DESIGNING ELDER CARE

Mission

Vision

Philosophy

Assessment of Needs

Resolutions

• Estate Planning
• Emergency Loan Assistance
• Legal Consultancy& Advocacy
• Individual Case Management
• Technical Support

SERVICES for AGING IMMIGRANTS    

VISION-MISSION: 

Aging seniors or Elderly Immigrants who are educated and trained

To advocate for their rights to:

1.  Culturally sensitive & competent Health-care services or therapies

2.  Fair housing practices

3.  Technological literacy

4.  Financial independence

who are nurtured and honed in Senior-friendly spaces/environments with family, friends, and the general community of Richmond Hill and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Aging Seniors or Elderly Immigrants empowered to support other Immigrant Seniors in the community with similar situations, issues or challenges in their pursuit of optimum health and well-being as well as meaning and purpose in life.

GOALS: 

To reach out to invisible Aging Seniors or Elderly Immigrants living in our community who are seriously challenged by chronic illness, loneliness, isolation/separation from close family, and lack of information on access to government benefits, by addressing unmet needs and encouraging active participation in TNO Community Center's community activities for the Richmond Hill neighborhoods

To provide Space for Intergenerational Dialogue where Elderly Immigrants and Younger Immigrants interact, recall, and document their family and social histories living in Queens, New York.

To encourage Seniors to expand their range of choices & strengthen support networks that help them address their health, housing, psycho-social, financial, or legal/immigration issues (See www.thenursingoffice.com).

 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

I.  Case Management Program

A.  Establish Case Management Protocol for technical, legal, financial, health, housing, etc., challenges of Aging Senior citizens and Elderly Immigrants, regardless of race, gender, color, religion, or ethnicity.

B.  Draw up Support network, contacts, resource, & point person to meet the specific challenge of the aging Senior citizen and/or Elderly Immigrant.

C.  Implement Plan of action to address urgent and/or pending issue of Elderly Immigrants and secure a Safe Space to protect confidentiality.

D.  Execute timely, appropriate Documentation (paper, electronic, etc.) and Reference files on each Immigrant Senior’s case.

E.  Resolve urgent issues with the least harm, at the least cost to the aging Senior citizen and/or Elderly Immigrant person.

II.  Intergenerational Dialogue Program

F.  Connect with Younger Immigrant groups to write, document via various media, their dialogue on family & social  histories, by mentoring the youth and/or learning from them how life challenges were overcome.

III.  Education, Training, and Advocacy Program

      G.  Conduct Education/literacy, Work Skills-training, and Advocacy-training    classes necessary to upgrade aging Seniors’ learning & awareness on self-    care, health care services, fair housing, financial and legal issues, such as,             living will, estate planning, property management, pensions & benefits,    such as Medicare/Medicaid, social  security, taxes & retirement issues            (both here or abroad).

H.    Conduct and hold affordable Classes in Health Care-Giving in order to    develop basic skills in self-care and home care-giving among the Elderly            Immigrants and their family members.

I.  Connect with Diabetes Health & Wellness Academy for healthy nutrition                 and diabetes prevention classes.

IV.  Employment Referral & Placement Program

J.  Connect skilled, trained, and experienced Home Care-Givers with health                care agencies that provide FT or PT employment for willing, able, and    healthy Elderly Immigrant Seniors.

V.  Extended Arts Program

K.  Provide spaces for Creative, Interactive, and Socializing activities that are Senior and Elderly Immigrant-friendly in the Community Center.

L.  Conduct Visual arts, Performing arts, or Literary arts Workshops for elderly and aging Seniors as well as younger family members, to encourage individual and group collaborations that nourish and enhance their artistic/literary expressions and skills.

M.  Connect with neighboring Senior centers (i.e., Hillcrest Senior Center, Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center, Jamaica Library, etc.), arts and culture centers, and schools to collaborate on art/cultural exhibits and other activities, such as, Once Upon a Time, Inc. at 87-61 111th St., Richmond Hill, NY 11418; PS 90 Horace Mann School: Boys and Girls Club, Sikh Cultural Society, etc.

VI.  Health and Wellness Program

To promote Non-conventional Modalities of Healing and Wellness for Individuals, Children, and their Families and Care-givers.

To provide a Sanctuary (or Safe Space) for Non-conventional Healing Modalities for Practitioners, Clients, Families, and Caregivers.

To utilize Native American, Asian, African, and/or Middle Eastern traditions in Circle Stages, Ethnic Food, Music, Dancing, and Storytelling as Healing Formats and/or Environments.

To allow the Creative Modes of Non-conventional Traditional Healing and Self-care to Flourish and Prosper for the General Wellness of the Community.

To connect and/or integrate non-conventional modes of healing & wellness with institutional health facilities open to  collaborating with alternative medicine and innovative, nurse-driven healthcare solutions.

PROGRAMS &/OR ACTIVITIES

1.            CIRCLE OF HEALING (STAGES)

                Getting Acquainted, Building Relationships, Addressing Issues, and

                Taking Action

2.            STORY-TELLING

                Introduction, Incident, Impact, Reflection

3.            FOOD AS MEDICINE

                Proper Choices, Preparation, Cooking, Enjoyment

4.            MOVEMENT AS HEALTH

                Qi Gong, Yoga, Tai Chi Exercises, Rhythmic Dancing

5.            STILLNESS MEDITATION

                Qi Gong, Healing Sounds, Breathing Techniques, Focused Prayer

6.            HOLISTIC HEALING

                Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Ayurveda

7.            THE NURSE IS IN:  Health Screening, Education, & Outreach

                                                                Nutrition & Organic, Natural Foods Education

A short take on the life of a Gerontological Nurse is captured and presented in a short video production. This is an award winning presentation produced by Myrna D. Santos, MSN, RN and Cynthia Margalit, MSA, RN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMGWbBiV_P8

Gerontology: Art and Science of Aging

How culture and nursing impact and affect aging

While I am delighted with this final phase of life, as I enjoy narratives of their lives with all the wisdom gained through their ages, I’m saddened as well with the problems that accompany them: depression, homelessness, malnutrition, failure to thrive, financial and physical dependence, verbal abuse and neglect.

As the aging population is growing, I felt that I should make the aging process as pleasant and peaceful experience through gerontology, the art and science of aging. My goal is to provide quality care to the elderly and prepare to move forward as we plan together on how to celebrate their 100^th birthday.

While their physical space has shrunk smaller in that nursing home, their needs back to basics: roof over their head, food in their stomach and clothing in their backs. Surround them with memories of their rich lives, photos of their loved ones, phone to connect with their family and friends, TV for entertainment and stimulation, snacks to provide nutrition, clock and calendars to keep them oriented, religious memorabilia to maintain their faith. Take care in your choice of color in their rooms, red blanket, a sign of energy and life. Think safety walkers and comfortable shoes as they need. This is the life of gerontological nurse.

~Myrna D. Santos, MSN, RN