Seniors at some point may need help finding their way through the health care maze. Thanks to the Honolulu Gerontology Program, help is available.

This senior is having a meal delivered by meals on wheels, just one of the agencies used by the Honolulu Gerontology Program. Case managers are available to help seniors find resources.
They visit the senior's home and make an assessment of the circumstances.

"We look at their strengths - what are the things that they can do and what are the things that they need help with. We look at their support system so things like, do they have a lot of family that's there, do they have finances that can help pay for services," said Valerie Taylor, from the program.

There are institutions like Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center that provide activities for seniors. But when it comes to daily life, a case manager can arrange resources for the senior.

"Well, we look at a few things. The first of course, is people want to stay in their home. Our goal is try to bring all the support to keep them as independent as possible in their home," said Taylor.

the case managers with honolulu gerontology program are thoroughly familiar with many kinds of services for seniors - whether it's adult day care or exercise programs. Their job is to make certain there is a good fit for the seniors and the resources they might require.

"The other thing is that we want to coordinate services. Oftentimes when people do this themselves - what happens is they call one place and they call another place and it's very fragmented. So we help pull all that together into a nice cohesive package," said Taylor.

There is extensive follow-up once a case manager is involved with the senior to make certain services are being provided on an on-going basis. Taylor says families might do well to call on the services of a case manager.

"Also people sometimes just feel like oh, well, mom's okay. She's been living alone for many years and they don't see that she may not be eating as well or she's forgetting to take her medication. So some of those things we can check up on," said Taylor.


For a link to the Honolulu Gerontology Program click here or call #(808) 543-8468.