Care Management for Seniors

Project LIVELY (Life, Interest and Vigor Entering Later Years) assists older adults with multiple needs by coordinating the help needed to remain in their homes as long as possible. The program, which is unique to Douglas County, was established in 1982.

Services include:
• In-home comprehensive assessment of needs by a care manager
• Arrangement of the necessary services
• On-going monitoring of the services and the individual’s changing needs
• Assistance in resolving problems

Project LIVELY works with the elderly who include those:
• Age 60 and over living in Douglas County
• With multiple health, social, financial and/or housing problems
• Who need assistance connecting to community services and programs

Location
Care management services are provided at clients’ homes.

Fee
None

For more information, call (785) 843-3060 or e-mail projectlivelyinfo@ldchealth.org or visit us on Facebook:

Project LIVELY on Facebook

Project LIVELY is also involved in the community. In conjunction with the University of Kansas, the LIVELY internship program allows students majoring in social work to gain real experience working with older adults, assessing their needs and linking them to services.
See KU's School of Social Welfare Health Department agency description >>

Project LIVELY is also a member of the Douglas County Coalition on Aging, made up of community service providers who advocate for older adults and work to coordinate resources so that Douglas County seniors can receive the best care possible.

Project LIVELY stories >>

MAINTAINING HER INDEPENDENCE...

The single most important concern seniors and their families have when contacting Project LIVELY is the desire to stay home.
I vividly remember the call I received from Betty about two years ago. She said a friend of hers told her about Project LIVELY and that we could help her. I told her of course we could help her and asked her about her concerns. At that point, she began to sob and told me that her husband had died a few days before. They took their usual nap and he never woke up – she was all alone and was going to lose her house.
Upon meeting Betty, I began to understand the enormity of all she had to cope with not only emotionally and financially but medically; Betty was also facing treatment for breast cancer. Feeling lost, isolated and overwhelmed, Betty said she didn’t know if she wanted to go on.
Working together, we found the community services needed to help Betty stay in her home: a volunteer to assist her with her finances, free legal advice to address her outstanding bills, home delivered meals, friendly visitor and housekeeping. Betty also qualified for a food program and free medications.
Out of all the programs and services, the most vital has been connecting Betty with her housekeeper, Susan. She has been the most valuable to Betty in maintaining her independence. As their relationship blossomed, so did Betty’s desire to live.