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Program to keep seniors independent to continue
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| Klamath Falls resident Carl Ekman explains how Project Independence helps him manage a daily routine despite his physical disability. The program will soon be expanding to include younger clients with disabilities. |
Published August 16, 2005
Since Carl Ekman's eyes have failed him, he can't see his own floor to clean it.
"The way my eyes are, I can't see the dirt on my floor unless it's in big globs," said the 86-year-old retired U.S. Forest Service employee.
Ekman lives in a tight trailer in the south suburbs of Klamath Falls with a garden in his back yard - it's smaller than previous years because of health problems. Among other ailments, Ekman has macular degeneration. Part of his eye's retina is damaged and he can no longer drive.
He now relies on workers from a program called Oregon Project Independence to help him out with chores around the house and take him on weekly shopping trips.
The program allows Ekman and a couple dozen others like him in the Klamath Falls area to stay out of nursing homes and in their own homes, a move that people who work with seniors say benefits their physical, financial and mental health. For years money has been pulled from the program, including from the Meals on Wheels program and money for shared meals such as those served at the Klamath Basin Senior Center.
This year the Oregon Legislature reinstated much of the funding, about $5 million in newly pledged money.
There's one stipulation, though: agencies that administer Project Independence will now have to extend their services to people with disabilities.
Klamath Basin Senior Center Director Mike O'Brien said it will mean some changes, but he's fine with change if the money comes in. It's also an opportunity to help an underserved segment of the population, he said.
"We see it as a vulnerable population that is left without services in a lot of areas," he said.
The money expected to come to the Klamath Basin will help ensure that people like Ekman won't lose the help they get.
It will also allow the Senior Center to return to serving meals on two Fridays it had to cut from the monthly calendar. It has also eliminated the waiting list for the Meals on Wheels program.
"All of our staff have been restored, and all of our programs here have been restored," O'Brien said.
For now the Senior Center staff can work on gearing back up to the levels they were working at before financial woes curbed their program earlier this year.
But O'Brien said it's still not known how the new changes will unfold.
For now he's waiting for rules and regulations, which he speculates will come out late this year. He hopes to start serving his new client base early in 2006.
Once the new rules are out, he expects the program to work much the same as it does for seniors. People with disabilities will be referred to the Project Independence program through state agencies, friends or neighbors and will be visited by a senior center employee to determine if the person is eligible. People sometimes get referred back to the state, which can often provide more in-depth services.
O'Brien praised lawmakers for making the right choice in reinstating funding for seniors.
"The fact that they tackled (Project Independence) shows how important seniors are to legislators," he said.
Since Carl Ekman's eyes have failed him, he can't see his own floor to clean it.
"The way my eyes are, I can't see the dirt on my floor unless it's in big globs," said the 86-year-old retired U.S. Forest Service employee.
Ekman lives in a tight trailer in the south suburbs of Klamath Falls with a garden in his back yard - it's smaller than previous years because of health problems. Among other ailments, Ekman has macular degeneration. Part of his eye's retina is damaged and he can no longer drive.
He now relies on workers from a program called Oregon Project Independence to help him out with chores around the house and take him on weekly shopping trips.
The program allows Ekman and a couple dozen others like him in the Klamath Falls area to stay out of nursing homes and in their own homes, a move that people who work with seniors say benefits their physical, financial and mental health. For years money has been pulled from the program, including from the Meals on Wheels program and money for shared meals such as those served at the Klamath Basin Senior Center.
This year the Oregon Legislature reinstated much of the funding, about $5 million in newly pledged money.
There's one stipulation, though: agencies that administer Project Independence will now have to extend their services to people with disabilities.
Klamath Basin Senior Center Director Mike O'Brien said it will mean some changes, but he's fine with change if the money comes in. It's also an opportunity to help an underserved segment of the population, he said.
"We see it as a vulnerable population that is left without services in a lot of areas," he said.
The money expected to come to the Klamath Basin will help ensure that people like Ekman won't lose the help they get.
It will also allow the Senior Center to return to serving meals on two Fridays it had to cut from the monthly calendar. It has also eliminated the waiting list for the Meals on Wheels program.
"All of our staff have been restored, and all of our programs here have been restored," O'Brien said.
For now the Senior Center staff can work on gearing back up to the levels they were working at before financial woes curbed their program earlier this year.
But O'Brien said it's still not known how the new changes will unfold.
For now he's waiting for rules and regulations, which he speculates will come out late this year. He hopes to start serving his new client base early in 2006.
Once the new rules are out, he expects the program to work much the same as it does for seniors. People with disabilities will be referred to the Project Independence program through state agencies, friends or neighbors and will be visited by a senior center employee to determine if the person is eligible. People sometimes get referred back to the state, which can often provide more in-depth services.
O'Brien praised lawmakers for making the right choice in reinstating funding for seniors.
"The fact that they tackled (Project Independence) shows how important seniors are to legislators," he said.
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Ralph Sayre wrote on Jan 31, 2009 6:13 AM:
" I've just read an article (2005) titled "Discarded Soul at Peace."
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
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Ilene S wrote on May 21, 2009 9:36 AM: