Over the years, the Tellico Village Volunteer Fire Department has noticed a trend evolving — many of its calls involve providing lift assistance to older Tellico Village residents.
STAYinTV maintenance teams have also observed different unsafe situations cropping up in the Village homes they service. Other caregivers have discovered some prescriptions not being completed or improperly taken.
These are just some of the challenges facing older Villagers.
No one organization that services the community’s older population had an overarching view of what the actual needs were of this senior segment of the Village and what might best be followed up by counselors or clinical professionals. Confidentiality concerns, HIPAA and other regulations often restrict Tellico Village’s service organizations from further involvement.
In response to this need, the Tellico Community Foundation has awarded a $1,500 grant to Senior Citizens Home Assistance Services Inc., to initiate an assessment of Tellico Villages’ seniors needs.
SCHAS will use the grant for in-home “assessment and referral,” or, more commonly called, case management services. A key provision of the award provides for an in-home visit by a certified caregiver and/or clinical professional that would be provided free to residents. Based upon the initial assessment, SCHAS could provide continuing services subject to compensation by individual clients, or they could refer residents to established agencies and programs.
SCHAS is accredited through the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. They are a nonprofit organization serving 20 East Tennessee counties, including Loudon and Monroe. With over 47 years in business, SCHAS provides caregiver, counseling and referral, hospice and other in-home support for seniors in need. SCHAS would use the Lenoir City office to support the program.
“SCHAS is excited about this program and is looking forward to working with the many volunteer organizations in Tellico Village to reach those in need,” Molly Simerly, SCHAS Loudon County co-director, said.
Initially, SCHAS will work with TVVFD, STAYinTV and other service and charitable organizations to prepare informational materials and develop procedures to identify, respond and follow up on potential cases. Rigid protocols will be instituted so home visits would be approved in advance with a senior in need and conducted with confidentiality. Program materials and contact information will be formalized as a part of the grant and made available through area media outlets in the coming months.
The Tellico Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation and an affiliate fund of East Tennessee Foundation. Further information about TCF and its activities can be found at www.etf.org/Tellico, on the organization’s TellicoLife page or in the new TCF brochure available at the Welcome Center.
