Introduction
Mrs. E is the older adult living in the neighborhood whose needs are only partially met. Therefore, improving community life for the aging adult population is vital to ensuring their living environment is safe and convenient. The woman lives in Royse City, Texas, and the city’s ZIP code is 75189 (Royse City Hospital, 2024). Most services are located within driving distance from Mrs. E’s home, which is problematic for an older adult with limited mobility. Even with transportation options and delivery services, the distance to community services is a significant concern for older adults.
Current Services Description
Community services for older adults should be easily accessible for people with limited mobility and health issues. As the prior investigation shows, older adults need most services to live autonomously, support their health, and lead active lifestyles (Ezell et al., 2022). For example, the nearest pharmacy is 3.9 miles from Mrs. E, which is comparatively far for an older adult, but it offers delivery, offers compounded medications, and accepts most insurance plans (Complete Care Pharmacy, n.d.).
Another critical issue for older adults is access to medical assistance to support their living standards and care for their health. The primary Care Physician is 3.9 miles away, and the doctor’s visitation situation is complicated. Dr. Leah P Madsen is located at address 125 I-30. She accepts the most common medical insurance for older adults, which is very convenient for Mrs. E. She also offers primary senior care and proposes annual wellness visits, preventative screenings and tests, e.g., cancer, diabetes, dementia, vaccines and flu shots, arranging and coordinating specialty care (Royse City Hospital, 2024). There is also emergency availability by phone at night and on weekends, which is convenient for older adults who do not use mobile applications.
The Royse City Emergency Hospital is located at 890 Erby Campbell Blvd, a 4.3-mile drive from Royse City Emergency. It accepts most adult insurances with a minimum co-pay for older adults (Royse City Hospital, 2024). Mrs. E can receive personal care, medication management, meal and nutrition support, transportation and mobility services, referrals to social workers and case managers, referrals to community agencies, and educational programs in the hospital.
Geriatric dental care is also available within driving distance, but there is still the opportunity to receive professional assistance in the city. Comfort Care Dental is located at 2763 FM 35, Royse City. They accept the most common older adult insurance and Medicaid (Comfort Care Dental, n.d.). The hospital offers dental discounts for older adults at specific periods of the year. It states that health needs, which are the primary concern for older adults, are met in Royse City, and that Mrs. E can expect professional assistance in these areas. All services are located some distance away, and driving to them can be challenging for the older adult.
Propositions for Improvement
It is necessary to improve public transportation services in the town to increase older adults’ access to essential services. In addition, social work and community engagement are vital in helping older adults support their living standards. For example, neighbors can volunteer to drive older adults in their neighborhood to the supermarket or the hospital, unless it is an emergency. The crucial detail is that older adults might not ask for this help because they do not want to show their vulnerability (Wang et al., 2022). Active community members should offer their assistance politely and compassionately without insulting the dignity of older adults.
Summary of Evaluation
The situation described with healthcare services is similar to that of grocery stores, churches, and community centers. For example, driving 4.4 miles to the nearest Walmart is necessary, but the store offers delivery (Walmart, n.d.). The store is generally known for lower-priced goods, which are suitable for Mrs. E, who lives on her pension and intends to save as much money as possible. For convenience’s sake, the store also houses a pharmacy so that, if need be, Mrs. E can also pass through as she does her shopping.
Mrs. E attends the church, which provides her with spiritual support and opportunities for community engagement. The older adult must feel that they are part of the community. For this reason, the fact that Mrs. E can satisfy these needs in the town is positive. However, these services require driving to the location, which can be challenging without convenient public transportation or a personal car.
The positive issue is that there are sidewalks around the neighborhood. They are comprehensive and convenient for Mrs. E and other older adults, and regular walking helps them stay healthy and connected to the community. The neighborhood has two parts, each with outdoor amenities. Mrs. E regularly visits these parks, which helps her stay active at her age.
Reflection
From the perspective of the older adult, community services should be easy to access, near their home, oriented to their age group’s interests, and safe. Older adults want to preserve autonomy for as long as possible, and independence is the primary concern when they discuss community services (Giebel et al., 2022). In other words, Mrs. E and other adults need safe places to walk and convenient transportation so they can receive professional medical care, buy medications, and feel they belong to the community.
References
Ezell, J. M., Alsmadi, I., Gosnell, N., & Kaur, A. (2022). The racial and cultural ecology of home and community-based services for diverse older adults. Journal of Aging Studies, 61.
Family, cosmetic & implant dentists Royse City TX. (n.d.). Comfort Care Dental.
Giebel, C., Hassan, S., Harvey, G., Devitt, C., Harper, L., & Simmill-Binning, C. (2022). Enabling middle-aged and older adults accessing community services to reduce social isolation: Community Connectors. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(2), e461–e468.
Home. (2024). Royse City Hospital.
Walmart Supercenter in Royse City, TX: Grocery, electronics, toys: Serving 75189: Store 5987. (n.d.). Walmart.
Wang, Q., Fan, K., & Li, P. (2022). Effect of the use of home and community care services on the multidimensional health of older adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22).
Welcome – complete care pharmacy – your local Buford pharmacy. (n.d.). Complete Care Pharmacy.
Appendix
Table 1 – Older Adult Community Assessment
