Page 52 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021- Online Magazine

Exceptional
SENIORS
MORE THAN JUST A
HOUSE CALL
ally T. Coates was born
in Detroit, Michigan and
Sgrew up on a dairy farm in
Michigan with her parents. She
was the first born and had two
younger brothers. She graduated
from high school in Litchfield,
Michigan and attended Hillsdale
College for three years where she
met her husband, Bill.
She and Bill came to Lubbock with
their three children in 1971 and
owned and operated a hydraulic
52 Lubbock Senior Link
by Stephanie Bolton
hose company until Bill Director for the Bill Clayton
became ill. After he Detention Center until it closed in
recovered, they sold the 2003.
business, and she returned
to school at Texas Tech Texas Tech University School of
University, graduating with Nursing developed Senior House
a major in Psychology and a Calls in 2003 and offered Sally an
minor in Health Education. opportunity to provide social work
Sally then attended the for the elderly in their homes. In
University of Texas at 2005, Sally became the Director
Arlington and received a of Senior House Calls and began
Master’s degree in Social working with Nurse Practitioners
Work, becoming a Licensed and staff. Senior House Calls has
Clinical Social Worker. been providing Primary Care
Sally states that she comes Services to individuals in their
by her care-giving nature homes for almost 18 years. This is
innately. Her mother took where Sally shines the brightest:
care of many people in their in the field of Social Work. Sally
farming community who brings hope to the hopeless and
were in need. Growing up in that opens door to those who have
environment made choosing Social felt doors were closed to them for
Work a natural career choice. many years.
Sally has been in the Social Work The Senior Housecalls program
field since 1993. Her first position was developed to overcome
was at University Medical Center the health disparities that
as a Pediatric Social Worker, a job aging individuals experience.
which she loved dearly. Charter Transportation, lack of mobility,
Plains Hospital later recruited poverty, dementia, dependence on
Sally, and she became the Director family, and inability to navigate
of Social Services at Charter until our complicated medical delivery
they closed in 2000. She then went system are only a few of the
challenges the aging experience.
to Littlefield, Texas as the Clinical