Information & Assistance
Information & Assistance (I&A) connects Napa County residents ages 60 and older with the information, resources, and services they need to support their independence and quality of life. These include resources for housing support, referrals for caregiving resources and transportation services, and food access information. In addition, I&A can help with assessing needs, developing care plans, authorizing and coordinating services among providers, and following up with clients and family to help frail, older adults successfully age in place wherever they call home.
The team includes I&A Program Manager Tiffanie Walker, MSW, I&A Community Health Worker Larissa Ayala, and I&A Up Valley Social Worker Karen Lustig, MSW. They have offices at Napa County Comprehensive Services for Older Adults and Providence Community Health, and offer weekly on-site services at community partner sites, including Up Valley Family Centers in Calistoga, Pacific Union College in Angwin, Rianda House in St. Helena, the Community Center in Yountville, and the Senior Center in American Canyon.
We followed the team through a day in I&A
Laryssa Ayala
Larissa meets with GH, 68, who lives in an apartment in Napa. GH came to I&A for help with a language barrier while applying for an apartment. Larissa served as liaison with the landlord and connected her with Fair Housing to complete the process.
When her new apartment flooded during maintenance work just weeks after she moved in, GH had rental insurance to cover cost of a hotel, but Larissa helped GH find movers, and signed her up for Meals on Wheels and Cal Fresh so she had access to fresh, healthy food while she was displaced.
Now that GH is back in her home, Larissa has arranged for in-home support services to help with the daily activities of living and worked with the city to have a buckled sidewalk that prevented GH from being able to access city bus service repaired. These allow GH to continue to live comfortably and independently at home.
Later, Larissa meets CS, 78, whose relatives all live out of town. She doesn’t have a landline or cell phone, so the only way anyone could communicate with or check on her was coming to her house. Larissa set her up with an iPad and broadband coverage through Napa County and the Access to Technology grant, which allow her now to FaceTime with her daughter and other family members.
Larissa is also working to get a phone for CS through the California Lifeline, so she won’t have to rely solely on the iPad and a wi-fi connection for communication.
Karen Lustig
Karen meets with MB, 88, who lives in Calistoga. A retired professional, MB was referred to I&A by a friend. MB is unable to drive or to use buses, leaving him isolated.
Previously, Karen helped him complete applications to Share the Care for grab bars to improve his safety around the home, to CalFresh to supplement his funds for food, and to receive library material through the mail. Karen is working on changing his phone company to lower his costs.
Now, Karen and MB discuss his options for health insurance and Karen connects him with the Kaiser Concierge and Community Health Initiative's Napa County office to take the next steps. All of these will ensure MB has resources to keep him safe and mentally stimulated, and able to save money for future needs and find the insurance plan that works best for him.
Then Karen meets with SH, 84, who lives up Valley. I&A has been supporting SH since 2021, after she was discharged from the hospital with ongoing medical issues. While SH has declined caregiver assistance, her health issues have improved enough from the support I&A provides that she is out of bed daily and enjoying sitting in her garden.
Initially, Karen thought SH would do well with an iPad, but SH was uncomfortable with the technology, so last week Karen brought her a Claris Companion, a user-friendly tablet designed for seniors, and SH loves it. It allows her to email her children, who live out of town, to access exercise videos to help improve her mood, and to play games to keep her mind sharp. It can also help service and/or health care providers communicate with her.
Tiffanie Walker
Tiffanie meets with Napa County Adult Protective Services Social Worker April Blas to coordinate a plan of care for a mutual client.
This ensures the client’s safety with no overlaps or gaps in service and no confusion for the client on which organization provides what.
Tiffanie offers an I&A flyer for the client to hang on her refrigerator so she has contact information readily accessible.
After that, Tiffanie meets with NG, 98, who lives in Napa. NG’s daughter lives out of the country, so NG needs a caregiver to help with daily activities. She does not qualify for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), so while her daughter was in town, Tiffanie met with both of them about finding a reputable, background-checked caregiver through the Caregiver Referral Registry.
NG is happy with the caregiver they found, who helps with meal prep, light housekeeping, and companion care. Tiffanie will follow up with NG and her family every 90 days to ensure services are still a good fit.