SourcePoint’s FIRST Service Extended to Liberty Township
For a few months in late 2012, a unique partnership existed between the elder care experts at SourcePoint and the Liberty Township Fire Department. Called the FIRST Program, this partnership stationed an elder care specialist in a small office at the Fire Department, where she could assist firefighters by responding to the needs of frail, at-risk older people who frequently call 911 for assistance with routine tasks, like transferring from their bed to a wheelchair or taking out the garbage.
“All of us hope to remain at home as we age,” said Fara Waugh, director of client services at SourcePoint. “And for many of us, at some stage of life, we will need a bit of help to do that.” When people need assistance with what professionals call the activities of daily living, they may call for emergency assistance, when what is really needed is some extra, non-emergent, in-home care to help a person remain independent.
Chief Timothy Jensen of the Liberty Township Fire Department says, “These are the callers who may need us the most frequently, and the hearts of our emergency personnel certainly go out to them.” Yet attending to non-emergent needs isn’t the best use of the department’s resources. “Having one of SourcePoint’s service coordinators in-house is a win for everyone involved. It will mean that fire department resources are well utilized, and that the older residents of Liberty Township and the City of Powell are getting the type of assistance they really need at home.”
SourcePoint’s Fara Waugh concurs. “We have seen the FIRST program successfully connect older residents with vital in-home care services, and other resources, in other areas of the County. For some of those who we serve through FIRST, something as simple as an in-home risk assessment to prevent falling can be a life-saving intervention – and FIRST is the mechanism that lets us reach out and assist before a falls-related injury occurs. We were eager to bring FIRST back to Liberty Township when the time was right.” The program was abruptly discontinued in January 2013 after the township’s emergency services levy failed and funding for the department became critical. “It has taken us three years, but after working closely with Chief Jensen and township officials, we are excited to partner with Liberty Township to again bring needed support and services to their older residents.”
SourcePoint’s in-home care services and other supports are available to Delaware County residents. If you or a loved one could benefit from SourcePoint’s community support program or to learn more, call (740) 363-6677. Intake and referral specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and other times by appointment. For more information, go to www.MySourcePoint.org.
Formerly known as the Council for Older Adults, SourcePoint is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. SourcePoint is your primary local source and starting point for professional expertise, services, and programs for Delaware County adults who want to thrive after 55. Services and programs are supported in part by the local senior services levy, corporate and private donations, sponsorships, and grants. SourcePoint is a United Way agency.