For AgeSpan Resident Service Coordinators, sometimes it’s one small thing that opens the door to big changes for the older adults they work with. In the case of RSC Liz Speranza and resident Bernie, it was a Tracfone.
As an AgeSpan RSC, Liz is based in the Methuen Housing Authority, connecting residents with programs and services. Bernie, who lives in one of her buildings, is a 67-year-old man living with a traumatic brain injury who stopped by her office for help getting his Tracfone to work.
That first visit built trust and opened the door to more support. Soon, Bernie was working with AgeSpan’s Money Management program to streamline his bills and receive housekeeping and laundry help through the AgeSpan Home Care program.
“Bernie can be hesitant to accept services,” Liz says. “But his home health aide is very kind and patient with him. Now we’re seeing him in the community room more often.”
Meeting daily needs and more
Bernie is just one of many residents who turn to Liz with challenges big and small. On a typical day, she might be helping someone apply for SNAP benefits or call a doctor’s office. She might be shopping for snacks for their weekly Michigan Rummy game or chatting with residents during daily coffee hours, listening for what they might need.
“I really like working as an RSC because I can really get to know the residents and their families,” Liz says. “When they need my help, they come to me. I can give them more one-on-one support. I feel like I’m really able to help them.”
Bringing the world inside
Many of the tenants are living with mobility issues or don’t have cars, so Liz brings the community to them. She partners with the Methuen Library to bring in a pop-up library and with the Health Department to offer blood pressure clinics. Once a month, the AgeSpan Traveling Chef comes to the community room, where residents can enjoy a special meal and listen to live music. St. Lucy’s Church comes in to do a weekly prayer service and a Mass each quarter.
“I think the biggest impact of my role is community involvement and socialization,” Liz says. “The activities and programs give residents a chance to get out of their apartments and socialize with people they know. It just gets everyone in a better mental space.”
Focusing on the whole person
Liz also makes sure her residents have a voice beyond the building. She works with the tenants’ association and hosts local politicians for events. With the Methuen Health Department, she offered a program called Buried in Treasure, which helped residents declutter by donating what they no longer needed. When residents asked for more outdoor seating, she teamed up with the local Boy Scouts, who built new picnic tables.
“This project was a win-win for everybody,” Liz says. “The residents got new tables, the housing department didn’t have to cover the cost, and the Boy Scouts learned a valuable skill!”
One highlight for Liz is a 10-week mind, body, soul workshop she offered with a $5,000 grant from the Newburyport Police. Designed to ease stress, anxiety, and depression, the course left participants smiling, relaxed, and asking for more.
“Everyone was relaxed and happy when they finished that course,” Liz says. “It was one of the best things I ever brought to the residents. They all loved it.”
For Liz, it always comes back to connection.
“Some residents really can’t stay in their apartments without additional support,” Liz says. “Working together with the residents and their families and friends, we can help them stay out of the nursing home and in their apartments for as long as possible.”
