ACSS offers a number of in home services to seniors in our community. These services take the form of Senior Volunteer Companion Program, Telephone Reassurance, Carrier Alert Project, Gatekeeper Program, Vial of Life, Outreach, Lifeline, and an Information and Referral Service. To take advantage of any of these services, please call the office at 463-4439.

GOALS OF THE SENIOR VOLUNTEER COMPANION PROGRAM:
•Encourage social interaction
•Give one-on-one support
•Be a friend
•Provide companionship
•Lend a listening ear

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE:
•60 years of age or older
•Willing to commit one to three hours per week to be a friend

THOSE ELIGIBLE TO BE COMPANIONS SHOULD:
•Be 60 years of age or older
•Have health limitations
•Be interested in having a friend to visit with and share some time with

POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES FOR COMPANIONS AND VOLUNTEERS:
•Visiting, reminiscing
•Social interaction
•Reading
•Letter writing
•Simple snacks
•Taking a walk
•Visiting Adams County Senior Services nutrition site and/or activities
•Linking companion to available community services
•Noting and sharing changes in the physical and/or mental health of companion with program manager
•Encourage contact with family and friends

Calls are made on a regularly scheduled basis to check on the well being of those homebound elderly who desire the service. In the event there is no answer to the telephone call, a staff member will make a personal visit to determine if a serious problem exists.



If a buildup of over two days mail occurs in the postal box of seniors participating in the Carrier Alert Program, the mail carrier report the buildup to our agency. An immediate investigation is made as to the reason mail is not being picked up. If we are unable to find an answer, the police department may be requested to make a welfare check. This program is sponsored by ACSS, the United States Postal Service and Postal Carriers Union.



Utility employees who visit homes to read meters can also act as "Gatekeepers"-people specially trained to recognize circumstances under which an older person may be in need of assistance. If a Gatekeeper identifies a possible need for services, a referral is made to Adams County Senior Services for appropriate followup. The Gatekeeper Program is provided in cooperation with Hastings Utilities.



A plastic vial containing vital medical information is to be placed in a specific area inside the refrigerator. A refrigerator is the least likely item in a home to burn, and this provides a measure of safekeeping for the vial, which can then be found in the same location in every home.

In the event an ambulance is called to the home, attendants check the front door for a Vial of Life sticker. If one is seen, the vial is retrieved for information that will assist in providing lifesaving medical treatment.



ACSS can help set seniors up with a Lifeline, which is an easy-to-use personal response service that ensures that older adults living at home get quick assistance whenever it is needed-24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

When users need help, they just press the waterproof Personal Help Button they wear as a pendant or wristband. Within seconds, a certified Lifeline monitor responds, assesses the situation and summons appropriate help, whether it is a neighbor, relative or ambulance.

ACSS has coupons to help with the cost of installation. Call Kathy at 463-3349 if you're interested.



Trained outreach personnel call on senior citizens to advise them of our available services. Most of these individuals are referred to us by other agencies, friends and family members.




As of November 1, 2012, Adams County Senior Services will no longer arrange independent Contractors to provide light housework, lawn care or snow removal as it has been done in the past. Beginning November 1, ACSS will reimburse the client directly. The client will become responsible for hiring the service worker of their choice. The client and the person they hire will negotiate the rate of pay per hour as well as the jobs that need to be done.

ACSS will maintain a referral list and continue to do background checks on providers wanting to be on this list.

For clients who apply for financial help, ACSS will provide up to $8.75 per hour, to a maximum amount of $500 dollars per fiscal year, as funding allows. The client will be responsible for any cost greater than the maximum amount allocated per hour, per fiscal year.

Please call Kathy at (402) 463-4439 if you are interested in applying for financial assistance to help cover cost for handyman or homemaker services.

The ACSS staff regularly attends various training sessions to keep abreast of changes in services and programs affecting older Americans. This informations is catalogued for ready reference when answering questions. When needed, referrals are made to other agencies.