As we get older our needs for health care change. A Life Plan Humboldt committee has formed in March 2021 to plan for how to help residents get the right care in a timely fashion with good communication between providers and full understanding of the process by the patient. The committee includes Alan Glaseroff, MD, Jennifer Heidmann MD, Glenn Siegfried MD, Tim Haskett NO and Ann Lindsay MD. These health professionals have a wealth of experience caring for older people in Humboldt County and beyond.

Since Covid-19, more services are available by video; a tele-health center at LPH could help make getting care from local and remote providers easier. Transportation will be provided for local medical appointments. It is sometimes necessary for someone to travel for specialty care, so LPH will have Plan Coordinators to assist in that process and make sure the information from outside services gets home to the Humboldt care providers.

On the preventive side, there will be support groups for people with chronic health conditions, exercise classes and cooperation with other organizations such as gyms, PACE, HSU and College of the Redwoods. The committee agrees that facilitating access to physical therapy, occupational therapy and home visits by health care providers will be important.