Council on Aging Program

s The following are programs sponsored by the Southern California Council on Aging, a trusted nonprofit organization since 1973. It provides unbiased information, programs and services to more than 290,000 seniors and disabled adults annually across Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties. It promotes the independence, health and dignity of adults through compassion, education and advocacy. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, program operations may have changed. Make sure to call first; contact information is included for each resource.

Concierge Care Navigators

Are you overwhelmed with the responsibilities of providing care for a loved one and unsure of how to navigate the health care system? Concierge Care Navigators is here to help. These geriatric care managers will help manage the complexities of your loved one’s health care needs. Gerontologist and registered nurses are specially trained to evaluate, plan and coordinate care. They conduct on-site assessments and create an online care plan based on recommendations from physicians, family and health care providers. The plan focuses on wellness, prevention and keeping loved ones safely at home. Accessible online to all family members, the care plan facilitates wellbeing, independence and peace of mind.

Concierge Care Navigators offer care plans that address short and long-term goals. Services include:

• Consultation with client/family members at their home, hospital or skilled nursing facility to assess health and safety needs

• Online, comprehensive care plans, including medical and nonmedical goals, based on recommendations from physicians, family and health care providers

• Care plan update notifications to care team via text and email

• Assistance in discharge planning from hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to home

• Medication management overseen by a licensed, registered nurse

• Help in scheduling and attending medical appointments with clients

• Referrals to trusted community resources and immediate access to Council on Aging programs

• Support with implementation of the care plans and fostering family engagement, providing confidence and peace of mind Concierge Care Navigators is a fee-for-service program for Orange County residents. Call (714) 619-2129 for a free 30-minute consultation.

Friendly Visitor Program

Isolation is rampant among older adults who lose mobility, lack transportation options, and live alone or away from family. The Friendly Visitor Program prevents and alleviates the physical and mental health risks linked to isolation. This program benefits isolated older and disabled adults by addressing their basic, social, emotional, and environmental needs.

The program offers a supportive social structure of trained volunteers who provide weekly positive interactions to frail and disabled adults. Through ongoing assessments, recurring home and telephone visitations, the program identifies clients’ unmet needs and offers ongoing assistance in securing access to appropriate health and social resources.

Services are provided at no cost to participants and include:

• A screening evaluation conducted by an intake specialist

• Comprehensive in-home assessment administered by a Social Worker

• Individual care plan and coordination of care

• Weekly telephone checkups and home visitation

• Short-term in-home therapy as needed

• Ongoing case monitoring

• Referrals and linkages to needed healthcare and community resources

• Participant and family education To find out more, call (714) 479-0107. The program is offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese in Orange County.

HICAP

The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Medicare is often complex and confusing. HICAP offers one-on-one counseling to assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, friends and caregivers understand their Medicare benefits and best healthcare options.

HICAP is part of the national network of State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and is the most dependable source of unbiased and accurate Medicare related information.

The Council on Aging’s HICAP counselors are trained California state-registered staff and volunteers. It provides Medicare counseling, community education and outreach. HICAP does not sell, endorse, promote or recommend commercial insurance products or services.

Call HICAP when you need help; the hotline is (800) 434-0222 for HICAP or for general information, (714) 560-0424, for Orange County.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Since 1976, long-term care Ombudsman advocacy has been one of the founding initiatives of the Council on Aging-Southern California. Long-term care Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes and assisted living facilities.

Its mission is to empower residents through advocacy, mediation, complaint investigation and resolution. Ombudsmen provide information about how to find a facility and what to do to get quality care. They are trained to resolve problems and can assist you with complaints.

Ombudsman services are free and confidential. It can answer questions about abuse complaints, your rights as a resident, qualityof- care concerns, suspected financial abuse and more.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is available to assist in resolving problems and advocating for the rights of long-term care residents. While they are unable to visit facilities, they can ensure that issues are addressed by telephone or other means of communication. If you have a complaint or concern, or need to reach a Long-Term Care Ombudsman, call (800) 300-6222 in Orange County or the 24-hour CRISIS line (800) 231-4024.

ReConnect EISOA Program: Early Intervention Services for Older Adults Adults aged 60 or above make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce. While most have good mental health, many are at risk of developing mental disorders. Staying vital and connected can help you ward off the depression that often comes with aging, especially since the advent of COVID-19 and the isolation that comes with restrictions. The ReConnect EISOA Program offers short-term comprehensive services to Orange County residents who are experiencing emotional challenges and overall health barriers, particularly those appearing later in life.

As many as one in four older adults experience mental health concerns that are not a normal part of aging—the most common of which are anxiety or mood disorders, including depression. In most cases, these mental health issues respond well to treatment.

There is help for Orange County residents age 60 years of age or older with limited or inadequate social support who are experiencing loneliness and mental health challenges. As long as you are willing to participte in the program and can perform activites independently, your quality of life can be improved.

The ReConnect Program is offered in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese.

The ReConnect Program provides up to 12 months of early intervention services at no cost to participants. This includes: • Comprehensive screenings

• In-home clinical case management services

• Psychiatric assessments

• Individual counseling

• Referrals and linkages to resources

• Family support services

• Peer mentoring services

• Support groups

• Educational and social activities

• Mental Health is as Important as Physical Health Senior Protection Program & Financial Abuse Specialist Team

Financial abuse is the fastest growing and least reported form of abuse. This Senior Protection Program provides education and empowerment to help you recognize and guard yourself against financial exploitation. The Senior Protection Program (SPP) provides educational seminars on abuse targeting older adults and adults with disabilities. SPP is proud to be part of a multidisciplinary team known as the Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST).

FAST members serve as volunteer advisors offering information in the areas of law, criminal investigation, civil litigation, guardianship, fiduciary matters, banking and accounting, real estate, insurance, and senior services. FAST assists Adult Protective Services (APS), the Ombudsmen, law enforcement and attorneys in resolving complicated matters of abuse. Financial abuse occurs when someone improperly uses another persons’ money or property. If you suspect that you or someone you know is being financially abused, report it:

• Call Adult Protective Services (APS) for individuals living independently at 1 (800) 451-5155.

•Report suspicions of abuse to local law enforcement; the Seal Beach Police Department non-emergency line is (562) 799-4100 Report scams to the FTC online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant. gov or call 1 (877) 382-4357.