Gatekeeper Program UNITED WAY GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY The Gatekeeper - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Gatekeeper Program UNITED WAY GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY

The Gatekeeper Program is… A collective community approach to connecting seniors in need to appropriate services. Gatekeepers are trained to: • Identify the warning signs that a senior may be in need of help • Call a Gatekeeper referral number and report their concerns

Who is Here? Two types of people in this group: • Trained Gatekeepers • Informed traditional referral sources

Gatekeepers 1. Apartment & living 8. Repair / Cleaning 18. Pharmacy / drug community personnel store employees managers 9. Plumbers & septic 19. Veterinarians 2. Mail & newspaper employees 20. Ministers / clergy carriers 10. Bar & restaurant 21. State ID personnel 3. Farm equipment staff 22. Neighbors dealers 11. Salons & barbers 23. Trash collectors 4. Grocery store 12. Insurance agents 24. Liquor store staff personnel 13. Bill collectors 25. Lawyers / clerks of 5. Home delivery 14. Gas station staff court 6. Fuel distributers 15. Local business 26. General community 7. Utility company receptionists employees, i.e. 16. Fire department phone, cable, gas, 17. Transit employees electric

United Way Alliance on Aging • United Way Alliance on Aging is an award-winning Collective Impact movement • It advances United Way’s Healthy Aging goal of helping seniors stay healthy at home. • 300 members

What is Collective Impact?

The Plan Healthy at Home 15% At-risk 55% Dependent 25% 5% Institutionalized

The Need for Gatekeepers • 98,000 adults over the age of 65 • 25,000 dependent seniors living in their homes… need help from others to meet their own daily self-care needs. • Of these dependent seniors, 4,950 dependent seniors report they are not receiving any help from friends, family, social services or paid services. These seniors are falling through the cracks of the system & are likely to be institutionalized if we cannot find them and get them the support that they need.

The Need for Gatekeepers Receiving Support Dependent Stressed Support No Support

Catholic Charities • A private non-profit operating under the Diocese of Allentown • Offers services to meet the needs of people in our community who need support, care and compassion  Infants and children in need of a home  Families in need of counseling and support  Pregnant women in search of assistance  Immigration assistance  Those in need who face homelessness, hunger and unemployment.  Parish outreach  Elders in need of care and special services

Aging is Everyone’s Future

Accepting Help Can Be Hard Some seniors resist services: • Denial of need • Pride and stoicism • Fear of losing control over life • Shame, suspicion or fear of letting others in • Negative stigma associated with using “social services” • Financial reasons • Mental health issues such as paranoia, memory loss, depression • Lack of information about services

Isolation • Geographic • Economic • Social / Emotional

General Warning Signs The Gatekeeper should notice: • Physical appearance • Mental condition • Emotional state • Physical losses or changes • Economic or social conditions • Living conditions

Change as an Indicator

Essential Intervention

Physical Appearance • Poor hygiene • Inappropriate clothing for weather or situation • Missing articles of clothing • Bruises or injury • Weight loss or gain • Looking lost or disoriented

Mental Condition • Confusion to time, place, person • Forgetfulness • Inappropriate verbal / non-verbal responses • Difficulty understanding written information though able to read • Fabricating stories or excuses for behavior • Excessive shopping (OCD, more than realistically consumable) • Delusional Aspirations or overly gullible

Emotional State • Depressed, apathetic, withdrawn, dependent, passive  Crying more than usual  “I don’t care anymore” attitude • Anxious, nervous, fidgety or rapid mood changes • Angry, hostile or irritable with themselves, you or others • Stubborn, refuse to cooperate, demanding or negative • Exhibit lack of trust, suspiciousness or excessive jealousy • Exhibit excessive emotional reaction to stressors  Major- death / Minor- accomplishing a task • Expressions of hopelessness  “No one cares”, “I’m all alone” attitudes  Actual expression of suicidal thoughts- “ I wish I was dead”

Physical Loss or Changes • Sensory changes, such as loss of sight or hearing • Loss of hearing aid, dentures or glasses • Decreased functional ability • Acute physical illness • Recent or chronic illness, especially is progressive • Numerous AND scattered medication bottles • Inability to drive appropriately • Loss of ability to control urine or bowel movements

Economic or Social Conditions • Loss of job or means of support • Confused about handling money • Lack of social contacts and support • Lack of family involvement • Homebound

Living Conditions • Walkways not shoveled • Dilapidated & dangerous exterior / interior home environment • Garden or flowers neglected • Little or no food • Garbage or litter accumulation • Excessive or not enough heat / AC • Neglect of animals • Numerous empty alcohol containers • Shades down- house appears closed off • Car has not been moved for an extended amount of time • Strong odors • Numerous lights on throughout the • Many pets day or none at night • Old newspapers lying around • Calendar on wrong month or year

Making the Call & What to Expect • Your ONLY responsibility is to let us know that there may be a problem. • We will contact the person in need within 72 hours. • Because of your anonymous call, help is on its way. And we thank you!

How to Make a Referral CALL: Lehigh County Northampton County 610.782.3200 610.559.3270

Details for the Call Call the County AAA where the person lives. 1. State that you are a community Gatekeeper and would like 2. to make a referral. Be prepared to provide: 3.  Basic info about the older adult  Name  Phone number  Address  Information for a friend or family member who can be contacted  A brief description of the problem or situation  Your Gatekeeper ID number

Routine Referral Process Gatekeeper calls AAA Gatekeeper gives ID # Says the purpose of the call is to make a Gatekeeper referral AAA will track the calls, assign case managers and coordinate services

Gatekeeper ID Number Keeps your call anonymous so that the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) will not know who you are. TIPS: • Save your ID number on your phone • Keep your ID number in your vehicle or near your office phone

How Can You Help? You can: • Join United Way Alliance on Aging! • Distribute Gatekeeper brochures and encourage businesses to become trained • Make a Gatekeeper referral • Let others in the field know about the Alliance and the Gatekeeper program

Here’s Your Card! FRONT BACK