University of Utah |
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) is a relatively small but growing and
developing organization committed to helping the elderly remain in their
own homes for as long as possible by building communities from the inside
out. NHN originated in 1997 out of a vision provided by Mr. Wilford Goodwill
in conjunction with the University
of Utah College of
Social Work. It began as a demonstration project and has since grown
into a fully structured, nonprofit, community-based service organization
operating out of the College of Social
Work’s W.D. Goodwill Initiatives
on Aging. The program acts as a bridge between an outstanding community
philanthropist and the University
of Utah. As such, NHN ensures effective linkage of academic theory with
applied social work and community practice in the field of aging.
Residing in the community is usually the desired choice of elderly people
who prefer to “age in place” or live out the rest of their
lives in the comfort of their own homes. It is generally considered preferable
to nursing home or other institutional settings because of individualized
attention and presumed better quality of care. In addition, the elderly
tend to desire residing in the community because of the familiarity and
history of the environment, the belief that their independence and privacy
will be maximized, and the belief that their contributions to the community
will be continued. The preference of the elderly to reside in the community
often contrasts with general practice; there is a bias toward institutionalization,
regardless of the inappropriateness of the placement. One of the main
reasons for this bias is that low-income, community-dwelling elderly people
do not have the means to keep their homes safe, accommodating, and maintained.
Sometimes things like yard care, interior and exterior painting, roof
repairs, water damage to walls or boards in porches/steps, torn/ frayed
carpeting, loose tiles, damaged linoleum, plumbing repairs, problems with
climate control (e.g., heating/air conditioning units, electric fans),
lack of handrails/grab bars, electrical problems, lighting, appliances
(e.g., stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer) not working, and the like are
more than these folks can handle, both physically and financially. Additionally,
durable medical equipment such as walkers, canes, grab bars, shower benches,
etc. are often hard to come by. Not having these needs attended to places
elderly people at risk of not being able to be safe, healthy, or well
taken care of in their own homes. They may be at risk of such things as
falls, malnutrition, infestations, and home energy inefficiency. Additionally,
older people generally take much pride in their homes and it is often
detrimental to their self-esteem and ability to maintain community connections
because of the condition of their homes when they are unable to keep them
up. Addressing this significant need among the low-income elderly residing
in their own homes is an extremely worthwhile effort.
PROGRAM DESIGN, MISSION,
AND PURPOSE
The mission of NHN is to improve the health, safety, and quality of life
of community-dwelling seniors through the promotion and maintenance of
independent living. NHN strives to enable elderly individuals to reside
in the community for as long as possible. The goals of the program include
the following: (1) to link elderly people with community resources to
address unmet needs, (2) to provide reassurance and opportunities for
socialization in an effort to minimize isolation and depression, (3) to
provide continuous assessment as well as ongoing support, follow-through,
and monitoring to ensure that identified needs are met, and (4) to bridge
the gap between formal aging services and informal community resources
by building community through partnerships with diverse neighborhood entities.
In order to accomplish the program’s mission and goals, NHN uses a community building approach to mobilize various entities within the community to participate in meeting the needs of neighboring seniors. These various community entities or informal support networks include the following: residents; businesses such as banks, stores, manufacturing companies, and service/supply centers; social groups such as churches, clubs, youth groups, and scout troops; and organizations such as schools, medical centers, corporations, and private foundations. Recognizing that formal aging service systems are often overwhelmed by the demand for services and lack of sufficient resources, NHN attempts to bridge this gap by accessing resources from the informal support network. Building partnerships and positive working relationships with informal support networks leads to valuable sources of information regarding those seniors who may be in need, as well as those who are rich in resources of time, money, supplies, services, skills, and people power needed to meet those needs.
CATCHMENT
AREA
NHN works with low-, middle-, or
fixed-income individuals aged 65 and older with limited social supports
(e.g., family, friends, church) who live in the area between 1700 West
(Redwood Road) and 1300 East, 900 South and 2700 South.
