Project Access Safety Net Rural Elderly & Disabled

As we mentioned in our last update, this year, we are including a program to teach caregivers about fall prevention. The first sub-district has completed assessments of our elderly and disabled communities served by the Access to Care programs in Phrao.

Eldercare is on the budget agenda for our new Head of Phrao  District meeting. We were pleased to be invited to a meeting with our new Phrao District Chief and her head of Public Health for the 11 districts in Phrao to brief them and confirm their support for the program.  (Public Health runs the sub-district clinics and the program of health volunteers working in each village to disseminate information about mosquito-borne disease, maternal health, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other cornerstones of the public health service.)  

In April, Soda and Gai joined with the local public health leads to meet with village health volunteers and explain the role of our Access to Care program; how it aligns with the services provided by public health but provides visits and supplies that are not otherwise available to these isolated community members.

In May, we trained our first group of public health workers on fall prevention.  An overview of the program engaged them in thinking about ways they can assist.  We prepared village health volunteers to conduct surveys with individual households. This includes the Sub-District of Long Khot.

Here are the results from the fall risk survey. As of today, 436 participants completed the fall risk survey, revealing varied levels of fall risk:

• 41% were categorized as having no fall risk, and
• 22% were identified as having a low risk for falls.
• 37% were found to be at moderate to high risk for falls, with 15 individuals in the high-risk group. 

This assessment underscores the need for tailored interventions, particularly for high-risk individuals. The next step is to conduct home safety evaluations and a plan to provide the necessary support. This may include some home accessibility improvements along with coaching in ways to stand up, turn, and walk to avoid falls. 

As we engage the local health volunteers, we will expand the reach of care for the elderly and disabled in our community. 

Our team continues to visit our constituents,  bringing nutritious food and hygiene products, as well as transportation to doctors' appointments

Thank you for making this possible, bringing joy and basic supplies to our isolated elders and disabled community.

Best wishes for a safe summer.

Dana, Evelind, Michael, and the Access to Care Team.

It's hot and the air is full of smoke coming across borders and from forest burning.  This has not deterred Soda and Gai from visiting our elders and disabled to make sure they have fans and are keeping hydrated, along with trips to the doctor and general wellness care. We have 98 active clients, including 24 new people.  We reached close to our target of 1000 visits last year (932)  and should exceed that this year.  The issues of geriatric and long-term care are rising in public and government awareness and our team has been invited to explore ways to expand coverage in our District.

As you know, we work alongside the government's Public Health organization in several of Phrao's sub-districts (11 sub-districts in Phrao with about 5000 people in each). We are always looking for ways to engage the local public health infrastructure. We provide a safety net for gaps in the system.

This year we have a new Head of Phrao District, and she has been allocated an initial budget for elder care.  Soda and PJ, our head of operations and community liaison, joined a meeting to present our program and discuss ways to have community health volunteers reach elders with supplies and access to care.  As the elderly population grows, this network is more and more critical. Unfortunately, these budgets come and go.  Our program has maintained continuity in the community. We leverage these budgets as much as possible when they are available.

We have been working with a professor of Geriatric Nursing, Usar Suragarn, to review our work and structure the Fall Prevention program.  The program includes training of community caregivers, fall risk assessments for each of our constituents, and recommendations tailored to each person.  Where home accessibility modifications, like grab bars, can be used, we can make modifications, based on available funds. Usar has also connected us with the faculty at one of the major hospitals in Chiang Mai.  They are looking for practicum placement sites for the nursing students and will visit in the next few weeks.

Thanks to your gifts, we have been able to be a continuing source of support for the elders and disabled people in our community, delivering smiles and essential care.

Best wishes for the months ahead,

Dana, Michael, Evelind and the Access to Care Team