InnovAge LIFE makes it possible for seniors to thrive independently

With a goal of helping seniors live life independently by aging in place— in their own homes and communities—for as long as safely possible, InnovAge has become the height of modern eldercare.

In connection with the PA area’s LIFE program (Living Independence for the Elderly), InnovAge dedicates itself to working with seniors throughout the aging process, in the warmth and familiarity of home, with a sense of community and dignity as its guiding spirit behind their comprehensive physical, mental, and emotional support.

“For me, it is the concept of all-inclusive care,” said Chris Minnick, the Center Director of InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE’s Henry Avenue location. “Our focus is to avoid any institutional settings, enabling folks to live in the least restrictive environment that they can, where they want to live, and remain in their home with wrapround services for as long as we can keep them safe.”

While nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers are part of their continuum, the focus of InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE is to find homier alternatives to daily living, while offering day centers as part of its program. Primary care, specialty care, nursing and social services, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, counseling, dental and vision services, foot care, medication management, meals and nutrition are as much a part of the package, as is connecting its participants to new friends, activities and long-lasting relationships.

“Their medical health, their emotional health and their social situations, their ability to do daily activities: we work together as a team to meet each participant’s plethora of needs,” said Minnick.

Ashley Cobb, a social worker with InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE’s St. Bart’s Center for the last six years, echoes Minnick’s sentiments, and stated that when participants enter their care, her job kicks in.

“I and my team are there to make sure they get adjusted to the program, to what resources are available to participants inside and outside of the center, and to aid them in remaining independent as long as possible and connect them to things they need to get all that done,” stated Cobb.

One common roadblock to maintaining self-care and independence for elders, however, are feelings of depression, isolation and loneliness, emotions that were exacerbated by Covid.

InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE is quick to recognize issues of self-isolation and sadness, and work on alternatives to depression and loneliness among its participants.

“We feel as if the day center is extremely important in combatting isolation and loneliness by getting people out of their immediate environment, especially if they are without a regular caregiver,” stated Minnick.

As social workers at InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE, making and maintaining contact in a deep and meaningful way with its participants is of the utmost importance.

“We try to get to the heart of any issue a participant is having because often seniors will only offer general responses, and from there find solutions to their depression,” said Cobb. “For some, it will mean increasing their attendance at the day center, and following up with psychologists, and having our social workers check in with them more often. If the problem runs deeper, we’ll refer participants to psychiatrists for evaluation and work with their evaluations.”

For InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE, greater social interaction, rather than drugs, is always the first answer to staving off feelings of isolation and depression.

“We have staff that have a variety of relationships with each individual,” said Minnick. “From community nurses to life specialists, home health aides and certified nurse assistants, we’re there for all of our participants. Whoever has the best relationship with our participants, we’re here to keep them safe and sound, physically, socially and mentally.”

For more information, visit innovage.com

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Sponsored content produced in partnership with InnovAge