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Senior Services at
UPMC Health System
Community
Services for Older Adults
UPMC services that older adults can access at home, by telephone, or in their
communities include:
55 Alive Driving Course
Adopt-A-Highrise Program
Durable Power of Attorney Workshop
Exercise Programs
Follow-Me-Home Program
Free Health Insurance Counseling
Legal Advisory Program
Lifeline Personal Emergency Response System
Living-at-Home Program
PRESERVE Telephone Support System
Respite Program
Senior Health Insurance Information Program
Senior Information Service
Town Meeting for Seniors
UPMC Healthy Horizons, a free quarterly
newspaper
55 Alive Driving Course
Several UPMC Health System hospitals offer the 55 Alive Driving Course. Drivers who
complete this two-session refresher course are entitled to discounted car insurance
premiums. For information about course times and locations, call (412) 647-UPMC (8762) or,
toll-free, 800-533-UPMC (8762).
Adopt-A-Highrise Program
UPMC Health System has "adopted" the residents of several Pittsburgh-area
highrises: The Addison Terrace Highrise in the Hill District, the Glen-Hazel Heights
Highrise in Hazelwood, the Morse Gardens Highrise in the South Side, and the Richard S.
Caligiuri Senior Highrise in Allentown. Each month, UPMC staff members visit each building
to offer services, such as blood pressure and glucose screenings, or health education or
recreational activities. UPMC annually sponsors two social events, a summer picnic and a
winter party, for the residents. For more information about Adopt-A-Highrise, call (412)
420-8078.
Durable Power of Attorney Workshop
UPMC St. Margaret provides a class called Durable Power of Attorney
Workshop. In the workshop, participants complete a financial and health care power of
attorney under the guidance of an attorney. For information, call (412) 784-4144.
Follow-Me-Home Program
The Follow-Me-Home Program is designed to help patients age 70 or older who are
discharged from UPMC Presbyterian or UPMC Shadyside to homes in several Pittsburgh
neighborhoods: Greenfield, Hazelwood, the Hill District, Oakland, Shadyside, and Squirrel
Hill. Designed to decrease hospital readmission and emergency room visits, the
Follow-Me-Home Program provides up to two weeks of in-home assistance after a patient is
discharged from the hospital.
Among the services the program offers are nursing visits, shopping, personal care,
escorting the patient to follow-up doctor visits, and supplying small pieces of home
health equipment that are not paid for by insurance or other programs. If needed at the
end of the two-week period, patients are referred to existing services in their
communities, or they may be eligible for the Living-at-Home Program,
which extends similar services beyond the two-week period. The Follow-Me-Home program is
funded by the Ladies Hospital Aid Society of Western Pennsylvania.
For more information, call (412) 420-8078.
Exercise Programs for Older Adults
T'ai chi classes for seniors are designed to improve balance, flexibility,
and general health. The People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) program is available at
various UPMC locations. Fees may be charged for these and other available exercise
programs. For information about times and locations, call (412) 647-UPMC (8762) or,
toll-free, 800-533-UPMC (8762).
Free Health Insurance
Counseling
Free health insurance counseling is available through two UPMC programs.
APPRISE at UPMC St. Margaret Classic Care is a
free health insurance counseling service that provides help with Medicare, Medigap, HMO
plans, and long-term care policies. For information or to make an appointment, call (412)
784-4144.
The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a free
community service sponsored by the Ladies Hospital Aid Society of Western Pennsylvania, is
designed for area senior citizens and their family members and friends who need help
understanding Medicare and Medicare HMOs, major medical policies, and long-term care
(nursing home) insurance. SHIIP counselors are available at various locations. Services
are available by appointment only. For information or to make an appointment, call (412)
648-6200.
Legal Advisory Program
The Legal Advisory Program at UPMC St. Margaret helps senior citizens
determine legal assistance needs. For information, call (412) 784-4144.
Lifeline Personal Emergency Response
System
Through the Lifeline Personal Emergency Response System, offered at UPMC
Shadyside and UPMC St. Margaret, older adults can feel more confident about living alone
and more secureabout their ability to summon help if they can’t reach the telephone.
The Lifeline system includes a button that can be worn as a pendant or on a wristband. A
press of the button initiates a call from the Lifeline user’s residence to the
central Lifeline office. Lifeline staff then contact a neighbor, friend, or local
emergency services to assist the Lifeline user. The service is available for a monthly
fee. For information, call UPMC Shadyside at (412) 623-1234 or UPMC St. Margaret at (412)
784-5150.
Living-at-Home Program
The Living-at-Home Program, a care management program for older adults, provides free,
ongoing in-home care for adults age 70 and older, in the several Pittsburgh neighborhoods:
Greenfield, Hazelwood, the Hill District, Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, South Side,
Mount Oliver, Allentown, Knoxville, Arlington, and Beltzhoover. The program makes
referrals for a range of services -- from home-delivered meals, to help with grocery
shopping, housekeeping, and yardwork. Program nurses are available to visit older adults,
help identify their medical needs, and recommend the UPMC or community services that can
provide needed care.
For more information, call (412) 420-8078.
Respite Program
The Respite Program is offered by UPMC Shadyside and The Heritage Shadyside Skilled
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Squirrel Hill. The program is designed to give
caregivers a short break from caring for physically or mentally impaired family members.
Care is provided at The Heritage Shadyside, where comfortable semiprivate rooms are
available along with 24-hour nursing care. Respite care can be scheduled for a minimum of
three days to a maximum of 14 days per calendar year.
For information about respite care, call (412) 623-1234.
PRESERVE Telephone
Support System
UPMC St. Margaret PRESERVE program volunteers provide reassurance to older
adults in the community through a weekly telephone call. This contact helps program
participants remain independent and provides a timely way to access services if they need
them. For information, call (412) 784-4144.
Senior Information Service
The Senior Information Service is available to anyone and provides information about
available programs and benefits for seniors. More than 2,000 resources are available. For
example, older adults can call to learn what kind of housing is available to them, which
senior centers are closest to them, how they can qualify for Medical Assistance benefits,
which Social Security benefits they may be eligible to receive, and where they may obtain
help with transportation. This free service is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., at (412) 623-1234.
Town Meeting
for Seniors
The Town Meeting for Seniors is a regular community forum sponsored by UPMC
Shadyside and UPMC St. Margaret. For information, call UPMC Shadyside at (412) 623-6396 or
UPMC St. Margaret at (412) 784-4144.
UPMC Healthy Horizons Newspaper
Four times a year, UPMC Health System publishes a colorful newspaper for senior citizens.
The newspaper, UPMC Healthy Horizons, is free to anyone 60 years old who lives in
Allegheny or Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The paper contains features about exceptional
senior citizens in western Pennsylvania, lists of UPMC health information programs, and
medical information of special interest to those over age 60. To receive copies of UPMC
Healthy Horizons, call 800-533-UPMC (8762).
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