Schmieding CARES -- Community Aging Resource Education and Services -- offers social worker support for seniors and their families in northwest Arkansas.
Schmieding CARES employs two licensed social workers, who are trained to look at a client's environment with a holistic view, said Brandi Schneider, coordinator of aging services at the Schmieding Center.
"We look at the entire picture and make recommendations to whole environment, not just one need," she said. "CARES offers resources, education, information and referrals as well as focusing on the resources for older adults.
"We sit down with family members and older adults and talk about their needs," Schneider emphasized. A program will then be developed with the resources available.
One example she gave was a lot of veterans don't know they can get financial assistance for their needs at home. No one asked them or told the doctor they were veterans. Sometimes the social worker will give them a phone number or get in contact with the Veterans Administration to see what assistance is available.
Many times through a visit with a client at a Schmieding Center in either Bella Vista or Springdale, the social worker sees the need for in-home care, cooking, housekeeping, personal care or showering because they don't feel comfortable being alone for fear of falling, she said. In addition, the social worker can set up an emergency response system.
"Bella Vista is fantastic about that," Schneider said, citing the Police Department's "Good Morning" phone program.
It also could mean assisting with setting up a change in living situation for those who may not be able to live at home, or connecting them with a geriatric specialist, she added.
Schmieding CARES will work with anyone who contacts them.
"We can do a lot over the phone," Schneider said. She makes appointments to meet with clients at the Schmieding Center-Bella Vista office at Highlands Crossing to talk about needs.
To keep the costs down, most clients come to one of the two offices to talk, she said.
In addition, house calls can be made to further assess needs, but there is a charge for that. During the in-house visit, the social worker can assess the needs, such as an escape plan or if there is food in the house.
"Some people come across well in the interview, but when we make the home visit we see a different situation," Schneider said.
Most of the calls they receive for assistance come from a family member or a physician, such as geriatrician Dr. Renfrow in Bella Vista, she said.
The program also offers several support groups in Springdale and Bella Vista.
In Bella Vista, an elder share support group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays at the United Lutheran Church, 100 Cooper Road. It is an opportunity for seniors to talk about ongoing issues they have as they get older. The second is a family support group, which meets from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at Concordia Health and Rehab, 7 Professional Drive, and deals with problems family members are facing.
The social workers also make education presentations all over northwest Arkansas, including senior centers and church groups, she added.
Schneider can be contacted by calling the Schmieding Center-Springdale at 479-751-3043 and asking to speak to a social worker. Also, there is information about Schmieding CARES on the Schmieding Center website. Go to www.schmiedingcenter.org and then click on CARES and aging support.
General News on 04/23/2014