ElderHealth Northwest

Organization

                            

ElderHealth is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for frail elders and people with chronic or terminal illnesses and disabilities. We respect the dignity of our participants and provide for them with care and compassion. We are committed, through our program of health and social services, to the independence and well-being of all participants and to providing respite for caregivers.

ElderHealth NW has been working in the greater Seattle area community for over 25 years and was among the first adult day health providers in the country. Over time, ElderHealth has expanded to offer a variety of services in accordance with its holistic mission statement.

ElderHealth supports elders through four Adult Day Health sites, an Adult Day Care Program, two Supported Living sites, In-Home Services, a Volunteer Companionship program, Mental Health Services and Care Consultations.
 
Adult Day Health Centers provide community-based long-term care and rehabilitation. They are designed to help frail elders and disabled adults maintain or improve their physical, social and cognitive functioning. Nursing, rehabilitation, mental health, life skills and recreation services combined with social programs help participants to remain living in their homes. ElderHealth's adult day health sites offer five different programs, generally with a 6:1 participant/staff ratio:

• "General Program" for frail and physically challenged adults. The General Program includes stimulating activities and special events along with the usual health and rehabilitation services. 
• "Structured Group" for adults with Alzheimer's or dementia. With a low 4:1 participant/staff ratio, Structured Group provides personalized attention within a peaceful and safe environment including gentle socializing and meaningful activities. "Structured Group" is transitioning to a "Memory Care and Wellness" model, with goals to keep the mind and body as active, relaxed and healthy as possible.
• "Get Active Program" for developmentally disabled adults who enjoy group settings. Along with social and recreational activities, this program promotes independence in functional living and vocational skills, and includes training in personal hygiene care, transferring, and mobility. 
• "TIME Program" for developmentally disabled adults who thrive in more individualized activities. TIME program is designed to increase socialization and attention skills, develop and improve motor skills and help people maintain independence while providing respite for caregivers.
• "Heads Up Program" for adults with acquired brain injuries. Heads Up strives to foster independence, responsibility, and integration into community life.

Adult Day Care provides for individuals with cognitive disabilities such as Alzheimer's who do not yet require more intensive physical health care, while providing respite to caregivers. Adult day care involves four hours of social and recreational activities without the medical/rehabilitation component, and takes place at a day health site.

Supported Living Homes provide an alternative to larger institutional settings, with 24-hour care especially for those with Alzheimer's and dementia or other chronic illnesses. With an average of 14 – 16 residents each, these two homes are ideal for those who do not want to leave their homes for an institutional setting and who need more personalized attention than can be offered in a typical large-scale facility. 25% of individuals in low-income supported living homes have moved directly out of nursing homes and 100% of those living in supported living homes are technically nursing home eligible. 

In-Home Services help to keep people living in their own homes as long as possible. Skilled home care aides assist with a variety of in-home tasks such as bathing and personal care, laundry, meals, cleaning and shopping. 

ElderFriends, a volunteer companionship program, focuses on reducing isolation and loneliness through offering friendly visits twice monthly to older adults still living independently in the community.

A new Mental Health Program uses a case management model to address mental health needs of current clients receiving adult day health or homecare services, as well as new clients referred specifically for mental health services.

Care Consultation helps families by assessing eldercare needs, arranging for services, and recommending appropriate placement if needed.

As of June 2009, ElderHealth was serving over 1400 individuals each year. This includes 1120 involved in adult day health, 50 in supported housing, 150 receiving home care services, and over 120 matched with visiting volunteers. The newly added mental health program serves 54 clients and is growing.

The participant demographic breakdown includes:

• Health Status – 60-70% of the overall population ElderHealth serves is nursing home eligible and might otherwise be living in an institution: 
  • 100% are chronically ill, terminally ill or disabled
  • 24% have Alzheimer's disease
  • 60% have mental illnesses
  • 45% have had a stroke, brain injury or developmental disability
  • 31% have other chronic or terminal conditions
    
    
• Income 
  • 97% are low-income
  • 71% are Medicaid-reimbursed; 29% are private pay
    
    
• Ethnicity
  • 70% Caucasian
  • 16.5% African American
  • 7.5% Asian or Pacific Islander
  • 3% Hispanic or Latino
  • 1% Native American
  • 2% Other
    
    
• Age
  • Average age is 79 in elder programs
  • Average age is 46 in specialized brain injury and developmental disability programs

As of June 2009, ElderHealth operated with a budget of over 10.5 million dollars. Sources of funding include:

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