 Services to the older adult and disabled
The Older Adult Services program assists senior citizens and people with mental and physical disabilities. The staff and volunteers touch clients with compassion, helping them to resolve the immediate issues that brought them to MLM, and assisting clients to create a safe and healthy home environment that ensures their independence.
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Ira is 83. For more than 50 years, he worked as a chef at prestigious Kansas City Restaurants, including the President Hotel. When he retired he began working as a Foster Grandparent at a local preschool. He’s been doing that for 16 years. Recently Ira needed treatment for a heart blockage. The costs of treatment and hospitalization were so great that he was unable to keep up with his house payments – Ira faced homelessness. With help from the health care system, Ira was able to overcome his heart problems. With help from MLM Ira was able to secure alternate housing. He’s now back at the preschool, working with kids, helping them develop their knowledge and skills. “I just wanted to be independent,” Ira says, “MLM’s been a big help. A really big help.”
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Homebound seniors are connected with Senior Companions for regular home visits to break their social isolation, and volunteers make telephone reassurance calls to 'check-in' on those who are frail.
Case Management assists clients to reach self-determined goals concerning their housing, health and income. Financial assistance pays utility bills, rent or mortgages. Food assistance provides much needed nutritional, supplemental meals, while staff and volunteers visit clients in their homes, providing counseling and acting as advocates.
Advocacy links the client with other services in the community and educates the community about older adult abuse and its prevention.
Requests for assistance have been concentrated in six areas: home repair; food and consumer items; home companionship and assistance; medication assistance; utility assistance; and miscellaneous referrals (Meals-on-Wheels,relocation assistance, home gardening and more).
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