Stories from the Field
The Warm Welcome of a Service Navigator
Bob is an 86-year-old man who lives alone and has limited natural supports. He met with an Area Agency on Aging Service Navigator, who identified that Bob would benefit from in-home assistance due to difficulty completing personal care and household tasks. Additionally, his limited support system and inability to leave his home independently had resulted in significant social isolation.
During a home visit, the Service Navigator observed that the temperature in Bob’s home was unusually low. Bob disclosed that he had run out of heating oil and therefore had no heat or hot water. The Service Navigator immediately contacted the Milford Senior Center to report his situation and collaborated with both the Milford Senior Center and TEAM, Inc., a private, not-for-profit human services agency serving several towns in New Haven and Fairfield Counties, to arrange for an oil delivery by the first of the upcoming month.
The Service Navigator verified with TEAM, Inc. that home-delivered meals were already in place and submitted a referral to the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE). Participation in this program will help address Bob’s ongoing needs by providing in-home care services, social support, and continued access to meal delivery. The Service Navigator is continuing to work with Bob to assist with the enrollment process for CHCPE.
Life-altering assistance like Bob received is just a phone call away. For more information about Service Navigators, contact an Area Agency on Aging through the AgingCT website.
