UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 20, Page 7
February 20, 1992
Senior Housing Connection responds to employee requests

     When Barbara Greenfield felt it was time to seek care for her
elderly mother-in-law, she was confronted with questions concerning
the type of care to choose and what steps she should take to find
something that would suit her mother-in-law's needs.
     Realizing that others may be confronted with similar
questions, she joined with two partners in establishing the Senior
Housing Connection.
     The company provides information about housing accommodations,
based on medical and financial needs, available to the elderly in
the states of Delaware and Maryland, as well as the neighboring
counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
     Applicants are asked to complete a questionnaire that provides
Senior Housing Connection with relevant information. After
processing, clients are offered the most up-to-date information
available on housing and care facilities to satisfy their
individualized needs.
     "We're giving them information that could take days, even
weeks, to get together," Greenfield said.
     Once Senior Housing Connection provides suitable information,
the customer must contact the establishments independently to
discuss the facilities in greater detail and to arrange for a
visit. The final decision must be made by the person, family or
friends of the one person who will be using the care, and the
owner/manager of the housing or nursing facility.
     Information concerning each nursing or health care facility is
collected through a comprehensive questionnaire and is stored in a
computerized register. The company's records include
continuing-care retirement communities, personal-care homes,
independent-living homes, assisted-living homes, rent-assisted
housing, adult day care and both skilled- and intermediate-level
nursing homes.
     All facilities are state-certified and operated by the private
sector.
     The service takes some of the pressure off working children to
find adequate care for their elderly relatives, Greenfield said.
Since the elderly usually do not want to leave their homes, younger
relatives often bear the responsibility for finding appropriate
facilities.
     "We're here to discuss the family situation with people," she
said. "We help them work through their stress."
     Senior Housing Connection also provides help on issues that
concern the elderly. Information is available from the service on
such subjects as patient's rights, alzheimer's disease,
osteoporosis, and financing health care through Medicare, Medicaid
and other sources.
     Since enacting the program, Greenfield said she has been able
to provide help to six members of the University community at a
discounted rate of $50.
     "The response has been positive," said Greenfield. "People are
letting us know that we are very helpful."
     A University faculty member, for example, contacted Greenfield
concerning his elderly mother, who was already living in a nursing
home but was going to be moved to another facility.
     He was not sure if she would be accepted into the facility he
had chosen, and he asked Greenfield to help him find a new place
just in case.
     "I assured him the home was very good," she said, "but also
told him that if he had any problems, we would be ready to assist
him."
     In a follow-up phone call, Greenfield discovered her client
was apprehensive about whether the home he had chosen would be able
to treat his mother and provide the specialized nursing care she
needed.
     "Everything turned out OK, but I discussed all his options
with him at length so he could be secure in his decision.
     "There's a lot of help out there," she said. "People just
don't realize it. We are here to give them advice."
     University employees interested in receiving assistance at the
special rate should contact Senior Housing Connection at 368-9380
or 366-0782 and should mention their affiliation with the
University.
                                        - Julie Alperen