Senior Care

Mary, a senior citizen participating in the Adult Day Service program, was discovered to be living in deplorable conditions.  She was sharing her home with some of her adult children and the environment was not entirely safe or sanitary.   At a case staffing, Adult Day Services staff worked with Mary and successfully located and helped move her to an assisted living facility.  The senior agreed to be relocated to the safer environment (assisted living).  But once she was in the assisted living facility she could no longer attend Chicago Commons because the state’s community Care Programs funds assisted living facilities, and the client’s continuation of programming at Chicago Commons would be a conflict of interest. The senior did not adjust well to the sudden transition out of Chicago Commons where she had been comfortable.  Based upon the senior’s input and reaction to the move, it was decided that alternative housing options be reviewed a second time.  Chicago Commons staff contacted Mary’s estranged sister who resides in California and whom Mary had not seen or talked with in years.  Her sister agreed to provide financial assistance, which allowed Mary to relocate to an apartment in a senior housing complex.  Chicago Commons staff helped to set up the apartment in such a way that she would have more independence.  She resumed Adult Day Services with Chicago Commons and continues to do well as Mary currently has a savings and checking account, something that she never had in her life.  Her living environment is much improved and she remains an important part of her community. 

Irma, a Home Care Client of Chicago Commons, was also discovered to be residing in horrible living conditions.  Her home was dark and cluttered with bags and personal belongings. It was too difficult for the home care aides to assist Ms. Thompson because of the condition of the home. Her son also lived downstairs and had bags of clutter stored in his apartment.  She expressed that she was not comfortable in her home, but she was also uncomfortable letting anyone remove the clutter from her apartment.  A case review was held to determine how to improve the living conditions.  The staff invited Irma’s family members to take part in the case review conference. They were very happy to participate. We met with Irma’s granddaughter and son.  The staff talked with the son about his bags lying everywhere, and he agreed to remove the bags making the hallway presentable.  The granddaughter helped her grandmother become more comfortable with the idea of a person to help her reduce the clutter in her house.  Since then, our Home Care staff have been able to clean the home and create a much safer and sustainable living situation.

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