Aging in Place the Goal for Local, State Programs

TRUMBULL, Conn. – Aging in place has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially as so-called baby-boomers have begun entering their senior years. And while getting older without leaving the comfort and familiarity of your own home is certainly an appealing option, staying put often means that at least some of the burden and responsibility for care falls squarely on the shoulders of family members. In fact, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 40 million Americans are engaged to some extent in caring for an elderly relative.

Providing eldercare – especially for a senior with medical needs – is no easy task, and sometimes, the responsibilities can seem overwhelming. Realistically, juggling the needs of your loved one with the competing responsibilities of your own life can be a logistical nightmare.

Fortunately, residents of Connecticut have an option in place that allows seniors to remain in their homes while receiving the compassionate, skilled care they need to help preserve their independence. The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) offers a broad range of homecare services, including skilled nursing care, homemaker and companion services, adult daycare and foster care, and emergency response programs, all aimed at enabling seniors who otherwise would be institutionalized to remain in their homes. The state-run program is administered to local residents through the Agency on Aging.

CHCPE uses a three-tier system based on participants’ financial and care needs. But even if your loved one does not yet qualify for care under the program’s guidelines, they can enroll in a partner program that offers a private payment option, enabling them to easily transition into the state-run program once they do qualify without the need to find a new – and unfamiliar – caregiver.

Connecticut In-Home Assistance is one of the independent agencies that’s working in partnership with the state program to provide a private pay option. Company CEO Jamieson Wieland says Connecticut In-Home Assistance was chosen as a care provider based on its history for providing compassionate and reliable care to the area’s seniors.

“We’ve been working with seniors for more than a decade, so we understand their needs as well as the resources available to them,” Wieland noted. “We also understand that many seniors and their family members can be worried or anxious during this time, so we work with them to develop the best plan for their needs and to help them understand the options that are available to them, both through our agency and the state program.”

Connecticut In-Home Assistance offers companion and homemaker services, including meal preparation, light house cleaning, assistance with handling and organizing mail, and other companion and social services, as well as personal care services like bathing, dressing and toileting. Hourly, overnight and daytime shifts and 24-hour live-in arrangements are available, and Connecticut In-Home Assistance caregivers are also available to accompany patients to doctor’s visits and to provide care while family members are out of town. Their new private duty nursing service can assist when insurance covered nursing services are not appropriate. For New Haven County visit http://www.aoascc.org

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