Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, December 19, 1996, Image 11

Augusta focus., December 19, 1996, Page 11A, Image 11

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Newspaper Page TextCommunity-based program helps seniors be home for the holidays AUGUSTA Ruby Kitchen has gotten many invitations to spend Christmas with friends. But she probably won'’t accept, she says. Mrs. Kitchen, 94, of Augusta, would rather be home for Christ mas and every other day of the year, she adds. “Oh, it’s just wonderful being home,” says Mrs. Kitchen, who has lived in the same house for 52 years. “As long as I have even a little bit of my faculties, I want to stay home.” Mrs. Kitchen and 950 other elderly and/or disabled persons in the 16-county Central Savan nah River Area (CSRA) are able to stay in their homes this holi day season and year-round be cause of the CSRA Area Agency onAging’s Community Care Ser vices Program. “The Community Care Servic es Program offers community based care as an alternative to nursing-home placement,” says long-term care coordinator Mar garet Gilbert. “For an average of $430 a month versus $2,000 a month, we can keep a client in his or her home or in a residen tial-based personal care home with 24-hour supervision. This saves the state and the taxpayer a lot of money. MCG doctor authors hook for PCPs Dr. Roger P. Smith, chief section of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medi cal College of Georgia (MCGQG), has authored Gynecology in Primary Care, a guide book for the primary care physi cian. “The reality of our health caresystem todayisthat man aged care has changed how we practice medicine and the idea of the book is to be a practical resource for the pri- Primary Healthcare Services, Inc. can take care of you or your loved ones’ health care needs during your stay in hospitals, personal care homes, nursing homes or at home. We offer: * Case management » Skilled Nursing Care - RN, LPN * Assistance with personal hygiene *Light housekeeping * Assistance with medications * Meal preparation ° Restplte care o Staff available 24 hours a day The healthcare team consists of professional nurses, certified nurse aides, sitters and homemakers. For more information, call 738-7744 i ﬂ ~/ : z/m f’m/ 44/ /4///%// i A L B A R K i PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC. e G o N R R g R @ : » “A Continuum of Healthcare “And there is the added social benefit of keeping people in their homes,” Ms. Gilbert says. “That is an intangible cost savings. It keeps families together better. ... I have never heard of anyone who would rather go to a nursing home than stay in their own home. Of course, when a person needs a high level of skilled care, nursing homes meet their needs.” Mrs. Kitchen is proof of the social benefits of community based, long-term care, she says. A year ago, she had a hezart at tack and was sent to a nursing home torecuperate after the hos pital discharged her. “When I finally realized where I was,” Mrs. Kitchen recalls, “I didn’tlikeit. I wanted to be in my home eating and bathing on my schedule. When I got to where I could getaround in a wheelchair, I told my doctor I wanted to go home. He said, ‘But who will feed you and take care of you?’ I told him to call Meals on Wheels and that I would get friends to take care of me when I needed help. “Then he said, ‘But you have two more weeks of time in the nursing home thatisalready paid for.’l told him I would just give it to somebody else. You know what? I went home the next day.” The Community Care Services mary care physician responding to that change,” Dr. Smith said. His book is one of Baltimore publisher’s Williams & Wilkins Primary Crew Series. “What we felt was needed was not just another textbook. Text books are there for reference and to tell you about research. But that isn’t what you need on a day-in, day-out basis in a busy practice. What you need is a practical sort of guide to gynecol ogy, Dr. Smith said. = Program became involved with Mrs. Kitchen’s care after that, Ms. Gilbert says. She uses anin home electronic support system in case of emergency, has help with bathing and light house keeping, and gets reimbursement for her medications. Medicaid payments from the state and federal governments cover these and other services for Community Care Services Program clients. Other available services include non-skilled re spite care for the primary care giver, skilled services such as nursing and physical therapy, adult daycare in a group setting and personal care home place ment. “This year we have been able to serve many clients,” Ms. Gil bert says. “Ours is the state’s second-largest community care program outside of Atlanta. Still, the need is great. We have more than 500 people on our waiting list, so it is important to call as soon as you need help. But we are usually able to serve clients within two months. In 1997, our main goal is to continue to man age the program well so we can bring more people into the pro gram. “People can help by writing their congressional representa- His book looks chronologically at the medical problems of wom en, including adolescence, the on set of sexual activity and meno pause. Later in the text, he cov ers problems that don’t neces sarily fall into a time frame. Each chapter outlines the prob lems and the basic science be hind it, then moves to diagnosis and treatments. “Each chapter has a hints-and-tricks section which passes along information that youlearn from years of prac tives and asking them to support community-based services,” Ms. Gilbert says. “The need is so great, and this type of programis saving the taxpayers a lot of mon ey.” Meanwhile, the CSRA program will work hard to improve long term care conditions for the eld erly and disabled, Ms. Gilbert adds. To make the holidays spe cial, the case management firms that contract with Ms. Gilbert’s program are providing clients with gift baskets. And many caregivers are taking advantage of some much-needed respite care during the holidays, she says. “Sometimes just a little bit of help is all it takes to keep some one in their home,” Ms. Gilbert says. “There’s just nothing bet ter than being able to be at home, especially for the holidays.” For more information on the Community Care Services Pro gram, you may call the CSRA Area Agency on Aging at (706) 667-4695 or toll free at 1-888-92- AGING or 1-888-922-4464. The agency serves the following 16 counties in the CSRA: Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington and Wilkes. ticing gynecology. We need ed abook that would dothat,” Dr. Smith said. For further study on each topic, reading lists and references are pro vided. Dr. Smith also is primary author of a companion piece comingout in the spring, Pri mary Care Proceduresin Gy necology, which covers topics of interest to gynecologists expanding their roles in pri mary care. Electronic Security Systems, Inc. Fire ® Burglary © Medical Emergencies , SAVE UP TO 15% - ON HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE! ALL PLANS INCLUDE: + Control panel for 7 zones ¢ Qutside siren + Backlit keypad + Panic button + 2 motion detectors + 12 Volt battery backup + Up to 4 door contacts + RJ3IX jack and cord *Yard signs and stickers ‘ Plan A Installation Fee - $195.00 36 Months of Monitoring Only $19.95 Per Month ACT NOW AND RECEIVE A FREE SMOKE AND HEAT DETECTOR! CALL 860-6637 Augusta Focus is a Walker Group Publication AUGUSTA FOCUS December 19, 1996 =4 PRIMERICA ’ 3 ‘ i 4 . . . ..2 Financial Services Prcasss fi Yosss frudisne ; We are an international company expanding in Augusta. 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