The Geriatric Center of Excellence is a “center without walls,” offering comprehensive geriatric medical services to improve quality of life for seniors in a hands-on, caring environment in the hospital, in the home and community-wide.
The Senior Options and Solutions Program (SOS), offered through the Geriatric Center of Excellence, assists seniors, families and caregivers by answering healthcare questions, identifying individual needs through in-home assessment, and providing referrals to beneficial services.
Primary Program Goals
- To identify seniors at risk, and link them to programs and services that may improve their quality of life
- To provide outreach and education to the community on healthcare issues and resources to maintain health and safety
- To raise awareness of entitlement resources that assist with aging
- To improve access to mental health resources and screenings
- To decrease hospitalization and deterioration of health through early intervention
Senior Options and SolutionsYear in Review
During the past year, Senior Options and Solutions provided screening, assessment and follow up services to over 700 individuals.
Contacts with family members, friends, physicians, and treatment and home care professionals are also an integral part of the service to ensure coordination and collaboration of care when needed.
Our working relationships with other providers of services, particularly Sou-thold Town Senior Services, are key to to our effectiveness.
Over the past year, the top five ser-vices identified have been:
- In- home needs: assist with physical care, care of the residence, transportation, assistance with errands and appointments including transportation. Referrals to Town of Southold based programs for meals on wheels and essential medical transportation.
- Mental Health needs: Concerns about depression, anxiety, and memory.
- Physical Health issues.
- Information related to benefits: Medicare, Medicaid, and prescription coverage.
- Socialization: Information related to programs available via Southold Town , community groups, day programs and volunteerism.
Community Outreach - Education, collaboration with other service providers and committee membership. Over 100 outreach activities including the Senior Wellness lectures at the Town of Southold and Shelter Island nutrition programs; participation in the Town of Southold Committee for Health Issues and Service for Seniors, East End Mental Health Network, Suffolk County Injury Prevention Group, New York Connects, and the Long Island Geriatric Education Center (LIGEC).
Monthly Wellness Series
Presentations on relevant topics such as sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, dementia, substance abuse, hearing loss and bereavement are offered at
at the Southold Town Human Resource Center, in coordination with the Mental Health Association in Suffolk County.
Cancer Support Group
Right Here in Your Community
The North Fork Cancer Support Group for people living with cancer is now in its third year and meets the 3rd Tuesday each month at the First Presbyterian Church (53100 Route 25, Southold) - the next gathering will be on March 15.
Co-sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and ELIH, members offer each other emotional support, provide a confidential place to share stories of living with cancer, and form an alliance of hope.
Knowledge is powerful, and speakers visit the group to provide information about topics ranging from nutrition and neuropathy to wellness and healing. The group is open to adults living in the area who with a diagnosis of cancer.
Julia Graziano, R.N. case manager vo-lunteers her time to co-facilitate the group with Vicky Cortese, LCSW of Senior Options and Solutions.