Highland DSS Offers Adult Services Program

This is Holly McVeigh with the Highland County Department of Social Services. May is Adult Abuse Awareness Month, which is formally recognized by Virginia’s governor, Ralph Northam. This month offers Virginians the opportunity to improve the safety and well-being of adults aged 60 years and older or incapacitated adults aged 18 to 59.

The Highland County Department of Social Services would like to take this opportunity to briefly educate the community about our Adult Services Program. Adult Services can enable vulnerable adults to remain in their home safely for as long as possible. Once referred, a worker, sometimes accompanied by the health department, will go to the home and evaluate the individual’s physical, emotional and cognitive functioning, as well as their level of need. The Department will determine the individual’s eligibility, and if approved, will assess what types of services will best accommodate the individual’s needs. One service that can be offered through Department is up to 10 hours of home based care companion providers. A companion provider is an individual who assists clients unable care for themselves with light housekeeping, shopping, meal preparation, transportation, companionship, household management, and activities involved with normal daily living, such as eating, bathing, toileting, and dressing. These providers can be chosen by the Department or by the client themselves, as long as they’re willing to undergo the process of approval through the Department.

Highland DSS is currently in need of home based care companion providers, and encourages anyone interested to please contact Highland Social Services. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from Adult Services, or if you have any questions about other services we can offer, please don’t hesitate to call Family Services Specialist Holly McVeigh at 540-468-2199, extension 305.

Thank you for being a supporter of the work we do to keep our vulnerable adult safe in our community.