Year in Review E-Report through March 2013

Dear Friends and Partners in Aging Work, Care for Elders staff created this report to share the partnership’s work – your work – and accomplishments as we moved into a new home at United Way of Greater Houston, celebrated our 10 year anniversary, and welcomed a new Director and new partners. We now look ahead to the next chapter of Care for Elders: working hand-in-hand with you to coordinate the work of today and to plan for the work of tomorrow. Thank you to our partners, champions and fellow advocates for your ongoing support and involvement. To our future partners and those who care deeply for older adults, welcome. We look forward to working and learning with you. Houston is a city with great opportunity and innovation in aging. It is here that together we will do the work and make the discoveries that will impact quality of life for older adults and will change our expectations for a meaningful “Third Act”.

(713) 685-2437 50 Waugh Drive Houston, TX 77007 www.careforelders.org facebook.com/care4elders

THREE THINGS WE BELIEVE 1. Everyone deserves to age with options, independence, well-being and dignity.

2. Planning for the future should be an empowering experience.

3. We can enhance the quality of life for older adults by understanding needs and aspirations, engaging cross-sector leadership and leveraging resources for efficiency and impact.

HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We coordinate resources and services to improve access and care. We're also helping individuals take charge of their lives by providing information for maintaining independence.

We improve the quality of care for older adults by developing new models, sharing best practices, supporting service providers and advocating for new policies.

WHY IT MATTERS

By 2040, nearly one million people in Harris County will be age 65+. This demographic shift will present many challenges. It will also provide unprecedented opportunities for older adults to connect with their community, share their wisdom, make meaningful contributions and fulfill their aspirations in what experts are calling “the third act of life”. Our collective response to these challenges and opportunities will impact the quality of life for older adults, and may help to define our region’s future.

About Care for Elders

Direct Care Workers Conference This conference recognizes the important role direct care workers play in caring for and improving the quality of life for older adults. Direct care

workers have the opportunity to participate in workshops, develop new skills and share their experiences with others in the field.

Spring 2013 Conference

103 direct care workers

representing 19 organizations

The following “heart” text is direct feedback from Spring participants.

Fall 2013 Conference: August 12, 2013

This program is supported in part by the Harris County Area Agency on Aging

Practical skills for working with:

• Epilepsy • Dementia • Money Management • Real-World Caregiving Tips • Safe Client Transfers Call Elizabeth DeLozier at 713-685-2816 or register at: www.careforelders.org/conference

2-1-1 Texas United Way Helpline

United Way of Greater Houston Elder Care Specialists

Harris County Area Agency on Aging

Catholic Charities

Houston Area Parkinson

Society

Jewish Family Service

Chinese Community

Center

Family Services of Greater Houston

Harris County Social Services

Boat People SOS

Sheltering Arms Senior Services / Neighborhood

Centers Inc.

Alzheimer’s Association

Care for Elders Access Network A collaboration of Care for Elders and 11 partner agencies

working to improve older adults’ access to needed services.

Results: July 2011 - March 2013

2,338 clients received Enhanced Information & Referral

362 clients received Case Management

66 clients received Benefits Counseling

Ms. Adams is an older Houstonian who called the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way

Helpline for assistance. Ms. Adams was $3,500 behind on her mortgage, suffering from multiple health problems, had no health insurance, and was unable to afford any medications to treat her high anxiety, depression and insomnia. She was working but her health challenges forced her to miss work and her hours were cut. Through a 2-1-1 Elder Care Specialist, Ms. Adams was connected to an Access Network partner Case Manager. The Case Manager started by helping Ms. Adams access housing counseling and foreclosure prevention as well as health care and utility assistance.

She began receiving health care services through the Harris County Hospital

District but was unable to afford the co-pays, so her Case Manager connected Ms. Adams to prescription assistance and also to the Access Network Flexible Funding Pool. To prepare for employment, Ms. Adams applied and accepted into the Region IV Alternative Teacher Certification program.

