Guest Speaker: Tara Russo
The number of elderly persons and those in need of assistance continues to grow, and it falls to Elder Care Services of DeKalb County to help out both the aged...and adults with ongoing medical problems who need supervision.
Tara Russo from Elder Care Services says they helped over 6,500 people in the county last year, with some level of assistance; they ensure that the persons under their care are monitored for signs of poor health, hunger, neglect and abuse. The latter is especially troublesome; although they now have more legal remedies available, they still have to respect their clients' rights to self-determination -- and to protect themselves against abusers, some of whom have become more aggressive in recent years.
She also says that they attend to basic needs beyond health for some clients; it's not unusual for some to come up short on money at the end of the month, and face a difficult choice between eating and paying other bills. But they now provide "Get Me to Monday" bags, with basic foodstuffs which can support clients over a weekend until the next pension or Social Security check comes in.
The bags also contain a list of resources available to senior citizens and those in continual health care, giving them a place to turn if they need help with specific problems.