Gatekeepers Keep Their E Out For Elderly Folks Who May Need Help
Syliva, 79, was found wandering the streets close to her home by a sheriff’s deputy.
Garland, 87, suffered from arthritis and refused to take his medication or follow instructions from his doctor.
Rose, 81, walked into her bank ranting that $60,000 was missing from her account. Later, she had trouble finding her way home.
The deputy, the doctor, the bank teller. All of them served as “gatekeepers,” people who refer seniors to helpful community services.
The Gatekeeper Program is sponsored by the Elder Services division of Spokane Mental Health. Ray Raschko, the director of Elder Services, says the agency handles an ongoing caseload of approximately 800 Spokane seniors, and staffs 38 case managers, nurses, psychiatrists and pharmacists.
“The Gatekeeper Program trains people like you and me to spot elderly who need assistance, and it coordinates services allowing them to stay in their own homes,” Raschko says.
He developed the program almost 20 years ago when he realized that his agency didn’t have access to many seniors who live alone and suffer from mental and physical illnesses. “These people do not self-refer,” he says. “We needed a way to enlist the help of the community.”
People who Raschko has trained to be Gatekeepers include apartment managers, property appraisers, librarians, mail carriers, customer service representatives from Cox Cable and Washington Water Power, and law enforcement officials.
Once a person is referred to Elderly Services, a team of health-care professionals assess their needs. The kinds of community services that might be available to them include in-home health care, counseling, support groups and nutrition consultations.
Elder Services needs more people to serve as Gatekeepers. They also sponsor a volunteer escort service and a peer counseling program. To access these services or to become an Elder Services volunteer, call 838-4651.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
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