Keeping Seniors in Their Homes Longer
Evelyn Anderson’s office is everywhere. While she has a desk and a chair in an Englewood office building, her real work is done in homes throughout the city of Chicago. She has worked for those most in need of support for nearly two decades.
“I give my heart and soul every day,” she said. “That’s the only way to do this job. You have to give it your all, all the time, or it just doesn’t work. If there’s no trust, there’s no relationship, and then you can’t help make things better.”
Anderson makes home visits to seniors throughout Chicagoland performing well-being checks and connecting seniors to support services such as public transit, in-home care, Meals on Wheels and senior health insurance program. By connecting with local support services, the seniors can remain independent and safely live in their homes for a longer period of time.
If seniors cannot remain in their homes, Anderson helps them identify other options including living with family members, or in assistant living, low-cost senior housing or nursing homes. In extreme cases, Anderson has had to have clients admitted to hospitals or moved from their homes for their own safety and well being.
“Sometimes I can only offer temporary help, but I can start the conversation about more long-range planning,” Anderson said. “I know I’ve done my best when they feel comfortable with a plan. And when they give me a hug. Sometimes a hug says it all.”
Anderson doesn’t do it all on her own. She works coordinates services with other agencies including the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, Illinois Department on Aging, Oak Street Health and other social service organizations.
“We really work best when we come together as a city for the senior,” Anderson said. “We owe it to our elders to be kind, to be honest and to be supportive.”