By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT- ServiceLink has recently relocated their offices to 3 Tremont Street in Claremont.
Until recently the aging and disability resource center was located on Dunning Street near Valley Regional Hospital. Employees at ServiceLink feel as though the new location offers an opportunity for clients to be able to access resources more effectively.
“Since moving here I feel like we’ve seen a lot more of the foot traffic. Our offices open 8am to 4:30pm and we’ve been able to see more people come in during those hours. I think at our last location it was more difficult for people to get there because it was a little out of town, especially if they were reliant on public transportation which is true for a lot of people,” said Site Supervisor and Options Counselor, Catherine Martinez Coconubo.
ServiceLink of Sullivan County has a primary goal of helping the aging population of Sullivan County with long term support services. These functions often include a lot of things, starting with helping elderly people plan for their housing situation, whether that be staying in the home or moving to an assisted living facility. ServiceLink finds that many of their clients would prefer to stay in the home and they are able to connect families with the Family Caregiver Program, which helps support caregivers who are sharing a home with an elderly family member.
Services associated with that program are listed on the New Hampshire government’s website, and include assistance in assessing individual caregiving needs, help in identifying options, and accessing local providers, Individual counseling and access to support groups, education and training to help develop caregiving skills and respite care services to provide a temporary break for eligible full time family caregivers, and limited services that complement the care the family caregiver is providing.
“I think a lot of people can connect to the fact that they want to care for a parent but don’t have the necessary resources and we want to be able to help them through that process and get to a position where they are able to,” said Coconubo.
Other functions of ServiceLink include helping people apply for Medicaid to get on the Choice for Independence waiver. They are also able to put individuals in contact with State Health Insurance Assistance certified counselors so that they are able to navigate Medicare applications. They are also able to provide information referrals and aid individuals with applying for heating assistance or food stamps.
ServiceLink of Sullivan County is a small operation, with two full time employees, but they have successfully managed to help a large client base. Representatives with ServiceLink have suggested that the easiest way to get in contact with them is over the telephone. They would then conduct an interview to better understand the needs of their clients. Anyone in need of services is encouraged to call (603) 542-5177. ServiceLink is a program through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
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