UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 3, Page 4
September 19, 1991
Housing assistance: Elder-care services now available to employees

     If your elderly parents suddenly could no longer live
independently, where would you house them? Could you handle them
living with you? Would you need to look for a nursing home with
24-hour nursing care or would you just need a friendly, secure
place with meals and some supervision?
     University employees facing these difficult questions will
find the answers through Barbara Greenfield. One of three partners
in Senior Housing Connection, Greenfield has had personal
experience with finding appropriate elder care.
     Her desire to spare others the frustrations and obstacles she
faced was a major impetus for the founding of her company that
specializes in providing elder-care information to clients.
     Greenfield has worked with members of the Benefits staff over
the summer to make the services of Senior Housing Connection
available to members of the University community.
     In the following interview, she answers some of the most often
asked questions about the service her company provides.

What is Senior Housing Connection?
     Senior Housing Connection was founded three years ago to
provide impartial and complete profiles of housing accommodations
available to elderly persons based on individual housing, medical
and financial needs. Senior Housing Connection connects clients
with state-certified, private-sector facilities that can meet an
individual's needs.

How does the service work?
     We ask each facility to complete a comprehensive
questionnaire. We collect and record the information in a
computerized register for instant access.
     When clients contact us about housing for themselves or
relatives, we ask them to complete a short questionnaire that asks
questions about housing and location preferences, the amount of
medical supervision required and budget information.
     Using the specific requirements of the elderly person, Senior
Housing Connection retrieves the most up-to-date information
available to solve the housing needs.

What happens next?
     Each client is provided with a computer printout that lists
the housing available in the area preferred, the type of
accommodation, who owns and operates the facility, what sort of
health care is provided, costs, what insurance is accepted,
amenities, location, accessibility and the name and telephone
number of a contact person.

What types of housing are included in the register?
     Continuing-care retirement communities, 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.

What geographic areas does the agency cover?
     We cover the states of Delaware and Maryland and the
neighboring counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

How much does it cost?
     We offer our services to members of the University community,
including retirees, at the discounted rate of $50.

What happens after I use the service?
     Should any of the referrals we give appear suitable, you must
make direct contact to discuss vacancies and arrange a visit.
People vary greatly in their expectations and their requirements.
The final decision must be between the person concerned, or their
relatives or friends on their behalf, and the owner/manager of the
housing or nursing facility.

How do I get started?
     Just call Senior Housing Connection at 368-9380 or 366-0782
and mention that you are affiliated with the University.
                                        - Beth Thomas