Advance Care Planning Basics (Page 9 in the Resource Guide) 
1. Every adult needs an Advance Healthcare Directive:
* To name your choice of person(s) to make your health care decisions when you can no
longer communicate
* To tell everyone caring for you what kind of health care you want and don’t want
* To tell everyone caring for you how you feel about life support
* To make special requests about the people or things important to you when you are ill
(friends, music, clergy, pets, poetry, scripture, etc.)
* To tell everyone where you want to live in your final days
* To make choices about organ donation, cremation, burial
* To tell everyone how you want to be remembered
2. Complete a POLST with your doctor’s help if you presently have a serious life-threatening or terminal illness.
Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment forms are detailed doctor’s orders which reflect your choices about life support options or resuscitation. They are written to be kept in your medical chart. The law requires doctors, emergency medical responders, and healthcare workers to honor these detailed choices. Similar documents are called DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and DNI (Do Not Intubate).
3. Give copies of your Advance Directive to your physician, hospital and family member / Agent.
4. Update it as necessary.
You can find information and download forms at:
* California Department of Justice- Advance directives
https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/adv_hc_dir
* Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (non-profit)
http://coalitionccc.org
* St. Jude Medical Center / Senior Services (714-446-7035) or www.stjudemedicalcenter.org/

 Why The Elderly Need Social Workers

 Some people might think that the elderly do not need much. All that is needed is to give them enough food to last until the next time they get hungry, position them in front of a television set or near a radio, and that is it. People could not be more wrong. The needs of the elderly population are as complex as any age group, and maybe even more so.

So what is it about the elderly that calls for interventions by social workers? Here are a few reasons why our society’s grandparents may need social services.

Abuse of the Elderly

According to a research done in New Zealand, in 2007 alone, there were approximately 4,766 cases of suspected abuse of senior citizen, neglect, and even financial exploitation. Unfortunately, 19 incidents of these were connected to a death, and a sum of 303 were considered life-threatening. Appalled yet? Remember, those figures do not cover the number of occurrences in the entire world.

A suspected case of elder abuse gets called in to a social worker.  This geriatric social worker will then collect more data by conducting interviews, and will then determine if abuse has actually taken place by participating in an investigation. This process might include taking it to court to obtain a restraining order and keeping the elder in a temporary but safe place.  A geriatric specialist social worker has the training to identify signs of abuse and skills in interviewing and talking to people who are suspected to be victims of physical and verbal abuse.

Increased Occurrence of Medical Conditions

Let’s face it. As most people grow older, they may develop a myriad of medical illnesses. The body becomes weaker, loses resistance to sickness, and a number of medical conditions dare to ravage the human body that used to be so fit and healthy.

Despite social security assistance and the financial support of family members, the aged members of our society still struggle to make ends meet, what with all the maintenance medications that ensure day-to-day healthy functioning.

Geriatric social workers may make things easier by helping senior citizens get what they need such as home care assistance, special modes of transportation, or any other similar needs. Social workers can also authorize the employment of in-home assistants to help senior citizens who need assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and eating. With the help of such services, some elderly people may have the choice of living in their own homes, when otherwise they would need to be admitted in a nursing care home.

Social Isolation

Some senior citizens are quite lonely, especially those without close family nearby. They might also have lost their friends, co-workers, and sadly, even their family members may have abandoned them. Some also have health problems that interfere with their ability to interact socially.

Geriatric social workers help the elderly deal with problems such as these. Aside from just hearing out what their clients have to say, social workers can also encourage them to participate in group activities. Many social workers have the skills to lead these activities or arrange for others to be the leader. Some social workers have a basic knowledge in mental health, and may offer therapeutic sessions for clients suffering from depression or anxiety. Most act as a link between their clients and the countless programs designed for the aging.

Our elders need caring for more than we think. They need someone to speak out for them at times, someone to advocate their needs, and someone to take the time to listen. All of that, and more, can be found in the most selfless people around – the social workers.

NOCSC Members and Friends:

Our next All Member General Meeting is on Tuesday March 15 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Your valuable insights and ideas are very much appreciated as we tackle the topics of:

• Input for the 2016-2017 Senior Resource Guide
• 2016 Elder Abuse Awareness Day
• Website and Facebook Page Suggestions and Updates
• Fall Risk / Prevention Community Strategies ~ Upcoming Class Dates and Flyer

2016 Aging as Art Photograph Show

The Council on Aging-Orange County  in partnership with the Bowers Museum, celebrates the 2016 Aging as Art display of photographs depicting the diversity, dignity and beauty of the aging experience.

View the display: March 1-6

Bowers Museum

2002 North Main Street

Santa Ana, CA 92706