Making a Difference

Caring for our senior citizens is a matter of both community and individual concern. Whatever the needs of the elderly—medical attention, food, warmth, or companionship we believe that all seniors should have the choice to remain in their own home, living a life with the quality and dignity they deserve.

With support of our community we provide the following:

Care Management Care managers work with seniors and their families to developcare plans for
those at risk, to assure they have food, medication, a safe home, and emotional support. We provide case management services for about 300 seniors each year, including home assessments, care plans, assistance with contracts and ongoing care monitoring. We connect those in need to food programs, financial assistance, health insurance options, housing programs, home health agencies and many other services.

Home Care Referrals Care Managers screen and refer qualified caregivers to provide seniors and their families assistance for short intervals or for continuous care. We match clients with live-in and part-time caregivers, nurses’ aides, housekeepers, cooks, drivers, gardeners, companions, repairmen, and others.  We counsel clients on how to select a caregiver,develop appropriate employment agreements, and maintain regular follow-up to ensure quality care.

Family Respite Care
Family members
provide the major proportion of care to those in need, often taking its toll both physically and emotionally on the caregiver. With a little professional support and occasional paid respite care, they can then be more effective caregivers. Welcome to the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP, courtesy of funds provided to the Marin County Division of Aging from the Older American’s Act. These funds offer short term support to family caregivers who need assistance with daily care-giving.

Friendly Visiting Dedicated, caring volunteers bring the world to seniors and the seniors to the world by visiting, calling, sharing a hobby, preparing meals, helping with correspondence, gardening, providing transportation to medical appointments or senior centers, and much more as a good friend would do. Our staff provides volunteer training and matches friendly visitors with seniors who would benefit from a friendly companion visiting on a regular basis.

Transportation Assistance – Living in rural and isolated West Marin, seniors have identified transportation as their biggest challenge. Our staff helps seniors find rides, including shuttle service to the Stage Coach, and volunteer and paid drivers for medical appointments, shopping, errands, and other activities, both locally and “over-the-hill”.

Meals from Friends – We engage volunteers and community groups in the preparation and delivery of hot meals to those who are housebound or at risk. This program is provided for residents in San Gernonimo Valley and Point Reyes Station/Inverness. We also provide frozen homemade soups and other Melas. We can refer clients to Marin Meals on Wheels for frozen meals to supplement our food program.

Equipment Loan Closet – We lend a broad range of medical and homecare equipment, including hospital beds, walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs and commodes for use by clients. All of this equipment is loaned free of charge to those who need assistance.

Community Education and Wellness – We sponsor workshops, exercise classes, support groups, senior activity programs, and other activities for seniors, caregivers and their families to promote healthy lifestyles.

Employment Services – We provide employment opportunities for people interested in securing live-in and part-time home care jobs in West Marin and the County.

Home Saftey Repairs – Throughout the year,
we assist our clients in finding people who can provide small home repairs.

West Marin TRIPtrans…
dedicated to getting you there - Seniors & those with disabilities,
may qualify for assistance to help secure a volunteer escort-driver.

Once you have completed the necessary application procedures, you may be eligible for TRIPtrans assistance.  You will receive monthly cash mileage reimbursements for your volunteer.

Arrangements for travel are made between you and your volunteer driver, as mutually convenient.  Records of travel are sent to us each month to validate your completed travel.

TRIPtrans is that simple.  It is very user friendly and convenient. 

Call 663-8148 x114 if you need volunteer assisted transportation.

Sponsored by Marin Transit & funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s New Freedom Program. 
Administered by WEST MARIN SENIOR SERVICES