Surveys show needs of older adults

Two new surveys will guide services for local adults.

The Southwest Washington Area Agency on Aging surveyed 900 people across the region to identify priorities for its 2016-2019 operating plan.

Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services conducted its own survey over the past year and collected responses from 46 persons, and those responses mirrored the aging agency's results.

The agency's survey came back with four main themes, representative Mike Reardan said Tuesday in reporting to the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners. Those themes were:

1. Older adults want to stay in their own homes instead of going to care centers, and they'll need services such as care givers in order to do that;

2. Access to dental care and primary medical care is a major concern;

3. People need information on services available for older persons, and

4. Family care givers need support and people who can give them a break.

The top three needs from Wahkiakum County respondents were:

1. Transportation,

2. Access to medical and dental services, and

3. Older people want to stay in their home and need care services there.

For people with disabilities, Reardan added, access to medical and dental care is a top priority.

Sue Cameron, director of Wahkiakum Health and Human Services, said the department's results tied in very well with those of the agency on aging.

In the Wahkiakum results, access to primary medical was the top issue, she said. There has been a "huge shift" from people getting primary care in Wahkiakum County to finding medical care outside of the county.

"Continuity of care is the issue," she said.

Second, people don't know how to use public transportation. Even though senior citizens ride for free on Wahkiakum on the Move vehicles, and even though they can have door to door service, ridership is low among older adults.

"Trust and knowledge are the issues," Cameron said.

Also, the population is changing.

'There are now a lot of new folks," she said. "Outreach has to be continuous."

Third, 50 percent of the respondents said primary health care is the biggest issue in the county, Cameron said.

"The numbers reflect what Mik (Reardan) gave you," Cameron said. "This information will be part of our strategic plan."

Commissioners offered some comments.

Health care isn't going to be much different or any better outside the county, said Commissioner Dan Cothern. He added that he's seen a real need among truckers ready to retire for information about going into retirement.

Commissioner Mike Backman added that he has seen a need for people to have a better understanding of how to interact with medical providers so that they get the most out of their visits.

"To achieve number one (older adults staying in their homes), you have to work on number four (support for caregivers)," said Commissioner Blair Brady, who has served as a caregiver.

The Cowlitz Family Health Center has been talking about personnel turnover at their clinics, including the clinic in Cathlamet, said Sandi Benbrook-Rieder, a member of the center's board of directors.

"On the Quality Improvemement Committee, we've been talking about how difficult it is to fill

positions and how quickly people move around," she said. "It's very competitive. People steal (emkployees) from each other.

"It (staff turnover) is a fundamental change in the way health care is delivered."

She added that she wants to see the center do more educational programs so that people understand how health care is delivered.

FInding good providers to hire and keeping them on staff is a county wide issue, commented Chris Holmes, director of county mental health services. Benbrook-Rieder added that it's a state and national issue, and Cothren added that it's an issue for industries.