David G., 64, says his life has improved tremendously since being referred to Area Agency on Aging (AAA) last October.
“My apartment is clean, my fridge is stocked, and I get to all of my doctor appointments,” he said.
David has primarily lived by himself his entire adult life thanks to the help of a guardian from Guardianship & Alternatives Inc. in Dowagiac, his brother who checks in on him, and friends and neighbors.
He’s an avid collector of playing cards and records – all meticulously labeled and organized in his apartment in Paw Paw. He loves watching old movies and playing his digital Pac-Man game. His recliner is well-loved, but his walker is always ready for a stroll around his apartment complex so he can chat with neighbors.
While he said he’s always felt independent, when he fell in his apartment last year and laid on the floor for hours before being able to call for help, he knew he needed more support.
He was referred to the MI Choice Waiver program through AAA and immediately qualified and enrolled. The Waiver program lets those aged 18 and older with a disability with nursing-home level of care needs make choices about how they want to be cared for and where they want to live.
David’s first request was for an emergency response button to wear around his neck so if he ever fell again, it’d be much easier to call for help. He then chose to hire a caregiver – someone who could come in and help him clean his apartment, get his laundry done, and help him get to the grocery store. He has also received incontinence supplies, grab bars and other items to help him live by himself.
In March, he chose to start receiving services from AAA’s Integrated Care at Home program which brings health care into the homes of people who are primarily homebound.
“I like that I have more people come check on and talk with me,” he said.
Nurse Practitioner Carri McCarthy, Integrated Care at Home’s primary care provider, sees David right in his home, monitoring for changes in his health, referring him to specialists, and, ultimately, reducing the likelihood he’ll end up in the hospital from another fall or health emergency.
He also has sessions with Registered Dietician Melissa Powell, who counsels him on foods that compliment his health conditions, what food items he might want to choose at the grocery store, and how a healthy diet can also help in reducing a health emergency.
David said his independence has increased since becoming enrolled in Integrated Care at Home and MI Choice Waiver, both of which are paid for through his insurance.
“I have advanced so much,” he said.
David shared that being able to live in a home he feels comfortable in is important to him as he continues to get older. A home where he can play a card game whenever he wants. A home where he can turn the volume up on his classic movie as loud as he wants.
For those who choose to live at home instead of a nursing home or other facility, MI Choice Waiver, Integrated Care at Home and other AAA programs can offer holistic, person-centered care. Call us today at 800-654-2810 to see how AAA can support you or a loved one who wants to live independently. Home is your choice.
Alexandra Newman is the communications and outreach coordinator for the Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Interested in having an AAA representative speak to your group or organization? Email alexandranewman@areaagencyonaging.org. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800654-2810. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.