Medical Services for Elders
The HOPE Program (Health Outreach Program for Elders) brings “in-home” medical services to homebound elders. Administered by the Hilltown Community Health Center in Worthington, HOPE brings vital home services to patients of the health center that have previously been difficult to arrange or unavailable. Under a doctor’s supervision, specially trained registered nurses and/or podiatric nurses and community health workers visit homebound elders who may be struggling with issues of illness, recovery, medication, aging, home safety and independent living challenges. Some patients require direct services while others need care with coordination, medical oversight or information and referral.
Currently 80-100 elders are visited periodically. A large portion of HEN participants are served by this program, thus helping to create the beginnings of a local comprehensive system of elder in-home care. HOPE also helps to coordinate medical transportation for elders, an immense task in the Hilltowns, especially during the winter months. HOPE staff help to limit suffering and isolation and provide many necessary “in-home” medical services previously unavailable in the Hilltowns. HOPE also offers elders in-home assistance with the task of organizing Medicare & MassHealth details, insurance and other medical billing issues. There are no costs to these services provided to eligible elders.
HOPE provides elders in the Hilltowns in-home medical care, including:
Vital sign monitoring
Blood draws
Flu shots and immunizations
Flu clinics and blood pressure clinics
Medication management
Assistance completing health care proxy forms
Help arranging appointments with providers
Referrals for housekeeping help, and much more!
For further information, call Robyn at (413) 238-5511 x313
The HOPE program is administered by the Hilltown Community Health Center and funded, in part, through Massachusetts Community Development Block Grants, currently through the Town of Chesterfield.
