About 100,000 people over the age of 65 live in Vermont. While that number
might seem small, it represents 15% of the state?s population, one of 11
states in the nation with at least a 15% ratio. That number has also risen
20% since 2000, so it is clear that seniors are a major concern in
Vermont.
The Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living is
tasked with taking care of this exploding population, with a stated mission
of making Vermont “the best state in which to grow old.”
It hopes to do this by providing a wide array of services to seniors. Those
programs include:
-- Adult Day Services: Structured programs for seniors who need care during
the day when their caretakers are at work.
-- Adult Protective Services: Investigating allegations of abuse, neglect
or exploitation.
-- Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Monthly deliveries of groceries to
qualified seniors.
-- Dementia Respite Program: Educational and direct services to people with
Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related disorders, as well as support to
their caregivers.
-- High Technology Home Care: Medical supplies, sophisticated medical
equipment and skilled nursing care, with the goal of transitioning a senior
from a hospital or other institution to the home.
-- Mental Health Elder Care Clinician Program: Helping seniors who suffer
from depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
-- Senior Community Services Employment Program: Job training and placement
for low-income seniors.
-- Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program: Fresh, locally-grown fruits
and vegetables for low-income seniors.
-- Transportation Services: Helping seniors who can no longer drive
themselves get around.
-- Traumatic Brain Injury Program: Returning Vermonters with brain injuries
back to their homes from hospitals and other facilities.
Studies show a third of all seniors will suffer a serious fall every year.
Medical experts say the sooner help arrives, the more likely it is that
seniors will make a full recovery from their injuries. A medical alert
system can help speed up that response time.
If you fall down and cannot get to a telephone to call for help, you could
lie there for hours or days until help arrives. By that time, your injuries
could be irreversible, or worse. With a medical alert system, you would not
need to get up. You could just press the alert button on your wrist or
around your neck and help will be at your doorstep in minutes.
As you begin your shopping, you might want to check out this link. It
compares the offerings from more than a dozen top medical alert
providers.
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