El Camino Health is committed to serving not only older adults who seek our care, but to improving health and quality of life for older adults in the community at large. We work to identify any unmet health needs and take steps to address them through funding, special services and community partnerships.
Through our community benefit activities, we provide funding for improved healthcare access, mental health services, healthy eating and physical activity, community health education and health literacy. For instance, the El Camino Hospital Community Program has provided funds and support for:
- A senior wellness program, available through Asian Americans for Community Involvement, for Asian Americans who are often isolated because of language, culture or other barriers.
- Intensive senior case management through the Community Services Agency in Mountain View.
- Dementia support through Latino Family Connections, a service of the Alzheimer’s Association.
- Intensive geriatric case management through West Valley Community Services.
- Senior Companion Program.
Here are a few more examples of our how El Camino Health is making a positive difference in our community:
- RoadRunners transportation for older adults and disabled patients to get to medical appointments and other necessary services.
- The South Asian Heart Center aims to find ways to reduce heart disease and diabetes among South Asians in our community and beyond.
- The Alzheimer’s Association and our Chinese Health Initiative have teamed up to offer a monthly learning circle for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
- Our Health Library & Resource Center helps older adults and caregivers access a wide variety of information and resources to make their lives easier.
Care Options
As you grow older, you may reach a point when you would like to simplify your life and find living arrangements to meet your current and future need. There are a number of alternatives to a traditional nursing home. Today, many levels of care are available to support various lifestyles and levels of assistance.
Our eldercare counselors can help you determine which level of care will best meet your needs. They can also help you find suitable communities and providers in your price range and desired area.
These are common terms you may hear as you explore care options for yourself or a loved one:
- Assisted living communities – Housing designed for older adults, from apartment-style living to free-standing units in a wide range of sizes and styles. Units are usually designed for easy navigation, with no yard work or other maintenance required. Some allow residents to bring pets, and most are unfurnished so residents can bring their belongings. Amenities such as laundry service, transportation, concierge service and restaurant-style dining are often provided with or without additional fees.
- Durable medical equipment (DME) – Medical equipment used in the home, such as oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, lifts and hospital beds.
- Independent living communities – For those who don’t need assistance with daily activities, but still want a safe environment designed for older adults. Independent living and assisted living are often in the some communities and offer many of the same amenities, such as restaurant-style dining, fitness activities, group outings and personal transportation.
- Long-term care – An umbrella term that can include home care, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities and traditional nursing homes.
- Residential care facilities – Offer 24-hour supervision and help with daily activities such as dressing and hygiene, but not necessarily full medical services.
- Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) – Provide round-the-clock nursing care and rehabilitation. SNFs are certified by Medicare and offer the highest level of care for older adults outside of a hospital. SNFs may be called nursing homes, but not all nursing homes are SNFs.
Helpful Links
- Family Caregiver Alliance – Services offered to caregivers and families in the Bay Area, including caregiver training, respite services and free in-home consultations. The site offers discussion of daily challenges, fact sheets, online discussion groups, caregiver tips and newsletters.
- Medicare.gov – The official federal site for Medicare. Find health and prescription drug plans, apply for Medicare, and make the most of your coverage.
- Community Services Agency – Provides free care services for older adults living in Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
- Lotsa Helping Hands – Manage caregiving online with this free, private, Web-based caregiver coordination service that allows family and friends to create a community calendar to help a caregiver with daily tasks.
- 2-1-1 Santa Clara County – Receive free, nonemergency community, health and disaster information in Santa Clara County from trained specialists. Available in 170 languages, 24/7.
- Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) – Promotes a safe, independent lifestyle for seniors, dependent adults and the disabled through protective services, nutrition and in-home services.
- Sourcewise Community Resource Solutions – Provides Santa Clara County adults and their caregivers with tools and services to navigate health and life options.
