In July, 2023, Fairfield Cares received a LOST (Local Options Sale Tax) grant from the City of Fairfield to do a needs assessment survey of eldercare services in Fairfield. The awarded amount is $3000.
Problems to be addressed
Our Fairfield community is faced with a rapidly increasingly older population. Census data reveal that more than 26% -- 2,167 of our 8,172 adult residents -- are 65 and older. Each year, more of these people find themselves in need of in-home health care and support services to continue living independently. Additionally, 11.1% of our residents who are under age 65 are either temporarily or permanently disabled and are also in need of these services. For residents who live alone or are part of an aging couple, the need for services can be even greater. To determine how many of our elderly and disabled residents are living alone, we will look to the results of the city’s recent housing survey for the data when it becomes available.
Home health and support services that our residents need include: care by nurses and CNA’s; help with activities of daily living (showering, toileting, etc.); medication management; errands/deliveries; household tasks (light cleaning, meal preparation, yard maintenance, snow removal); family & other caregivers’ support (respite, support groups); transportation (medical appointments, physical & occupational therapy); and mental health counseling. There is also a critical need for house repairs and upgrades (ramps, insulation, roofs, windows, doors) to make homes safe and livable. While there are grants and no/low interest loans available for this work, people need help to find and apply for them and to organize contractors to do the work.
Some needed services are either not available in our community or, where they do exist, access is often limited by insurance rules or an inability to afford them. This is a major factor in a city where 14.8% of households are below the poverty line, with poverty being even higher among the disabled -- 18.7% of males and 15.1% of females. In addition to 7% of our residents being uninsured, many services are not covered for the other 93% who do have insurance. Moreover, our county Department of Public Health no longer accepts Medicare and Medicaid. Even with their sliding scale, $40/hour (50% of the $80/hour fee for aides) is far more than many can afford to pay for someone to assist them with showering.
There are also gaps in coordination among service providers. Multiple agencies are often involved and the lack of a centralized database leaves those in need – and the professionals they rely on -- unaware of what is out there. Doctors, nurses, discharge planners, and medical social workers often do not know about many of the services. Under pressure to discharge a patient for financial reasons – no insurance, Medicare rules, or insurance limits -- some are sent home without any health or social support services, thereby jeopardizing their safety and wellbeing.
The data the Surveys will provide will identify the needs described above in more specific terms. This data is critical to taking the next steps not only of developing our organization’s programs and services, but also of strengthening our community’s resources to better meet needs and coordinate among service providers. Hard data will also enable us to apply for major grants from our state and federal governments and other sources, thereby bringing substantial funding, along with jobs, to Fairfield.