The general understanding of most people is that the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization specializes in services targeted at people from other countries, and rightly so. However, as the organization has grown and expanded its services, it has offered more and more services to the local mainstream population.
One example is IRCO’s services to seniors. In July 2005, IRCO became the Multnomah County-contracted provider of services to mid-county seniors and the operator of the senior center located in the East Portland Community Center.
Although the center now offers more outreach and activities designed to draw in the diverse population of the mid-county area, the client base remains primarily mainstream.
Senior services are offered to anyone who is 60 or older and living in Multnomah County. The goal is to provide services that help older adults to remain independent and self sufficient.
Case management is the capstone of IRCO’s senior services. The Oregon Project Independence program is available to seniors who need assistance with the activities of daily living and who meet specified income limitations. Those who meet the criteria receive services designed to keep them living at home, such as homemaker assistance, personal care, grocery shopping, and light cooking for a fee of just $5 per year.
Case managers are also available to assist seniors who do not need personal assistance. Assistance for these clients focuses primarily on accessing available services. They may include things like finding affordable housing and financial assistance, home repairs and yard work, emergency food and shelter, financial and insurance counseling, employment, health issues, protective services for abuse issues, and medical and mental health services.
The Family Caregiver program is for persons 55 years and older who are acting as caregiver to a person (a child, spouse or anyone for whom they have legal custody) who is disabled, whether due to illness, injury, or the frailty that occurs with age. This program provides funds for respite care, adult day care, or other services designed to support the caregiver.
In June 2007, IRCO senior services had 429 clients receiving case management, of whom only 102 (or 24%) were of non-Caucasian ethnicity. IRCO has 6 senior case managers, all with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. All of them except one are fluent in at least one language besides English.
Weekdays, through a partnership with Loaves and Fishes, a hot lunch is served in the senior center for a fee of $2.65. Seniors who cannot go out may sign up through IRCO to receive free Meals on Wheels lunches delivered to their home.
One of the most popular services utilized by the seniors is transportation assistance, which scheduled over 500 rides in June. Seniors who are signed up for transportation services may call IRCO and staff will arrange for free public transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, visiting family, work, volunteer or social activities or just about any purpose they need. Primarily the transportation is provided via specialized Tri-Met door-to-door bus service or, in some instances, by taxi.
Some other popular activities IRCO provides at the senior center include senior law clinics every Friday from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m., for which seniors may schedule no-cost one-half hour appointments with a volunteer lawyer for help with legal issues. Setting up a will or trust, divorce, contesting civil fines, neighbor disputes, or contesting evictions are among the most sought-after services.
Senior Health Insurance Benefit Assistance provides assistance with any Medicare-related issues, such as de-mystifying the Part D benefits, enrolling, understanding invoices, or switching providers. This service is available on Wednesdays from 9 – 11 am.
At the Foot Care Clinic, held every 3rd and 4th Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., a nurse provides a warm foot soak, toe nail trim, foot massage, sanding and smoothing of foot corns and calluses, and consultation relating to foot problems. This service, for which a podiatrist normally charges $60 - $100, is offered for a fee of just $20.
Osteo Exercise classes are held on Mondays and Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and cost just $30 for a 13-week session, or 26 classes.
Other regular services include blood pressure screenings; support groups for Alzheimer’s, mental health, and diabetes; a writer’s group; and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for persons of Asian and Russian ethnicities.
For information or assistance with senior services, call 503 988-6073.
At the other end of the age spectrum, IRCO offers free in-home parent education and child development services to any parent (especially first-time parents) who lives in Multnomah County. Called the Healthy Start program and funded by the Multnomah County Health Department, this program also serves many mainstream clients, although staff can also serve clients in Cambodian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Thai, Laotian, and Mien languages. Families may receive these services from birth until the child is three years old.
