Published October 2004

ElderHealth a benefit to seniors, caregivers

By Kimberly Hilden
SCBJ Assistant Editor

Caregivers of elderly loved ones wear many hats in a given day. They are cooks and chauffeurs, personal assistants and accountants. They dispense medication while making conversation, and their to-do list never seems to get any shorter.

In the United States, 22.4 million households have such a caregiver, a number that could grow to 39 million by 2007, according to a study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP. And while no two situations are exactly alike, caregivers do share a common need: time for self care.

That’s where ElderHealth Northwest comes in. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1976, offers daytime health and respite care for seniors and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities in Snohomish and King counties.

It’s a program that enables caregivers to see to their own needs and, in doing so, helps extend the length of time that they can continue to provide care in their home — and that seniors can remain in their communities, said Nora Gibson, executive director of ElderHealth.

Photo courtesy of ElderHealth Northwest At Snohomish County Adult Day Health in Everett, clients can receive nursing and rehabilitative services as well as enjoy recreational programs and socializing with friends.

According to the “Caregiver Fatigue Timeline” developed by the Northwest Regional Council/Area Agency on Aging, by the 24th month of providing care to a loved one, a person’s emotional and physical resources can become drained.

By the 38th month, he or she may experience symptoms of chronic fatigue. And after the 50th month, the caregiver may be in a state of “unwellness,” becoming isolated and unable to ask for help, according to the “Timeline.”

Through ElderHealth’s network of DayBreak Senior Respite programs and adult day health programs, caregivers receive the help they need, and seniors take part in social activities while in a safe, structured environment, Gibson said.

“We are one of the best-kept secrets in long-term care,” she said.

In Snohomish County, ElderHealth operates Snohomish County Adult Day Health in Everett, with nursing and rehabilitative services as well as recreational programs such as tai chi, offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with transportation coordinated and offered through Dial-A-Ride Transportation, the Transportation Assistance Program and Medicaid.

The nonprofit also runs its DayBreak respite program in four community churches across the county. The program, which offers social and recreational activities, runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays in Edmonds, Wednesdays in Mill Creek, Mondays in Snohomish and Tuesdays in Marysville.

For caregiver Anne Fortnam, the hours her husband spends at DayBreak benefit them both.

“He is upbeat when he comes home, sharing stories about what they did, and who was there. I get a chance to get errands done. Plus, I know he gets a good lunch, so I don’t have to worry so much about dinner,” the Edmonds resident said in April, when ElderHealth announced it was expanding DayBreak services in Snohomish County.

With an annual operating budget of $5 million, ElderHealth is funded primarily through payments for its services and contributions from Snohomish County, the city of Everett and the United Way of Snohomish County as well as fund raising, Gibson said.

“We do take Medicaid as well as charge private fees, with a sliding-fee scale” for low-income clients, she added.

Recently, ElderHealth has introduced in-home services and branched out into supported-living homes in King County. Two such homes, which meet the need for “intense, 24-hour care services,” already are in operation in Seattle, and two more are under development, Gibson said.

“We will look for opportunities to develop supported-living homes in Snohomish County,” she added.

ElderHealth also is looking to expand its Snohomish County day center facilities as well as its programs, including extended hours for working caregivers, Gibson said. The organization also hopes to increase partnerships within the community to develop additional DayBreak programs.

“We know that the need is there,” she said.

For more information about ElderHealth services in Snohomish County, call 425-355-1313 or go online to www.elderhealth.org.

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