Tiempo de Oro
Valle del Sol, Inc
Phoenix, Arizona
Contact:
Elizabeth Stadick
Prevention Coordinator
Valle del Sol, Inc.
1209 S. 1st. Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602-258-6797 x127
Email:
ElizabethS@valledelsol.com
Program Description:
Tiempo de Oro offers community-based, culturally appropriate prevention services. This new program, which is led by Valle del Sol, Inc., in Phoenix, Arizona, targets Latinos in Maricopa County, aged 65 and older, with mental health needs.
The Tiempo de Oro activities and content have been developed in collaboration with elder members of the communities in which services are provided. This collaboration has resulted in culturally appropriate prevention education materials, program development, and service delivery grounded in the culture of the community. Tiempo de Oro's intervention approach fosters mental health through both personal and community empowerment strategies.
Research shows that 26% of Latinos age 60 or above have major depression or dysphoria (Kemp, 1987). Depression is more likely to lead to suicide in the elderly than in younger adults. In fact, the suicide rate in people aged 80 to 84 is more than twice that of the general population. Tiempo de Oro seeks to diminish--if not completely eliminate--depression, suicide, and social isolation among the senior Latino community in Maricopa County. In order to do so, the project offers a myriad of services, including: in-home prevention services, prevention education presentations, transition workshops, caregiver support, community and professional education, and a volunteer program.
In-home prevention services offer a venue for seniors to maximize their natural support systems and resources. Tiempo de Oro staff provides five to ten in-home prevention sessions to senior participants.
The prevention education presentation enables seniors to increase their knowledge and awareness of risk and protective factors in their lives. Education is a major component of treating depression and preventing suicide. By educating seniors about the symptoms of depression and how to deal with it effectively, both depression and suicide rates will decrease. The educational presentations are 30 to 60 minutes long and include topics associated with aging such as social isolation, depression, suicidal ideation, medication, financial management, and health issues. The Tiempo de Oro prevention specialists develop individual modules that correlate with a particular issue. Each module consists of four presentations and a section of the module is presented once a week. Presentations are held at senior centers and various community-based facilities.
Transition workshops act like a support group for isolated seniors who are at risk for depression and suicidal ideation. Tiempo de Oro staff conduct transition workshops once a week for six weeks at senior centers or other community locations. The transition workshops consist of four to twelve participants at any given time. Each participant is required to register for the entire 6-week series. Topics for discussion during the transition workshops include: positive communication, grandparents raising grandchildren, and understanding and managing emotions.
The caregiver support program assists grandparents who provide care for their grandchildren. Grandparents are not usually equipped with the resources needed to raise children all over again. As a result, caregivers easily experience burnout and are 68% more likely to experience severe depression than older adults who do not have this responsibility (Friss and Whitlatch, 1991).
The caregiver program strives to reduce the levels of stress and depression that result from caring for a loved one. These goals are met through peer support groups and educational forums. Participants in the caregiver support program are involved in educational activities such as money management, respite care, one-on-one counseling, and friendly services (food, visits, house care, etc.).
The community and professional education component of Tiempo de Oro identifies gatekeepers in the community and provides education related to aging issues. Gatekeepers include postal workers, bank tellers, clergy members, health professionals, meter readers, and grocery market employees. Due to uncontrollable circumstances such as geographic location and social isolation, the elderly often go unnoticed and unattended. Unfortunately, social service agencies do not have the funding or the manpower to reach each and every senior in distress. Thus, enlisting gatekeepers to be the “eyes and ears” in communities is an effective way to reach this population. The community and professional education program strives to establish a network of individuals and businesses and to educate them to recognize elder abuse, depression, suicidal ideation, and potential needs of older adults. Training includes recognition of danger signals in the elderly and proper reporting practices.
The volunteer program provides opportunities for seniors to strengthen their support systems, increase community linkages, and serve their community. Additionally, the volunteer program gives seniors the opportunity to enhance self-confidence and improve communication skills, discover new models of learning, and find friendship and emotional support. Volunteers have the opportunity to facilitate support groups, conduct home visits, and give presentations on pressing issues. The volunteer program consists of: (1) training aging services personnel about behavioral health aspects of aging; (2) prevention education sessions at senior centers and other community-based organizations; (3) home-based prevention education; (4) outreach to identify isolated, at-risk older adults; (5) family caregiver education and support; (6) workshops and support groups; and (7) benefits assistance and education.
