Month: March 2020

1 in 5 homeless people in Sacramento County are 55 and older according to the 2019 Point in Time Homeless Count.[1]  Over 5,000 people are homeless in Sacramento County & many require medical attention.[2]  Hospitals are struggling to provide for these patients who have nowhere to go after discharge, and the State of California has stepped into action.

July 1^st, CA Senate Bill 1152 goes into effect, mandating that hospitals provide discharge plans for homeless patients.  Hospitals in the region are accruing costs for taking care of homeless or at-risk patients, often “patient dumping” at adult social services or other resources in an effort to open up hospital beds.  But a lack of resources, homelessness, and chronic medical conditions often force people to return to hospitals for further medical treatment, resulting in a “revolving door” effect.

SB 1152 is part of a state & county-wide effort to eliminate homelessness among Californians[3].  Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom passed a state budget which fines cities if they are not actively working to eliminate homelessness[4].  Sacramento Mayor Steinberg has tasked Sacramento City Councilmembers with opening shelters and finding beds for homeless people residing in their districts[5].  With hospital administrators and case managers now part of the solution to eliminate homeless conditions, the burden of a solution is left on our region’s hospitals.

Healthcare professionals are some of the most overworked and stressed people in today’s workforce.  SB 1152 now requires written documentation that homeless patients have an address for where they will go after discharge, with a priority set for shelters and social service organizations.  Referrals for medical follow-up, information and enrollment in healthcare insurance if eligible, prescription for medication, food & adequate clothing, and discharge transportation are all required and add more work for hospital case managers.  administrators are left crafting new procedures and protocols, while finding additional funding for programs.

A Senior Connection provides our clients with sustainable solutions for senior living & care options, including specialized Transitional Care Programs™ for at -risk seniors.  Our team is uniquely qualified to partner with Sacramento-area hospitals to slow the revolving door.  We have been successfully operating our ransitional Care™ program for several years and are able to save hospitals large amounts of funding through our partnership.  Our goal is to ensure every homeless or at-risk senior can find dignified housing placement with proper care.

 Author: Emily Grimmius

At A Senior Connection we provide our clients with sustainable solutions for senior living and care options, including specialized Transitional Care Progr ams™ for at-risk seniors.  We offer individualized services with no strings attach ed for seniors and their families.  Our care team will perform a profe ssional assessment of your loved one and understand their needs.  Once we id entify a personal need list, we help you find a new home, and connect to other financial or medical resources. 

Our placement services cover more than just the highest-paid assisted living communities.  Our Care Coordinators focus on understanding you or your loved one’s needs, and provide you with information on:

In-Home Care

Hospice

Dementia Care

Assisted Living

Residential Care Homes

Transitional Care™ Options

The ASC team’s focus is to make sure that every senior has dignified care regardless of socioeconomic status. We have successfully operated our Transitional Care™ Program for over 4 years, and placement even longer.  This has allowed our team to develop a wide-variety of resources to answer any questions you may have, and point families in the right direction for caregiver resources, VA Aid and Attendance, support groups, and more.  Once a client has been placed with care, we do not simply “dump” clients and their needs.  We continue to act as resource and can further assist with any questions that arise.

In the greater Sacramento area, there are many placement agencies who provide similar services.  So why are we different?  As a Sacramento senior care industry leader, all ASC team members have developed community relationships which allow us to vet and research all community partners we work with and recommend.  Our CEO has and continues to cultivate relationships with care homes and agencies in order to negotiate rates in certain circumstances so you don’t overpay for care.  Many families who go it alone often pay more than necessary, which can drain crucial financial resources. 

A Senior Connection placement services are free to seniors and their families, and we don’t charge hidden fees.  Our team has the ability to act as your advocate, champion, and educator for everything senior living.  Choose A Senior Connection because we will support you, educate you, and maintain the highest ethical standards. Leading the Way, the Right Way™.