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Hints for Dealing with Service Organizations
Most people have lived with little or no help from human service organizations. When a crisis occurs the caregiver may feel desperate and try to contact a human service agency asking for immediate help.
Making contact with community agencies can be frustrating. Sometimes, it's hard to just figure out which agency to call to arrange for special services.
The human service agency most often contacted for the needs of older persons is your local Area Agency on Aging . The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is regionally located throughout the United States. It's usually listed in the telephone directory separately, and in the special pages designated for community services found in some telephone directories. The AAA can provide information about what is available locally to assist your loved one.
The caregiver may not be thinking as clearly in a crisis because of the feelings associated with a desperate situation. It is important to contact human service agencies that have caring professionals who are skilled at helping you make an accurate assessment of what is needed and can discuss the various options available to you.
Human service agencies are a part of a complicated system we call the bureaucracy, but the bureaucracy can be learned.
The following suggestions may help make your agency contact less stressful:
Posted July 22nd, 2007
Making contact with community agencies can be frustrating. Sometimes, it's hard to just figure out which agency to call to arrange for special services.
The human service agency most often contacted for the needs of older persons is your local Area Agency on Aging . The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is regionally located throughout the United States. It's usually listed in the telephone directory separately, and in the special pages designated for community services found in some telephone directories. The AAA can provide information about what is available locally to assist your loved one.
The caregiver may not be thinking as clearly in a crisis because of the feelings associated with a desperate situation. It is important to contact human service agencies that have caring professionals who are skilled at helping you make an accurate assessment of what is needed and can discuss the various options available to you.
Human service agencies are a part of a complicated system we call the bureaucracy, but the bureaucracy can be learned.
The following suggestions may help make your agency contact less stressful:
- Describe the current situation and your needs as clearly as possible. Offer to make an appointment to go to their office.
- Ask questions and take notes during the conversation.
- Do not be rushed. Get the information you need even if you need to have it repeated several times.
- Find out if you should bring anything with you, such as, a social security number, proof of income, et cetera. (Do not give up your originals; ask if copies can be made).
- Complete forms or applications while you are there.
- Ask about fees and try to get something in writing that explains them.
- What can you expect to happen and in what time frame?
- Get the name of the person(s) who will assist you. Always ask for that person when you contact the agency again.
- Call back if nothing happens within the time frame you were given.
- Be patient. Most of these agencies are dealing with a lot of people at the same time.
- Don't apologize for asking for services. Be polite, but firm.
- Ask for written materials about the agency and available services.
You will need patience and persistence to navigate the human services system. Try to block out time periods to make telephone calls and appointments so you can minimize the amount of work time spent on caregiving activities. Dealing with the bureaucracy can be stressful, so reward yourself for the accomplishments made to understand the system and obtain services for your loved one.
Written by the Lincoln LIFE Office.
