Building Coordinators

SOCIAL WORKERS AT SENIOR HOUSING SITES

Our social workers are available to help older adults who live in senior housing complexes across Cincinnati. They’re called Building Coordinators or Service Coordinators, and they’re experts at working with older adults. They work closely with the building managers to identify residents who need assistance.

It can be challenging to deal with complicated government bureaucracies and businesses. “We help seniors maneuver through the mazes of life,” said Sharon Hale, a social worker who works with this program.

Seniors often need help dealing with their medical care, including Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions, transportation to medical appointments and more. Some seniors even skip doctors’ appointments because they don’t know how to arrange transportation to the medical offices.

Computers and automated phone systems present barriers for many. “We have lots of residents who have never used a computer, even though everything in this world seems to be computerized,” Hale said.

Even their mail – with bills, insurance statements and forms to fill out — can be a challenge. Some seniors head right from their mailboxes to the offices of our Building Coordinators, who help them decipher the paperwork.

To help the residents, the Building Coordinators can make referrals to other professionals and organizations. Additionally, our social workers stock a food pantry in every building for residents who might not have enough to eat. In some buildings, the Building Coordinators schedule monthly educational activities for residents about health and wellness topics and more.