A Golden Opportunity: Managing the Risks of Service to Seniors

"A Golden Opportunity" addresses how the changing age distribution of the American public affects community-serving nonprofits and what steps they need to implement in order to manage inherent risk. Not only is there a higher percentage of senior Americans, but greater numbers of elderly people are living well into their 80s and 90s. The caregiver roles once played by family members are now assumed by paid and volunteer staff at service organizations, including those who staff day-care centers, deliver meals, or simply make periodic visits to interact with the elderly service population. These staff members have become the new front line in senior risk management. They are often the first and sometimes the only ones to spot signs of trouble, including elder abuse, physical disability, medication problems, self neglect, depression, and household hazards. Their interaction and willingness to help the elderly in their care may prevent injury and stop problems from escalating, but they should not be expected to face these newfound responsibilities alone. They need guidance to protect their charges, themselves and the organizations which they serve.Proper training, screening and supervision can help service personnel assess a situation, decide when or whether to report an incident, and choose the methods and personnel needed to assist. Service organizations must teach their staff the signs and symptoms of problems and the appropriate methods to improve a situation without making matters worse. "A Golden Opportunity" is designed to help service organizations prepare their paid and volunteer staff for their new risk management roles. It begins with a general discussion about seniors, from the robust to the frail elderly and highlights the individuality of those who compose each group. Chapter Two separates fact from the misconceptions that potentially hinder an organization's ability to respond to the needs of its seniors. Chapter Three provides an overview of risk itself, offering a guide to several basic principles of risk management. Chapter Four discusses a number of the most significant health-related risks facing our senior population, including elder abuse and self-neglect, and the symptoms to watch for. Chapter Five addresses other issues that pose risks common to seniors including transportation, crime and confidentiality. Chapter Six looks at risks unique to senior populations living in communal housing. The materials in these chapters discuss applicable laws and court rulings and, wherever possible, suggest appropriate methods to control, reduce or alleviate risks to seniors, without invoking consequent risks to staff or service organizations. A bibliography and substantial resource section give the reader additional material on the topic of managing risk in senior-serving nonprofit organizations.Paid and volunteer staff members who have chosen to work with seniors need your support to handle the new responsibilities that come with the territory. The senior service recipients need service providers who are trained and prepared to handle the problems that accompany the aging process. Through this book, organizations can help make risk management a golden opportunity for both the organizations and the seniors who look to them for service.