Aging Services
As the population ages, long term care will become increasingly important, creating an increased need for in-home and institutional services. Funding for the Peninsula Agency on Aging has remained flat, adding to the problem of an already overburdened budget. This lack of funding strains government and personal resources. Medicare's current cost-containment strategies will help, but will not be enough to counter the growth in demand for health care services by our aging population. The population increase in long-lived elderly will cause a dramatic rise in chronic illness and the need for long-term care.
“No Wrong Door” is Virginia’s approach to one-stop for health and human services. It is a collaborative public/private effort between the Virginia Department for the Aging, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse services, Senior Navigator, Area Agencies on Aging, local governments and providers.
Long-term care is no longer simply convalescent care but rather a comprehensive system of services needed by the elderly and disabled. These services include in-home care, companion services, congregate meals and home delivery of meals, housing, transportation and emergency services. Some of these needs are being addressed through the Newport News Task Force on Aging. The task force committee includes representatives from the City Manager’s Office, Department of Social Services, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the Newport Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Peninsula Health District, the Community Services Board, the Peninsula Agency on Aging, Peninsula Institute for Community Health, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.) and other volunteers from Newport News' elderly population. The task force has eight recommendations to better serve the population in Newport News. They include: the establishment of a leadership position to coordinate and promote senior services; assist the aging population to live as independently as possible in the community; encourage programs that assist aging residents with maintaining their own wellness; explore transportation alternatives useful to seniors; expand the use of the Internet as a tool for seniors to access information; encourage training among health professionals who provide services to seniors; expand employment/volunteer opportunities for seniors and assist in the expansion of intergenerational contacts and communications.
The task force has investigated the use of the Internet as a tool to disseminate information to seniors. SeniorNavigator.com is a website geared towards seniors and those who care about them. The website is an initiative of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Information found on the website focuses on senior-related issues such as health and aging, financial concerns, legal questions, health facilities, assisted living and housing, exercise programs, support groups and more. The information on the website is organized by zip code to allow searches by zip code which identifies the resources available in the community. In addition to the website, Senior Navigator works with a volunteer network that brings the information on the website to people without access to computers or the Internet.
The Peninsula Agency on Aging provides a myriad of services for seniors within Newport News. In 2006, Peninsula Agency on Aging provided 3,700 hours of adult day care, 47 hours of care coordination, 17,213 meals for 145 individuals in its dining center, 355 hours for disease prevention and health promotion, 47 contacts for elder abuse prevention, 90,682 home delivered meals to 356 individuals, information and assistance for 1,557 individuals, legal assistance for 30 individuals, medication management for 54 individuals, 9,853 hours of personal care for 93 individuals and 11,695 one-way trips for 296 individuals requiring transportation.
The Newport News Department of Social Services also provides services in the areas of long-term care, prevention, and protective services to senior citizens. During FY 2006, an average monthly caseload for the Adult Protective/Adult Services unit was 308. During that time, the agency received and investigated 254 reports of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation; performed 179 pre-screenings for nursing home, community-based care, and personal care services; completed 75 adult care resident assessments for seniors living in Assisted Living Facilities; processed 70 guardianship cases with the Circuit Court; maintained a monthly average caseload of 136 seniors receiving in-home companion services; maintained a Companion Provider Resource List of 61 service providers; and recruited, trained, and approved 16 new Companion Providers.
While the Peninsula Agency on Aging presently serves as an advocate for Peninsula senior citizens, there remains the need for a Newport News advocate to ensure the issues which face our aging population are considered. Such a person could serve as a long term care liaison to the General Assembly.