LRCS HomeAssist Program Expands to Belknap County
‘Remaining at home with support and dignity’
Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS) has been serving Lakes Region communities by providing important social services for nearly 40 years. In its primary mission of supporting individuals and families with developmental disabilities or acquired brain disorders, the agency serves over 1200 people a year.
LRCS is also home to the Family Resource Center of Central NH impacting an additional 465 families and 800 children by offering community-based programs including extensive parent education, early supports and services and childcare referral and support. The agency is closely tied to a variety of state and regional coalitions and community partnerships as it works to collaborate to strengthen families and communities by providing services that cover a lifespan.
It is no wonder that with this level of knowledge, expertise and connections, LRCS has successfully stepped up to help meet the need of providing personal, non-medical support to an expanding aging population by offering a variety of services that allow people to maintain independence in their homes.
“The HomeAssist Program is grounded in the values and experience that LRCS brings as a local provider that knows first hand how to support families. We understand the importance of building relationships and our approach is both resourceful and flexible. We treat people how we would want to be treated,” said Shannon Kelley, Director of Community Support Services.
HomeAssist provides non-medical hands-on services for aging seniors such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping and laundry, escort and transportation, medication reminders, assistance with personal care, household responsibilities and general companionship. The program enables Lakes Region seniors and individuals living with chronic illnesses in Belknap and Southern Grafton Counties to access the supports they need to be able to stay in their homes.
Called upon to fill a service gap in 2012, LRCS began offering its HomeAssist services in southern Grafton County. The highly successful program recently expanded to cover all of Belknap County when the previous service provider, Central NH VNA, declined to pursue their contract with the State Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS). Experienced staff from the Central NH VNA program have joined the LRCS HomeAssist assuring a smooth transition of services and increasing the capacity to serve more clients in Belknap and So. Grafton Counties.
Whether one can pay for the services privately or qualify for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Care Choices for Independence Program, the BEAS Title 20 Block Grant or have long term health insurance options, the LRCS HomeAssist Program provides the framework and supports to meet the individual’s needs as directed by the individual or their representative.
“Lakes Region Community Services provides caring support across the life span,” said LRCS Executive Director Chris Santaniello. “It is fitting for us to continue to expand our services to meet the needs of area seniors and those with chronic illnesses. As the local population ages, appropriate in-home supports help people to stay in their homes as long as possible. Aging adults have options to live at home with dignity and they can increase services over time as necessary.”
If you or someone you care about needs some in-home assistance, contact a HomeAssist Program Coordinator at Lakes Region Community Services 524-8811 or visit www.lrcs.org.
