For many patients, healing does not end when they leave the hospital. A successful recovery often depends on what is waiting for them at home: A safe space, nourishing meals, clean linens, help with daily tasks and the confidence that someone will be there when they need support.
That is where Lutheran Hospital’s partnership with Seniors Resource Center makes a meaningful difference. Through the Perfect Homecoming program, Lutheran’s care managers connect eligible older adults with Seniors Resource Center’s care management team to help create a smoother, safer transition from hospital to home.
The program began as a partnership with orthopedics and has since grown to support a wide range of discharges. Many referrals come after an unexpected hospital stay, when an older adult may return home to an empty refrigerator and a home that is not quite ready for recovery.
“Through Perfect Homecoming, Seniors Resource Center can provide non-medical in-home support, assistance arranging transportation home from the hospital when needed, and fresh-made or frozen meals prepared by our chefs,” said Teresa Devine, director of development for Seniors Resource Center. “The goal is simple but powerful: Help older adults recover safely in the place they call home. Care, navigation, and personalized support are at the core of what we do. Everybody’s journey is a little bit different, and we are here to serve.”
Lutheran’s relationship with Seniors Resource Center spans years and reflects a shared commitment to person-centered care. On average, the hospital refers about three to five patients every month through the program. Over the past five years, the partnership has supported an estimated 60 to 100 patients, representing approximately $225,000 in services.
Seniors Resource Center has served older adults since 1978, beginning as part of Jefferson County before becoming an independent charitable organization. Today, the nonprofit provides mostly home- and community-based services, including help with daily living activities, care management, household tasks, meal preparation, hygiene assistance, safety assessments and caregiver support. The organization also operates an adult day program in Wheat Ridge that supports adults living with dementia and provides respite for family caregivers.
Last year, Seniors Resource Center served 11,000 older adults and provided 67,000 hours of service.
One of those people was Gertie, an older adult who was referred to Seniors Resource Center after a hospital stay. Recovering from a broken back, she worried about how she would care for herself at home — how she would shower, get groceries, prepare meals and manage everyday needs. Through the program, she was matched with a compassionate in-home care professional who helped make her recovery at home possible.
For older adults and their families, that kind of support can be life changing. Many family caregivers do not realize how much they are carrying until they are already in the middle of the journey. Seniors Resource Center’s services are designed not only to support older adults, but also to help the family members who care for them.
Gertie’s recovery is a reminder that going home from the hospital isn’t the end of the journey. It’s often just the beginning of a new one. “One that older adults and their families don’t have to face alone,” Devine said. “It’s a family journey.”
“As the need for aging services continues to grow in Jefferson County and across Colorado, partnerships like the one between Lutheran and Seniors Resource Center are increasingly important,” said Chuck Ault, Intermountain Health Community Health program manager. “They extend care beyond the hospital walls and help ensure that older adults have the practical support they need to thrive at home.”
For Lutheran, the partnership is another way to live out its commitment to caring for the whole person. For Seniors Resource Center, it is an opportunity to come alongside a healthcare partner and help older adults continue their recovery with dignity, independence and support.
To learn more about how Seniors Resource Center can support your non-medical in-home needs, call 303-238-8151 or email [email protected].
