Alternative Care/Elderly Waiver Ramsey County

This collaboration with Ramsey County and Neighbor to Neighbor is a new venture established in May of 2000. Neighbor to Neighbor contracts with Ramsey County Human Services to provide case management services to selected Alternative Care/Elderly Waiver clients.

The goal of the program is to assist the participants to remain safely in their homes and to prevent nursing home placement. Social Work Case Managers are responsible for periodic reassessments, authorization for services and care coordination of in-home services.

Mini Clinic Program

The Mini HealthClinic Program is staffed by professional nurses who conduct health and wellness monitoring which includes: blood pressure, weight, and pulse checks. On-going health concerns are also addressed. An emphasis is placed on wellness and appropriate information is distributed as needed.

Clinics are scheduled throughout the month at numerous senior housing and community center locations.

The Mini Clinic Program is funded by contracts with management companies for senior housing and/or community centers.

Foot Care Clinic Program

Neighbor to Neighbor's Footcare Clinics are staffed by registered nurses. This service promotes wellness and continued mobility. Treatments include:

• Assessment of general health
• Basic nail care
• Trimming and corn removal
• Lotioned foot massage

This program is funded primarily through a fee-for-service to participants. Clinics are located throughout the Twin Cities.

Parkinson's Support Group

The Parkinson's Support Group lends support, information, and friendship to individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers. A registered nurse, chaplain, and a nurse from Neighbor to Neighbor facilitate the group. The group meets monthly to learn more about the disease and to receive encouragement from the trained professionals. Often caregivers and care receivers meet in individual groups to share concerns, problems and new ideas.

The group is funded in part by participant donations and a grant from the Roseville Community Fund Foundation.

Senior Aides Employment Program

The Senior AIDES Employment Program is an employment-training program designed for persons age 55 or older who are low income and reside in Washington, Ramsey, or Dakota counties. This paid position allows the Senior AIDES to develop new job skills, or to enhance existing skills, while gaining workplace experience.

After training, the seniors are placed in subsidized part-time temporary positions in public and non-profit agencies to gain contemporary work skills in preparation for a return to the competitive job market.

Benefits for the senior include:

• support and training to become employable
• ability to retain independence
• earned income with benefits
• on the job training and skill building
• an increase in confidence level

Benefits for the training agency include:

• an opportunity to have temporary additional staffing capacity
• no direct out-of-pocket expenses

For the private job market currently in need of more entry-level, experienced workers, the graduates of this program are a welcome new source of employees.

Counseling and Life Skills Management

Neighbor to Neighbor provides care management to persons fifty-five years and older on a fee-for service basis.

The focus of care management is to assess, with the participant and/or their family members, an older adult's current level of independence. Connecting older adults with appropriate resources helps them maintain or increase their independence and reduces the risk of nursing home placement.

Licensed social workers or nurses provide in-home assessments and link participants with needed resources. Assistance may include:

• investigating housing options and securing adaptive equipment if needed
• securing in-home community based services-e.g. Meals on Wheels, LifeLine, Chore services, etc
• finding a health care provider including home health care
• caregiver support
• assistance with insurance paperwork and applications
• additional services that stabilize the well-being of the person.

Services are provided on a private pay basis and billed inquarter hour increments. Neighbor to Neighbor also provides care management to low income individuals upon referral from Ramsey County.