Greetings from the Ohio Masonic Home Resource Center! We are excited for the New Year and new opportunities to make a difference! We are the living expression of our Masonic values. We serve as the trusted partner to help people age respectfully. One of the ways we do that is through connecting you to resources.
Local communities often have assistance available but many people are either unaware of what is available or unsure of how to receive assistance. Your Liaisons from the Resource Center are well-versed in community support across the state and are here to help you access programs in your area. One example is various programs that deliver nutritious meals. Another example would be local transportation programs that operate and are available to our clients. Many times we find that those with whom we work may qualify for specific programs such as Home Health, Hospice, HEAP, and PIPP but were not aware that assistance was available to them.
Our Liaisons also offer assistance to caregivers. In life, one of the biggest decisions we are faced with is when loved ones need more help. Many of our clients want to stay at home longer, while others seek senior living communities. That decision is often weighted by how much care is needed and what is appropriate for that individual. If you are caring for a loved one at home, an important thing to remember is to acknowledge the impact caregiving has on you, and get support and help finding available resources and services. We are here to help.
One of our Liaisons is currently working with a family whose mom is in an assisted living facility, and they want to bring her home to care for her. In order to do this, they need to make home improvements to make their home accessible. We have connected her to resources to be able to get these things prior to her mom coming home. Our Liaison also referred her to the local Area Agency on Aging to have a long term care assessment done. This will help to see how long her money will last so that they can make a plan as to how they can best help her at home.
Our Liaisons can talk to clients about Palliative Care vs Hospice and other services like having a doctor or nurse practitioner come to the home, when it is difficult to get loved ones out to doctor appointments and for other care needs. There are services available that can help with things like light housekeeping, driving, grocery shopping, and medical care and financial responsibilities.
Please don’t hesitate to give us a call for additional support, resources, and assistance, whether you are already a caregiver assisting a loved one, or need assistance for you or someone else.