Unfortunately, as Ms. Adams began making progress, her health worsened

and she was instructed by her physician to stop working. Soon after, her computer stopped working, making the job search very difficult. Her Case Manager quickly helped her access computer repair services and, in order to prevent foreclosure and repossession of Ms. Adams’ car, the Flexible Funding Pool approved payment of past due mortgage, car, and utility payments as well as her teacher certification exam.

Persevering through these obstacles, Ms. Adams continued to attend

foreclosure prevention counseling in order to obtain a loan modification. She passed the teacher certification exam before the school year started and secured a part-time job, all while working with her Case Manager and partner agencies to find full-time job leads and pursue a the home loan modification.

By summer, Ms. Adams’ loan

modification was approved, her health began to improve, and she was offered and accepted a full-time teaching position in HISD!

Why the Access Network Matters

To ensure confidentiality, client name and photo have been changed.

Access Network Accomplishments

Training: 22 staff trained and certified by Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program

85 staff cross-trained with Adult Protective Services

Linkage to Critical Services: • Dental services • Anxiety relief • Transportation

options • Hunger reduction

Needs Met - Flexible Funding Pool: 219 requests funded representing $137,010

Top needs: Home repair, Dental, Transportation, Household supplies, Mortgage or Rent

Personalized Care: 329 home visits by the Field Specialist

Families

30% of all adults in Houston

report providing regular care to an older loved one. - 2012 United Way Community Assessment

Taking Stock: The State of Our Town

Economic Independence Initiative (EI2), Care for Elders’ pilot, included Access Network partners Chinese Community Center, Boat People SOS, Sheltering Arms Senior Services, Family Services of Greater Houston, Jewish Family Services, Catholic Charities and Neighborhood Centers Inc. EI2 provide financial services to 204 clients from December 2010 to November 2011. Clients received a financial and benefits assessment, a financial plan co-created with staff, benefits application assistance and financial case management.

Outcomes: On average, clients increased income and/or decreased expenses of $540 per year and increased benefits by an average of over $1,000 per year.

Lessons Learned:

Ensuring that older adults receive all public benefits for which they are eligible allows them to age in place.

Helping clients create and set realistic goals with concrete steps and timelines is a practice enhancement for working with older adults.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) launched the Economic Security Initiative program to serve older adults with economic needs. In collaboration with Care for Elders and 19 additional partners, NCOA moved 5,129 older adults toward greater economic security.

102

48

59

16

34

24

0 20 40 60 80 100

Short and Long-TermFinancial Goals

Educational Materials

Monthly Budget

Financial Management/Organizational Tools

Bill Payment Calendar

Balance Sheet

Total Clients Served

EI2 Tools Used

15%

56%

29%

Assessment: Can Client Meet Expenses?

Always

Sometimes

Never

Economic Independence Initiative

Connection

In Harris County, 82,400 older adults are living alone and at high risk for isolation. Research shows that as older adults are more active in their community, socialization and a sense of purpose are tied to positive health outcomes. - 2011 American Community Survey

Taking Stock: The State of Our Town

Thank you.

To the community of energetic and passionate advocates for older adults, especially direct care workers and family caregivers

To Access Network partners for continuing to work with vulnerable older adults in accessing needed services

To the Leadership Council for ongoing commitment and guidance

To funders who helped put our ideas in motion

To United Way of Greater Houston for championing Care for Elders and ensuring that our work continues

Care for Elders is Houston's largest, most diverse and most experienced partnership focused solely on elder care issues. Uniting over 80 members from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, we are dedicated to informing public policy and influencing community practice to increase access to services, improve the quality of care, and enhance the quality of life for older adults and their families.

(713) 685-2437 www.careforelders.org

facebook.com/care4elders

Dial 2-1-1 to talk with an Elder Care Expert

United Way of Greater Houston serves as the fiscal sponsor for Care for Elders