SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AT THE CENTER

The Center has a Social Caseworker available to meet with members on a one-on-one basis to provide assistance with personal and family concerns during the Center’s business hours.

The Social Caseworker can also provide information on referrals to community-based programs and services.

The Social Caseworker utilizes a team approach to assist members in addressing all of their psychosocial needs.

Please contact Vijaya Tomar. at 636-3055 ext. 3165 or at vtomar@amherst.ny.us to make an appointment.

Services:

Supportive Membership: Works in collaboration with individual treatment goals to maximize Center engagement ability.
Short-Term Non-Clinical Counseling: Available to discuss concerns on a short-term basis with assessment for clinical referrals if needed.
Support Groups: Facilitates groups to assist with issues of concern.
Friendly Visitor Program: Coordinates the linkage of homebound seniors to volunteers for companionship.
Employment Board and Referral Assistance: Maintains an employment information board with full and part-time employment opportunities for seniors, as well as employment referrals.
Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) provides linkage to trained Counselors.
Fee Waiver: Completes assessments for financial assistance for Center Class fees.
Benefits and Entitlements: Provides information, eligibility requirements, and application assistance for several benefits and entitlements.
Community Referrals: Provides referrals to community-based services (Youth Works Program, snow plowing, lawn care, dog walking, and more).
Direct Work with Senior Outreach Services (SOS): Works directly with Erie County Senior Services through Senior Outreach Services to ensure continuity of service provision.

SOCIAL WORK SERVICES FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS

Senior Outreach Services (SOS) is a government funded program that strives to assist persons age 60 and older and their families who wish to maintain independent living in their homes.

Services:

Case Management-The SOS staff provides assessment and re-assessment, care planning, arranging for services, follow-up, monitoring and discharge to ensure their needs are being met.
Community Services-The SOS staff can provide you with information and application assistance for home delivered meal program, transportation services, home care, social adult day program, personal emergency response buttons, and caregiver services.
Application Assistance for Government Programs-The SOS staff can assist with the completion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Medicare Savings Program (MSP), Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) and others.
Information and Referral-The SOS Staff can assist you with finding community resources, support groups, housing options, accessibility home improvement programs and health insurance.

The Senior Outreach Services (SOS) staff will visit homebound seniors in their homes or in one of our SOS offices below:

· Amherst: (Main Office)

Amherst Center for Senior Services

370 John James Audubon Parkway

636-3070

Office hours are 8:30-4:30, please call for appointment

· Clarence:

Clarence Senior Center

4600 Thompson Road

633-5138 or 636-3070

Office hours are 9:30-11:00 and walk-ins are accepted at this location.

· Newstead:

Akron/Newstead Senior Center

5691 Cummings Road

542-6645 or 636-3070

Office hours are the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00-3:00, and the third Wednesday of the month from 10:00-12:00. Walk-ins are accepted at this location.

Senior Outreach Services is funded by the New York State Office for the Aging, Erie County Department of Senior Services, the Towns of Amherst (lead agency), Clarence, Newstead and also the Village of Williamsville.