almost 35% of this demographic live with a disability.
35%
of older Ohio adults live alone.
— SOURCE: Ohio Department of Aging, State Plan on Aging 2019 -2022
is no object, then your choices are plentiful,” Salopeck said. “If you start at a place where money is an object, then you have to be more intentional about your future plans. It is so important for Jennings to be able to accommodate the differing needs of our aging citizens,” which is a continuation of the legacy of their founder. In 2018, Jennings opened Notre Dame Village in Chardon, described as a “community of living” that offers cottage apartments, independent living apartments and memory care assisted living. Intergenerational programs and lifelong learning are among the amenities available to help keep seniors active and engaged with individuals of all ages, she said. Its Garfield Heights-based infant and child care center serves infants from 6 weeks of age to pre-teens, who learn the qualities of respect and empathy by interacting with older adults or adults with disabilities, she said.
Keeping pace Recognizing that the needs of seniors need to be met in accordance with their desires to age within the comfort of their own homes, McGregor offers a community-based program called PACE for individuals ages 55 and older. The program provides different services that can be delivered in a participant’s home, including vision care, lab tests, dental care, hearing services, mental health services, emergency care and nursing care, said Lee Ann O’Brien, chief marketing officer at McGregor. “Our interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, personal care and home health aides, dietitians and therapists coordinate care that addresses the medical, rehabilitative, personal and social care needs of older adults,” she said. “This is an ideal option for individuals who qualify for nursing home living but want to live safely at home.” continued on next page
McGregor PACE is a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
McGregor PACE is for People...
• 55 years of age or older • Who live in Cuyahoga County • Who qualify for nursing home level of care • Who are able to live safely in the community McGregor PACE
26310 Emery Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128
McGregor PACE at Forest Hill
14800 Private Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44112
McGregor PACE at Old Brooklyn
4229 Pearl Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109
888-895-PACE (7223) TTY line for people with hearing impairment 1.800.325.2223 www.mcgregorpace.org
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The McGregor PACE program enables adults ages 55 and older to age within their community.
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“
Our interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, personal care and home health aides, dietitians and therapists coordinate care that addresses the medical, rehabilitative, personal and social care needs of older adults.
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— Lee Ann O’Brien, chief marketing officer at McGregor
PHOTO PROVIDED
Intergenerational experiences are part of everyday life at Jennings and create meaningful memories for younger and older individuals. continued from previous page
The program currently serves about 600 individuals in Cuyahoga County. “Statistically, the people enrolled in our PACE program have extended their longevity by two years,” O’Brien said. “Having that connection to community is vitally important to these individuals.” Meanwhile, McGregor was recently awarded a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant, which will help the senior living provider build 54 new affordable senior housing units and renovate 26 recently vacated assisted living apartments at its East Cleveland campus. The grant also will help subsidize the cost of all 80 units for those seniors who are paying monthly rent. The HUD Section 202 grant was part
of the $51 million in federal assistance that was awarded in February to nonprofit organizations around the U.S., which plan to add a combined 1,100 affordable homes for low-income seniors. Vesta Longfellow of Cleveland received $1.2 million for 56 units, and the Neighborhood Development Services of the Village of Windham received $4.9 million for 30 units. “This was a huge win for McGregor because finding capital for these kinds of projects takes time and energy,” O’Brien said. “One of our biggest challenges in serving seniors is being able to provide safe and affordable housing. This grant will allow us to leverage community partnerships and look for other revenue streams that can help aid us in serving low-income older adults.”
Additional assistance The Ohio Department of Aging and the Department of Medicaid administer various homeand community-based service programs that help aging adults. The PASSPORT Medicaid waiver program is for Medicaid-eligible older adults, who are able to receive in-home services and supports that enable them to stay in their homes or other community settings. A case manager oversees the participant’s care plan. Eligible PASSPORT participants must be age 60 or older, frail enough to require nursing home-level care, able to remain safely at home and financially eligible for Medicaid institutional care (monthly income typically does not exceed the $2,349 threshold for one person, and countable assets do not exceed $2,000). The monthly costs to live in an assisted living facility range from $2,000 to $4,000, or even higher, depending on the institution and the amount of care needed. The assisted living waiver program pays the costs of care in an assisted living facility for
PHOTO PROVIDED
Medicaid recipients. Eligible users pay for room and board expenses. To find out if you are eligible for this program, contact the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging at areaagingsolutions.org (for residents in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties) or vantageaging.org (for residents in Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties). MyCareOhio is a managed care program designed for Ohioans who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. A team of care coordinators oversees the patient’s health care, behavioral health and long-term services needs. MyCare offers preventive services and helps participants coordinate their health care choices. The plan is only available to residents in 29 Ohio counties. In Northeast Ohio, eligible residents must live in either Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit or Wayne counties. For more information about these home and community-based services and supports, visit Ohio Department of Aging at aging.ohio.gov/ HomeCommunityCare#71536-mycare-ohio
A non-profit organization serving Northeast Ohio seniors since 1942
Whether you seek independent or supported living— or services to help you remain at home—Jennings has the choices you need across a whole continuum of residences and services. Choose an engaging, worry-free residence, designed for your lifestyle and interests. Explore the balance of privacy, friendly neighbors and choices in activities to enjoy life the way you choose. Discover modern style, individualized comforts and exceptional amenities that help you live the life you deserve, including special events, daily Mass, mission and values-based services. • • • • • • • •
Jennings residents enjoy a fun — and safe — slip-and-slide experience on Jennings’ front lawn.
March 23, 2020 S3
Adult day services Alzheimer’s/memory care Apartments with services Assisted living Child and infantcare Community programs Home care Hospice
• • • •
Lifelong learning Long-term care Respite care Short-term skilled nursing & rehabilitation • Spiritual services • Villa homes and cottage homes • Volunteer opportunities
Honored as a top employer and caregiver: learn more at jenningsohio.org/honors Connect with us in social media: @JenningsOhio
Managing editor, custom and special projects: Amy Ann Stoessel, astoessel@crain.com
Project editor: Kathy Carr Graphic designer: Lisa Griffis
For more information about custom publishing opportunities, please contact Amy Ann Stoessel.
Brecksville | Chardon | Garfield Heights | Shaker Heights
(216) 581-2900 | jenningsohio.org