patricia
It was 2006 when Patricia was diagnosed with breast cancer. On top of dealing with rheumatoid arthritis that had plagued her since her 20s, she now had to be treated for the cancer. The following years brought a second bout of breast cancer, gall bladder surgery, a knee replacement and congestive heart failure brought on by chemotherapy treatments.
You may think you know how Patricia’s story ends… with her in a nursing home. But Patricia found the Hamilton County Elderly Services Program (ESP), which has helped her continue to live in her home despite all the health challenges and her limited mobility.
Before her time with ESP, Patricia – who never learned to drive – received transportation through Maple Knoll Outreach Services for Seniors. But her husband lost his vision and passed away and she needed more help. Her Maple Knoll driver recommended she contact Council on Aging (COA).
During her time with ESP, Patricia’s services have been adjusted by her COA care manager to meet her needs at the time. Most recently, it was the installation of a walk-in shower because she could no longer safely step in and out of her bathtub.
She also gratefully remembered the time COA came to her rescue during a very hot summer when her air conditioning stopped working. “It was miserable,” she said. “And they furnished me a portable air conditioner for my bedroom.”
Patricia’s grandson, Brandon, provides her home care services through ESP’s Consumer Directed Care (CDC) option. Though CDC, ESP clients can hire their own family member or acquaintance (but not a spouse) to provide their home care services. Brandon helps his grandmother with chores around the house – taking out trash, dusting, and other things she can’t do because of her health and physical limitations.
Patricia also has support from other family members and friends, but if she didn’t have ESP she believes she would not be able to remain in her home. “My family might help me and they might not… people have their lives to live, they might have jobs, they might have other family members or kids they have to take care of,” she said.
“COA is a blessing and a lifetime of help. They make sure I can stay in my home. I’d rather be in my home than a nursing home. And COA has pretty much made that happen,” Patricia said.
You may think you know how Patricia’s story ends… with her in a nursing home. But Patricia found the Hamilton County Elderly Services Program (ESP), which has helped her continue to live in her home despite all the health challenges and her limited mobility.
Before her time with ESP, Patricia – who never learned to drive – received transportation through Maple Knoll Outreach Services for Seniors. But her husband lost his vision and passed away and she needed more help. Her Maple Knoll driver recommended she contact Council on Aging (COA).
During her time with ESP, Patricia’s services have been adjusted by her COA care manager to meet her needs at the time. Most recently, it was the installation of a walk-in shower because she could no longer safely step in and out of her bathtub.
She also gratefully remembered the time COA came to her rescue during a very hot summer when her air conditioning stopped working. “It was miserable,” she said. “And they furnished me a portable air conditioner for my bedroom.”
Patricia’s grandson, Brandon, provides her home care services through ESP’s Consumer Directed Care (CDC) option. Though CDC, ESP clients can hire their own family member or acquaintance (but not a spouse) to provide their home care services. Brandon helps his grandmother with chores around the house – taking out trash, dusting, and other things she can’t do because of her health and physical limitations.
Patricia also has support from other family members and friends, but if she didn’t have ESP she believes she would not be able to remain in her home. “My family might help me and they might not… people have their lives to live, they might have jobs, they might have other family members or kids they have to take care of,” she said.
“COA is a blessing and a lifetime of help. They make sure I can stay in my home. I’d rather be in my home than a nursing home. And COA has pretty much made that happen,” Patricia said.
