Page 59 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Lubbock Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

Supporting the Invisible

Even During a Pandemic

by Judy Mayfield

tories about abused and neglected children in our variety of types of services. Especially helpful to us during
community tear at our hearts and provoke outrage; this time has been a $5,000 grant through the South Plains
Swe immediately want to intervene and help! But what Covid-19 Response Fund. We would also like to thank
about the elderly and the adults with disabilities who our other major 2020 funders: Atmos Energy, Betenbough
are abused, neglected, and exploited? They exist in great Homes, Community Foundation of West Texas, Slaton Area
numbers in West Texas. This segment of our population, Endowment, The CH Foundation, Superior Health Plan,
many of whom are low-income or poverty level, is largely Home Instead Senior Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
invisible to most of us personally. Many are home-bound, Texas, Junior League of Lubbock, Walmart, and H.E.B.
lacking even basic necessities, and are easy targets for those
who might prey on them (including family members). Our hats are off as well to the many individuals and
organizations who donate time and money to help us
Adult Protective Services (APS) exists to respond to help the most vulnerable. Donations are always welcome
situations where elderly and disabled adults are being and needed. To donate or to learn other ways to be
mistreated or neglected. In these instances, APS remedies involved, write us at P.O. Box 65195, Lubbock, TX, 79464,
the situation by providing services to ensure that these or call 806-698-5500. You can also donate through PayPal
vulnerable individuals are safe and cared for and remain as at Llanestss55@gmail.com. Through your support, the
independent as possible. seemingly invisible will continue to be valuable members of
our community.
The Llano Estacado Silver Star Board is the community
board that supports APS clients, with its major function
being to provide goods and services when state funds
are limited or not available. Common items and services
provided by the board are ramps, plumbing and gas-
line expenses, rent, dental care, heaters/air conditioners,
minor home repairs, and bus passes. (During the summer
heat wave, we provided 78 air conditioners in July alone.)
Additionally, the board stocks and maintains the Silver
Star Room, which contains food, hygiene items, blankets,
cleaning supplies, heaters, etc. These items enable staff to
meet emergency needs of APS clients at any time, day or
night.
The Llano Estacado Silver Star Board is one of the most
robust APS boards in Texas, providing leadership to similar
boards throughout the state. Through grants, donations,
and periodic fund-raisers, we are able to maintain funding
to meet a myriad of client needs on an ongoing basis.

During the pandemic, APS caseworkers have been largely
unable to make face-to-face client visits (for both their own
protection and that of their clients). But they have stayed in
close touch and been ultra-attentive through phone calls,
video calls, and contacts with other involved professionals
(home health, medical staff, other social services agencies,
etc.). These efforts have ensured that client needs are met.
APS clients have experienced even more isolation during
this stressful time, and caseworkers assure them that help is
only a phone call away!

During the months of the pandemic, our board has
continued to receive APS staff requests for funding for a

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