About Spokane About Spokane
       

Gatekeeper Program     

A proactive community training program to locate, identify and refer at-risk, home dwelling older adults.

The Gatekeeper Program was developed in 1978 by Ray Raschko, MSW, at Spokane Mental Health’s Elder Services. Since its inception, the Gatekeeper model has been applied nationally and internationally to train employees to identify and refer isolated, at-risk older adults residing in their own homes. These are elders who have little or no support system to act in their behalf as they experience serious difficulties that compromise their ability to live independently.

Who are Gatekeepers?

Gatekeepers are employees who of local businesses who come into contact with older adults on a regular basis. Through the Gatekeeper program, these non-traditional referral sources are trained to identify and refer older adults who appear to have problems that may place them at-risk of hospitalization and/or premature out of home placement. Gatekeepers include utility employees, bank personnel, apartment and mobile home managers, postal carriers, police, fire department, paramedics, etc.

How Do I Make a Referral?


Call (509) 458-7450, 24 hours a day. Elder Services Information and Assistance staff help determine what level of response is needed.

What Do I Look For?


Below are descriptions of situations, symptoms, and behaviors that indicate a referral to Elder Services is needed:

  • Significant deterioration in personal appearance, including dirty clothing, clothing not appropriate to the weather/season, missing articles of clothing, i.e., pants, shoes, etc.
  • Isolated, dilapidated exterior/interior home environment, many old newspapers stacked/lying around, calendar on the wrong month or year, little or no food stocked, strong foul orders, many pets, numerous empty alcohol containers.
  • Confusion, disorientation, inappropriate verbal/non-verbal responses, forgetfulness, repeating information, feelings of hopelessness/suicidality.
  • Significant hearing/eyesight impairment, limited mobility/inabilty to get food, etc., acute physical illness, numerous medication bottles.