January 21, 2015
NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS GRANT
FINAL REPORT
1 Organization/Agency or Collaborative Information
· Name of organization or fiscal agent and partner agencies: Area Agency on Aging Serving Napa and Solano
· Program/project title: StopFalls Napa Valley
· Name and title of person completing report: Leanne Martinsen, Executive Director
· Email address and telephone number: , (707) 644-6612
· Amount of grant award: $30,000.00
2 Scope of Work
Please describe the specific goals and objectives outlined in the Scope of Work and indicate whether or not they were achieved. How many did you expect to serve, and how many did you actually serve? Include deliverables for the entire program/project as well as those specifically attributed to NVV funding.
Under StopFalls Napa Valley (SFNV) Scope of Work, we indicated that for the term of the grant we would coordinate with service providers to refer older adults with high risk for falls for screening and home-based, multi-factorial assessment, education and resource referral and advocacy for 120 older adults. We also committed to support home modifications for 50 older adults (and conduct 15 home modifications through our funding).
Between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, SFNV received 175 referrals for services from various community service providers (including Clinic Ole, Healthy Minds, Healthy Aging, Adult Protective Services, In Home Supportive Services, Queen of the Valley Discharge Planning, Health Agencies, Calistoga Family Resource Center, private physicians Fire and Police Departments, and individuals. Of 175 referrals, 125 clients were served. Of the remaining 50 prospective clients, a home safety assessment was declined, clients were unreachable, client moved, went into a facility, assessment was unable to be completed due to hording conditions and was referred to APS and several were determined to not require an assessment. Only 3 new referrals are pending. SFNV supported 125 clients through referral to services or by assessment by the program, but were linked to services from an appropriate provider. We arranged for in home safety modifications and/or durable medical equipment (and of those, 79 were completed with SFNV program funding.)
The Scope of Work also included providing risk factor education in the community to 150 individuals. During the year, the Occupational Therapist Consultant has provided in-service training to 40 clinical professionals at 2 events. We are now weekly presenters at the Napa County caregiver permit training class reaching a total of 222 providers at 25 classes
in 2014. (A number of these were bilingual in Spanish/English). Members of the Fall Prevention Coalition have represented SFNV at various Health Fairs and distributed materials in English and Spanish on Fall Prevention to more than 362 individuals at 13 events. These Health Fairs were held at each of the Senior Centers in Napa County, the Napa County Health and Human Services Campus, Emeritus Senior Housing, and The Meadows and Springs Senior Housing. Following Fall Prevention Week StopFalls was represented at the Celebrating Seniors event in Napa and partnered with the Napa County Dept. of Human services, senior mobile home parks throughout the county, Walk to end Alzheimer’s, Queen of the Valley’s synergy fitness program to name a few. Additionally, our Coalition member participated in Latino Elder Coalition events reaching a total of 250 people at 2 events.
The Fall Prevention Coalition presented a half day educational event in celebration of National Fall Prevention Awareness Week which was observed Sept. 24th to Sept. 27. SFNV conducted 4 presentations that were attended by 118 participants at the Napa Elks Lodge. Seniors were invited to attend a pharmaceutical lecture on drug interactions, Home Modifications, Stretch band exercise and balance with Tie Chi. They were offered resources from Life Line, CANV, Legal Services, Adult Day Health, HICAP, Kaiser, Medi-Cal and the AAoA to name a few. They were given consultations by a podiatrist, pharmacist, blood pressure checks, and assistance with completing emergency medical cards by High School Students. The public health nurse provided information on healthy eating choices. The focus this year was to take the fear out of talking about risks for falling and improve health care awareness. Curriculum was presented on screening for risk of falls and the proper use of medical equipment.
3 Evaluation
Describe how you measured the success and impact of the program/project. Where possible, explain results in outcome-based terms. For example, what changed (behavior, perception/attitude, knowledge or skills) as a result of this program for the population you are serving, and for the community or neighborhood? How much did it change? How do you know? Please refer to the evaluation plan described in your proposal.
Follow up contact with 74 unduplicated clients referred between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 revealed that of 125 assessments, 86 clients received recommended Durable Medical Equipment (DME) &/or installed home modifications for safety.(79 of those were funded in part or in whole by SFNV) Regarding the home modifications: 9 were completed by property managers, 2 were provided by other community programs, 17 were completed by client’s family or friends, and 27 were provided through Calistoga Affordable Housing Association with DME provided by SFNV as well as some materials costs. One (1) client who received an assessment, declined the opportunity to implement recommended changes, and another 3 required no home modifications but received educational instruction. Insurances (specifically Medicare, Medical and Partnership Health Plan) covered some of DME and/or home modifications saving the program money. 70 of the 74 clients surveyed have completed their recommendations for fall prevention. SFNV picked up uncovered costs and currently has 24 clients who have some level of continuing involvement in the home modification process or await a follow-up visit. All clients reported satisfaction with the services provided, and that they felt more safe and confident in their home environment. 97% of clients were able to demonstrate improvement in awareness prevention behaviors post assessment. Telephone follow up call surveys revealed 62 clients out of 74 reported no falls after the assessment and completion of recommended modifications. Our follow up in-home visits are conducted by the Occupational Therapist who is able to better assess the clients follow through with the education provided and the success of the DME and Home Modifications. She is able to reinforce fall prevention education with the client, caregiver and family.
A summary of the surveys conducted at the community education events revealed that 100% reported increased knowledge and understanding of fall prevention, and indicated their intention to make changes or take action as a result of what they learned at the event.
4 Challenges
What didn’t work? How did you resolve these issues and what did you learn?
The SFNV program has faced several challenges over this past year beginning with the Devastation that seniors have suffered from the Napa earthquake. Many seniors have been faced with new safety hazards in their homes to complete displacement. The Volunteer Services formed a repair team which we have joined to assist seniors with some repairs. Available funding sources have dried up and insurances do not cover many of the recommended durable medical equipment items needed to ensure client safety. Receiving the MSA fund has enabled us to complete home modifications and purchase needed durable medical equipment. Partnership Health Plan discontinued their Advantage plan that provided a benefit for home modification as of Jan.1st. so we are expecting to bear the cost of that change for a number of those low income seniors. These unforeseen issues speak to an even greater need for maintaining the NVV grant funding.
5. Organizational Changes
Note any major organizational changes that took place during the period of the grant.
StopFalls Napa Valley has had no organizational changes but we were able to increase the administrative assistant’s hours thanks to other grant funds. This was greatly needed as the volume of client assessments and follow-up visits has increased. This has been helpful in the coordination and timeliness of delivery of services.
6. Budget
Please attach your original program/project budget and corresponding actual financial results. Specify funding received from this grant and include all funding from other sources used for this program. Note any remaining ANV funds.
Please see the attached financial statements. We are very pleased to report that the program has been supported by several grants. The California Wellness Foundation awarded the second three-year grant for, $150,000 for FY 2012-2015 which will come to completion this year. The Napa County’s Master Settlement Agreement Award funds for FY 2014-2015 are $ 70,000 and have been applied for once again.
We would like to thank the Napa Valley Vintners for their support as we seek to address this significant community health issue, by raising awareness about the importance of preventing falls and assisting older adults to improve the safety of their homes, so that they can reduce their risk of injury and enjoy even better quality of life as they age in place in the Napa Valley.