ASSESSMENTS FOR CARE

The Berks County Office of Aging receives hundreds of calls each day and many are from people requesting help for an older person. These calls are handled by the agency’s intake workers, who spend time with the caller and try and determine the nature of the needs and problems of the older person. When a decision is made that a home visit is needed, an Office of Aging Assessor is sent to the home and collects information about the needs and problems of the consumer. The workers evaluates how the person is functioning day to day, what problems they are experiencing, their health, whether or not they receive any help from family or friends, their financial situation, and other areas. Once the evaluation is completed, the Assessor gives the older person information about services and programs that could be of help. Some of the programs are available at no charge to the older person and are dependent upon the person’s functioning level, income, and assets. Other programs are available on a cost sharing basis. When the consumer’s eligibility is determined, the Assessor makes referrals to the appropriate programs to best meet the consumer’s needs. The goal of Office of Aging services is to provide help art home where older people want to remain, thus avoiding costly nursing home placement.