Every day across the Choctaw Nation, someone finds that doing something that was easy not long ago has become harder due to aging. Mowing the yard, taking a bath, getting dressed, or cooking dinner are all things that have to be done, but as time goes on, they can become increasingly difficult.
That’s where the Choctaw Nation Healthy Aging Program comes in. The program helped over 10,000 elders 55 or over last year who lived on the Choctaw Nation Reservation.
Originally the program started making sure elders kept their appointments; they were taking their medications; that they had food; and were safe at home. The program has expanded to cover much more than that now, providing wellness, social services, behavioral health services and case management.
“We assist the elders to be able to stay in their home and to be independent,” said Wharton. “That way, it makes them thrive a little better.”
Betty Wharton, director of the Healthy Aging Program said the program helps with the general patients well-being.
“We assist the elders to be able to stay in their home and to be independent,” said Wharton. “That way, it makes them thrive a little better.”
Wharton said they often serve as a sort of go-between for all the different services the Choctaw Nation has available to the elders. Some of those programs include housing, nutrition services, transportation, and emergency assistance.
Protecting the elders from those who might want to cause them harm is also another important service. “Adult Protective Services, if there’s a situation where we feel that there’s an unsafe environment and exploitation may be happening, we look out for that and make sure the elders not being taken advantage of,” said Wharton.
Beth Maples was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993 and requires significant daily assistance due to paralysis from the waist down. The Healthy Aging Program helps her with things like showering, dressing, and transportation for medical appointments. “I have to have help getting in bed, out of bed and showering. If it’s something simple, I can cook, but if it’s something major, I don’t even try,” said Maples.
Maples said all of her immediate family members have passed away already and that the program has kept her from having to move into a nursing home.
There are some new things happening with the healthy aging program. “We do have a new tribal Initiative program that if the patient has Medicaid, we can provide durable medical equipment (DME) like handicap ramps, some bathroom modifications, and vouchers for transportation,” said Wharton.
The Healthy Aging Money Follows the Person (MFP) Tribal Initiative is a federal grant Medicaid program established to remove service barriers and make home and community-based services more accessible to seniors and people with disabilities. Through the MFP program, the Healthy Aging Program can assist not just Choctaw tribal members but any CDIB holder living on the reservation by helping with things like ADA-compliant home upgrades, DME, support for transportation and lawn care.
“They can be an informal caregiver,” said Wharton. “But they’re not being paid through some other system, like the foster system.”
Wharton also said there’s been a change to the Grandparents Raising Children Program. Now, you can be an informal caregiver and no longer need to be related to the child.
According to Wharton, this opens it up to someone who may be a friend of the family to be able to take care of the child. “They can be an informal caregiver,” said Wharton. “But they’re not being paid through some other system, like the foster system.”
Things the informal caregiver can get help with include:
- Transportation needs
- School supplies
- Cultural activities
- Beading supplies
- Gardening supplies
- Clothing
- Day trips to museums or camps
- School events
- Fishing supplies
- Legal services
- Daycare
- Some of the other programs offered to Choctaw elders are:
- 202 Supportive Elder Housing
- Community Health Nursing
- Community Health Representative (CHR)
- Elder Advocacy
- Elder Food Security (ARPA FRF)
- Eyeglasses, Dentures and Hearing Aid Program
- Healthy Aging
- Healthy Living Lending Closet
- Independent Elder Housing
- Nutrition Services
- Senior Nutrition
- Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program
The following services can be used by tribal members of any age but are also great resources for elders:
- Choctaw Cultural Center Classes
- Food Distribution Program
- Lawn Services Voucher Program
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
- Medical Services
- Adult Education
- Choctaw Language Classes
- Healthy Lifestyles
- LEAP Homes
- Promoting Active Communities Everywhere (PACE)
- Wellness Center
Some of these programs have eligibility guidelines. Tribal members can find out more about elder services by using the “Elders” filter on the Programs and Services webpage.
Choctaw Community Centers are also a place for elders.
Free weekly meals are served to elders at Choctaw Community Centers throughout the Choctaw Nation.
The Chocatw Nation offers a full range of services for all ages.
