Retirees are flocking to Nevada. The number of people aged 65 or older has
exploded in Nevada, to the tune of 53% more seniors now than in the year
2000. The mission of the Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division
(ADSD) is to provide ?leadership and advocacy in the planning, development
and delivery of a high quality, comprehensive support service system across
the lifespan. This allows all of Nevada?s elders, adults and children with
disabilities or special health care needs to live independent, meaningful,
and dignified lives in the most integrated setting appropriate to their
needs.?
-- Adult Protective Services: Working with local authorities, help for
seniors who are victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
-- Emergency Preparedness: Training about what to do in case of emergency,
particularly helpful in Arizona with its scorching summer heat.
-- Family Caregiver Support: Recognizing that family caregivers provide the
vast majority of assistance to seniors, Arizona has programs to help
caregivers meet the needs of their family members.
-- Home and Community-Based Services: Help with daily activities, including
adult day care, personal care and transportation.
-- Hospice Care: Supportive care and counseling for terminally ill seniors
and their families.
-- Legal Services Assistance: Legal advice, assistance and advocacy for
people over the age of 60.
-- Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Protecting the rights of seniors living in
long-term care facilities.
-- Nutrition Program: Home delivery of healthy meals or meals served in a
group setting.
-- Respite Care: A day off for caregivers.
-- Senior Community Service Employment Program: Work and volunteer
opportunities.
-- State Health Insurance Assistance Program: Better known as SHIP, it
provides free counseling and advice about the often confusing Medicare
system.
-- Transportation: Providing transportation to and from senior centers on
established transit systems, such as buses, private cabs and Reserve-A-Ride
services.
It is not a service offered by Nevada, but all seniors should consider
getting a medical alert system for their home. It can give them peace of
mind that if there is a medical or any other type of emergency, help is
just the press of a button away. Even if a senior lives alone, they are
never really alone – someone is always monitoring your system.
A medical alert device will also help seniors maintain their much-valued
independence. And if you are an active senior, medical alert systems are
now mobile. GPS and cellular technology now allow you to take a small
device with you wherever you go so you will always be monitored.
All medical alert companies are national, so they operate in all 50 states,
including Nevada. To compare the services each company offers, click
here.
Nevada takes allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of seniors very
seriously. The state’s Elder Protective Service has a mechanism for
immediately investigating claims of abuse. If an investigator thinks abuse
has happened, the case is referred to local police for possible
prosecution.
ADSD also offers prevention training to seniors and family members to help
them identify abuse and what to do if the unthinkable is indeed
happening.
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