While most Washingtonians are now eligible for the COVID vaccine, the past few months have been a learning experience and a challenge for many seniors and people living with disabilities. Some are still struggling to schedule their vaccine due to barriers in the sign-up process, but Lifelong’s team of case managers has been a much-needed support system.
When vaccines first became available in Washington in February, Alyxx Berg and their fellow Lifelong Aging & Disabilities Services Case Managers began reaching out to nearly 1,000 homebound seniors and clients living with disabilities to assist them with scheduling their COVID vaccines. That proved to be a big lift as the logistics were sorted out – many registration systems required an email and digital proof of your appointment be shown at the vaccination site, but many clients didn’t have access to a smartphone or even a computer. For others, the vaccination sites were far away from their homes and they didn’t have a way to get there without specialized transportation services.
“There was a lot of confusion about the process, who was eligible, and how to get people signed up and transported to the vaccine locations, then back home safely,” said Alyxx. “We spent a lot of time tracking down phone numbers, getting people scheduled, calling medical transportation, and navigating the process, while also listening to our clients’ needs and fears, and helping them make informed choices.”
For clients who didn’t have an email, case managers developed a workaround by providing their own work email for the registration, then coordinated with the client’s home care agency or transportation service to have printed copies of the confirmation available for the client.
“Being able to schedule folks for the vaccine made me feel like a ‘Vaccine Santa,’” Alyxx said. “The whole community really stepped up and came together on this effort.”
While the work to help hundreds of people get scheduled for their vaccines was a huge project for the small team of 10 case managers who specialize in supporting seniors and people living with disabilities, it’s well within their wheelhouse. Case managers typically have about 80-90 clients that they support on an ongoing basis with basic needs like housing, food, and health care access, which could run the gamut from adult incontinence supplies to medical equipment to arranging a caregiver so someone can get the care they need at home to remain living as independent as possible.
“When I work with one of my clients, it’s often just a few minutes of my time, so it doesn’t feel like much, but when I think about it – these few minutes might literally be the difference of life or death for another human being,” said Alyxx. “I am so honored to be able to help!”