EASTSIDE : Services for Seniors Offered by Phone
AltaMed Health Services has established a toll-free number for seniors to receive transportation, home-delivered meals and other health and social services.
The nonprofit community health care organization received a grant of $210,355 through the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging under the Federal Older Americans Act to increase the number of frail elderly it serves. The efforts to coordinate services for seniors over 60 will target those who live in East Los Angeles, Monterey Park, Montebello and Whittier. Income is not a factor in qualifying for the services.
“It’s really critical,” said Marie Torres, vice president of long-term care at AltaMed. “There are a lot of older people out there and they’re not being served.”
The additional funding will increase AltaMed’s case management from 600 seniors a month to 800. Also, AltaMed expects to help 1,200 seniors a month through its 800 number. The hotline, (800) 270-0633, operates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is staffed by speakers of English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Korean.
AltaMed has also increased the number of elderly it serves with the opening of a center in Boyle Heights which includes a daytime health program for seniors.
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