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About MVES Affiliations View 2006-2007 Annual Report |
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About Mystic Valley Elder Services
How We Can Help
An important function of MVES as an eldercare agency is to assess the service needs of all our elders and their families, and to develop and coordinate community services in response to those needs. Our Aging Information Center department assists 8,000 callers a year with information about community resources and Mystic Valley's services and special assistance programs. Some staff and volunteers are specially trained to provide information and advice to elders regarding the complicated subject of health insurance and programs that can help elders with the costs of medical care.
The Home Care Program helps disabled or homebound elders with their basic daily needs such as bathing, dressing, shopping, and house cleaning. The most common include homemaker, personal care, home delivered meals, and grocery shopping. A case manager will make a visit to the elder's home to explain the available services and discuss what is needed. The goal is to help the elder and the family with any problems they face and to put the necessary supports in place to ensure a safe environment for the elder. Elders who are requesting or are referred for home care services are screened for eligibility in terms of income and need. An intake worker will make a home visit to review eligibility, and to explain our various programs and any co-payments that may be involved. We also make these same services available on a private pay basis to elders who exceed the income guidelines for government funded assistance programs.
Nutrition Services play an important role in keeping elders healthy and independent at home. Our drivers and volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels to 1,200 elders daily, five days a week. Another 300 elders gather each day at community meal sites for socialization and a nutritious meal. No fees are charged, but a $1.50 donation is requested for each meal. Our registered dietitian conducts nutrition education at the meal sites and does in-home nutritional assessments for at-risk elders.
Elder Care Advice is a free program that offers families in our service area with an in-home consultation regarding elder care options and resources. Professional advisors answer questions, offer advice, and provide connections to elder care resources and programs, and help families develop and coordinate care for elder loved ones.
Through our Family Caregiver Support Program, we provide support, assistance, resources, and information to those special individuals who are caring for elderly loved ones. Our Caregiver Support Specialist offers one-on-one one assistance and helps caregivers to access services, assess options, and connect with others to feel less isolated and receive encouragement, support, and understanding.
The Money Management Program matches volunteers with elders who need assistance with routine banking and bill-paying tasks. SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) provides volunteers who are specially trained to provide guidance and consultation to elders regarding the complicated subject of health insurance. They also educate elders how to review their Medicare bills and to report any irregularities they detect.
Our Protective Service and Elder At Risk caseworkers respond to reports of neglect and abuse, and reach out to self-neglecting elders who are refusing services. Their goal in each case is to resolve the problems that are putting the elder at risk and to put the necessary supports in place to ensure a safe environment for the elder.
In addition, Mystic Valley provides some legal services and programs to assist low vision elders, deaf elders, and elders with memory loss.
Mystic Valley's volunteer programs are a critical addition to the services we provide to maximize the independence of our older residents. As board members, we serve as volunteers at Mystic Valley, donating our time and counsel to guide the agency. We also have opportunities for individuals interested in serving as SHINE or Money Management Counselors, and provide extensive training to these volunteers. Another program, known as Project Independence, recruits volunteers to serve as friendly visitors to isolated elders, deliver meals, and assist elders to medical appointments. Through RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), seniors can participate in a variety of volunteer activities, including the Reading Partners program, an intergenerational program to tutor grade-school children with their reading.
We are also committed to reaching out to linguistic and cultural minorities who may have difficulty accessing services. Our multicultural outreach include referral & translation assistance, an Asian meal site, and health care access training for refugee elders who are new to our American health care system.