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A Living at Home/Block Nurse Program provides or arranges whatever support an elder neighbor needs to continue living at home as long as possible. This support - which may otherwise not be available - uses the Program's small staff, volunteers and/or paid nursing staff, and typically includes:
Community Support through volunteers:
Friendly visiting
Telephone reassurance
Simple home repairs
Lawn/garden services
Transportation
Assisting with paperwork/explaining Medicare
Socialization (church, dances, dinners)
Matching friends (multigenerational activities)
Additionally, volunteers or service coordinators help provide or arrange for the following services:
Meals on Wheels/congregate dining
Homemaking/chore service
Adult day care
Respite support
Senior center activities
Legal/financial assistance
Health Education: Opportunities the program offers throughout the year include:
Community health fairs
Individual consultations with the elder/caregiver on health issues
Workshops on topics such as falls prevention, advance directives and vision
impairment
General Health Assistance:
Partnering with a Medicare certified nursing agency, professional nursing and trained staff work collaboratively to provide the following services:
Health history and assessment
Vision, hearing and depression screening
Blood pressure/blood glucose monitoring
Medication management
Referrals/reminders for health maintenance (flu shots, mammograms etc.)
Case Management:
The Program Nurse works with the elder and other key individuals to:
Identify health problems
Determine needed services
Identify who will provide such service
Consult with other service providers (physicians, therapists, social workers)
Evaluate outcomes and adjust care plan when indicated
Skilled Health Care Services:
When necessary, support is arranged/coordinated with the partner nursing agency or other community providers.
Program Offers: Skilled nursing, home health aide support,
durable medical equipment
Program Refers/Arranges: Physical/Occupational/Speech
therapies, hospice care
Where to go next:
If you discover that there is no Living at Home/Block Nurse Program in your area, refer to the links below for other possible sources of help in your area.
Note that every Program is customized to its community and its needs, therefore Programs do not all offer the same services. Call your local Program to learn about specific services.
Administration on Aging Eldercare Locator telephone number: 1-800-677-1116
Minnesota Board on Aging Senior LinkAge Line: 1-800-333-2433
Resource Directory for Older People
State Agencies on Aging
MinnesotaHelp.info
Resources for Minnesota Caregivers
A listing of helpful links for senior healthcare support and resources assembled by Empire Homecare Resources
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