Willow Glen Resident
News
Mobile senior-resource center helps caregivers find answers
By Cathy Weselby
Ingenuity and technology have merged again in Silicon Valley, this time in response to one of the valley's pressing needs: elder care.
The Council on Aging Silicon Valley unveiled a high-technology mobile services center, the Generational Resource Center that assists caregivers with finding answers and resources for senior care. The resource center is designed to provide access to resources in one place, with the goal of allowing seniors to live independently.
Author Mary Furlong, an expert on aging baby boomers, spoke at the GRC unveiling event on May 31. Coincidentally, that morning her sister had called to tell her that their mother, who lives alone, couldn't get up. Furlong had to quickly mobilize resources, such as provide in-home physical therapy, buy a walker, and get safety equipment in place in her mom's house.
"Care-giving happens in one day," Furlong said.
Council on Aging Silicon Valley director of marketing and communications Lorraine Larson said more than half of the incoming calls to the agency are from caregivers, and a majority of them have children and work full-time.
"Many caregivers are distraught when they come to us for answers," Larson said. "Most of them don't know where to start."
Larson said the original idea was to create a resource center in a building, but then she had the idea to build a mobile center that could come to the caregivers.
Many local employers such as Cisco and eBay are very receptive to this idea and have requested that the mobile unit visit their campuses on a quarterly basis. And the interest in the GRC is not superficial. According to a MetLife study conducted last year, employers lose $3.8 million in productivity due to employees caring for elder parents.
Larson said caregivers would be able to create a care plan over their lunch hour versus taking a day off from work.
The Health Trust in Campbell is one of the sponsors of the GRC, along with Phillips Lifeline, a personal medical alert service, and Presto, an e-mail service designed for seniors.
"The Health Trust is eager to support and build capacity in the many effective programs that exist to help our seniors continue to thrive and enjoy wellness," said Todd Hansen, acting CEO for The Health Trust.
The GRC cost $240,000 to build and looks like a high-tech recreation vehicle. Inside there are several computer stations with touch-screen interfaces designed by HP and a separate area where individuals can privately meet with Medicare counselors.
Caregivers can search for domestic and personal-care services, transportation options, senior housing, legal assistance and meal programs, among other resources for senior care.
The GRC will also travel to health fairs, flu shot clinics, senior centers and similar venues.
Larson advises caregivers to take an active approach in creating a care plan for senior parents.
"Don't wait until it's a crisis," Larson said. "Introducing big changes into a senior's life when they're ailing is very stressful."
For more information, visit the Council on Aging Silicon Valley website, www. careaccess.org and the city of Campbell website, www.cityofcampbell.com.
