Issues Identified

Program Outcomes

(ID number from Logic Model)

·         These participants want to remain independent and stay in their home; they do not want to become a burden on their children;

(Community Outcome) Elderly and disabled live in home environment of their own choosing

·         Concern about the high cost of prescription medicines;

·         All these elderly persons had some form of disability.

(2) Elderly/disabled maintain good health

·         They want to remain active and remain part of the fabric of society; they want to feel useful and part of normal relationships;

·         Group meal programs seem important for social reasons (in addition to affordable meals);

·         Strong desire to be social and remain active in community activities (working, volunteering and fellowship)

(3) Increased level of social relationships among elderly and disabled; reduced social isolation

·         These “elderly clients” in fact were also caregivers of children with disabilities;

·         Family supports appear weak.

(10) Increased involvement of families in the support and caring of elderly and disabled family members

·         Strong sense of spirituality and support from church relationships;

·         Church relationships are important.

(9) Increased spirituality and church involvement among elderly and disabled

·         Going back to work after retirement – to escape boredom and help makes ends meet;

·         All seem to be struggling financially.

(5) Increased employment and employment opportunities among elderly and disabled

·         These participants do not consider themselves to be clients or victims;

(2) Elderly/disabled maintain good health

·         These participants want to remain independent and stay in their home; they do not want to become a burden on their children;

·         A need for in-home services to remain independent – and difficulty getting help.

(Community Outcome) Elderly and disabled remain/become actively engaged and connected to community

(6) Increased support systems to help with the needs of elderly and disabled

·         Availability of affordable transportation. Critical to staying independent and active.

(1) Elderly/disabled are able to get where they need to go, on a timely and affordable basis

Issues Identified

Program Outcomes

(ID number from Logic Model)

Participants are responsible for their own decision-making

(Community Outcome) Elderly and disabled live in home environment of their own choosing

Participants are financially comfortable, “the best of times”

(2) Elderly/disabled maintain good health

They drive their own cars or have access to private transportation

(1) Elderly/disabled are able to get where they need to go, on a timely and affordable basis

They are all relatively healthy

Cost of medications

Do not want to be kept alive when physically incapacitated – most have living wills

They all sought out inexpensive ways to manage health care and medications

 (2) Elderly/disabled maintain good health

One elderly with multiple health issues complains of depression – but uses constructive activity (enrolling in college course) to work his way out of it.

(4) Reduced mental health problems, especially depression among elderly and disabled

A desire to remain independent;

They do not want to live with their kids – viewed as a burden on both;

(5) Increased employment and employment opportunities among elderly and disabled

(6) Increased support systems to help with the needs of elderly and disabled

They are all in living arrangements that seem to meet their particular needs

(8) Increased affordable and accessible housing options for elderly and disabled

Most are very active with church, friends, and activities

Desire for fellowship (church activities, meal programs)

High degree of activity

(3) Increased level of social relationships among elderly and disabled; reduced social isolation;

(9) Increased spirituality and church involvement among elderly and disabled

There is a lot of family contact

(10) Increased involvement of families in the support and caring of elderly and disabled family members

One participant expressed need for better information about community services.

(11) Elderly, disabled and family members find information and services when they need them

Issues Identified

Program Outcomes (ID number from Logic Model):

·         Family caregivers experience many stresses in caring for disabled children and elderly;

·         Family caregivers often sacrifice their own needs in order to provide needed care;

·         There is a strong paradox among caregivers for disabled children to desire and encourage independence and the recognition of child’s limited abilities and the community’s inability to respond to those special needs.;

·         A desire for independence for children with disabilities, but concern about the risks;

(6) Increased support systems to help with the needs of elderly and disabled;

(10) Increased involvement of families in the support and caring of elderly and disabled family members

·         Many times family caregivers are the sole caregivers with little support from other family members; Others, however, are able to arrange their supports from family members and church supports;

·         A sense of burden in being the sole family caregiver, the desire for more supports;

(6) Increased support systems to help with the needs of elderly and disabled;

(10) Increased involvement of families in the support and caring of elderly and disabled family members;

(9) Increased spirituality and church involvement among elderly and disabled

·         Common concern about the cost and inadequacy of public transportation for the disabled;

·         Transportation issues (sensitivity of cabs and METS, availability of services, eligibility issues);

(1) Elderly/disabled are able to get where they need to go, on a timely and affordable basis.

·         Concern about community attitudes regarding disabled (condescending, insensitive to needs);

·         An implied resentment about community attitudes and conditions of the disabled;

Remedies incorporated into many program outcomes and Vision Statement

·         Need for better information regarding available resources and services;

(11) Elderly, disabled and family members find information and services when they need them

·         A wish to have more options regarding care, especially provider selection; and the ability to receive financial help for family caregiver role;

(8) Increased affordable and accessible housing options for elderly and disabled;

(10) Increased involvement of families in the support and caring of elderly and disabled family members

·         More recreational opportunities for people with disabilities

(2) Elderly/disabled maintain good health;

(3) Increased level of social relationships among elderly and disabled; reduced isolation;

(4) Reduced mental health problems, especially depression among elderly and disabled

·         Some had a degree of helplessness about their condition.

(3) Increased level of social relationships among elderly and disabled; reduced isolation;

(6) Increased employment and employment opportunities among elderly and disabled

Issues Identified

Program Outcomes

(ID number from Logic Model):

• Most are concerned about transportation – maintaining their ability to have private transportation;
• Problems with accessing transportation – primarily cost

(1) Elderly/disabled are able to get where they need to go, on a timely and affordable basis.

• There is a sense of social isolation with most of these participants – few family or other social supports;
• Lack of supportive help with their disabilities;
• Lack of family involvement/interaction;
• A strong sense of isolation and desire to have more people contact including family members

(3) Increased level of social relationships among elderly and disabled; reduced isolation;

(10) Increased involvement of families in the support and caring of elderly and disabled family members;

• Depression is common;
• Depression and suicidal thoughts seem common

(4) Reduced mental health problems, especially depression among elderly and disabled

• Disability effects income and the ability to find and keep a job;

(5) Increased employment and employment opportunities among elderly and disabled

• Many who feel there is a lack of information about services and help in finding that information;
• The lack of knowledge about services and the difficulty working the system

(11) Elderly, disabled and family members find information and services when they need them

• Men appear to enter the service system for job training and job search services, the women access a wider spectrum of services

(5) Increased employment and employment opportunities among elderly and disabled

• A concern about medical and mental health care costs;
• The cost of medications;
• Need for affordable emergency medical transportation

(2) Elderly/disabled maintain good health

• Current support systems create dependence rather than foster independence
• They wish to be empowered to make their own decisions regarding care;
• Disability Medicaid definition forcing people to be homebound;
• A sense that quality of life is always compromised due to poor options or choices available to them.

(7) Government and private aid programs allow for continued benefits while not requiring dependency and non-productivity.