Community-based services for older persons

Abstract

The aim of community-based services is to help older persons to cope with their daily living within the same family environment and the community for as long as possible. The purpose of this study is to analyse the effectiveness community services have in reaching out to older persons in the community, in order to evaluate whether the services provided are contributing in helping older persons to continue 'Aging in Place'. Community services chosen for this study are: Telecare Service, Meals-on-Wheels, Home Care Help Service, Incontinence Service, Handyman service, and the Respite Service. Social workers who work for the best interest of older persons in the community together with service providers can intervene to ensure that all older persons are aware of community services as well as to provide a package of services according to older persons needs and also for their well being. Such a package would ensure that older persons in the community not only keep living happily in the community but also continue 'Aging in Place' with the dignity they deserve.