Officials in Albany County are hoping a new volunteer initiative will help keep some of the area’s hospitalized seniors out of 24/7 care once they’ve been discharged, and are on the lookout for volunteer navigators to help seniors make it through that complex time.
The Community Supports Navigator Program will be coming online at Albany Memorial Hospital in coming weeks. Under the free program, volunteers will be paired will participating seniors to help out in the weeks after discharge and lessen the chance of a hospital readmission.
The program is really a collaborative effort from three organizations: Albany County’s NY Connects, Community Caregivers in Guilderland and Northeast Health. It’s new this year and was made possible through a planning grant from the state Office for the Aging. It is only being piloted in Albany and Tompkins counties.
CSN really brings together elements that are already being offered into one program aimed at providing seniors being discharged from the hospital with much-needed support, said Erin Stachewicz, long term care coordinator for the county’s NY Connects program.
`We though it would be very beneficial to have this as an option for people who are being discharged form the hospital,` she said. `Rather than recreate, we’ll just expand on what we’re already doing.`
Volunteer navigators would not provide medical care, but help guide seniors and family members in their transition from hospital to home. This could involve connecting with local services, arranging pickup or delivery of medications and arranging for transportation to medical appointments.
The entire idea is to help seniors make a safe, stress-free transition back home and avoid having to return to the hospital. Navigators would be paired with a senior for 90 days, the first 30 of which a Northeast Health nurse would be available for assistance.
`It’s one of the things that is increasing healthcare costs for all of us,` said Diane Cameron, executive director of Community Caregivers. `If we can help meet the needs of people who don’t have to readmit, that’s going to be a benefit to the whole community.`
Community Caregivers is no stranger to the realm of volunteer services, having provided help to seniors for the past 15 years. Their volunteers generally focus on providing transportation to shopping or doctor’s visits, but they also offer respite services, technology assistance and assurance visits. The group currently serves around 680 clients.
Recurrent hospital readmission is a serious problem for some seniors, especially when families don’t have the time or resources to keep a close eye on their affairs once they’ve been released. Having a level-headed person to handle the minutiae, especially in the wake of a jarring hospitalization, can be a real help.
`That’s the kind of smart friend we all wish we had in a crisis,` Cameron said. `We believe there are many people who could be at home with care like this.`
Albany County Executive Michael Breslin is advocating the county make a transition to more home-based senior care rather than construct a new county nursing home, an issue that has put him at odds with some in the county legislature that would like to see a new complex built.
Notwithstanding that prickly issue, the Navigator program is definitely intended to extend the period people are able to remain at home and away from 24/7 care.
`It’s one piece of keeping people at home in their community as much as possible,` Stachewicz said. `It certainly helps them maintain their independence for a little bit longer.`
Those interested in volunteering as a navigator should contact Community Caregivers through www.communitycaregivers.org or 456-2898. Training will be taking place throughout the month.
Community Caregivers is looking for about 30 volunteers, said Cameron, and the time commitment would be on the order of a few hours per week, perhaps slightly more when the person is first discharged form the hospital.
The program will only be offered through Albany Memorial Hospital, but if it is successful it could see implementation elsewhere.
`I think its an exciting initiative,` said Stachewicz. `We’re hoping that it’s going to be extremely successful and something that can be duplicated elsewhere in New York state.`
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Pilot program to help seniors ‘navigate’ weeks after hospital discharge