Linkages Care Management Services

"Assistance for people who need help managing their lives because of an accident, illness or other disability."  Through Life Steps' Linkages Care Management Program, we provide essential links that help promote independence and prevent premature and/or unnecessary institutionalization.  We link people to services, enhancing self-sufficiency and maximizing each individual's potential.  We accomplish these goals by providing information, coordination, and referrals for transportation, adult day care, home safety modification, government benefits programs, support/relief programs for families, legal advocacy/assistance, in-home attendant care, housing options, medical referrals, money management, nutritional services, and friendly visitors.  Among the professional services we provide are in-home or hospital assessment by professional social workers. 

Eligibility:  Adults who are 18 years old and older who live in the Linkages service area and who are living with health and/or environmental problems that place them at risk of premature or unnecessary institutionalization.

Life Steps Linkages Program is funded with grants from the Area Agency on Aging of San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County.  It is accessible to people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Locations:   North Santa Barbara County (including Sisquoc, Casmalia, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria Valley, Orcutt, City of Santa Maria), San Luis Obispo County (entire county, including Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Grover Beach, Oceano, Avila Beach, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Santa Margarita, San Miguel, Templeton, Cambria and surrounding areas).

Respite Programs

Family members and other informal or unpaid caregivers provide substantial day-to-day support for many of our community’s elderly and disabled persons.  Taking a break from the role of caregiver can be beneficial and necessary.

Life Steps’ respite programs can provide and coordinate financial assistance and respite providers for short-term needs.  They can also provide referrals for ongoing resources.  The programs below serve eligible recipients (unpaid caregivers who provide substantial care and who currently receive no other agency respite services) in San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County:

• Family Caregiver Support Respite Program:  Care recipient is at least 60 years old and is impaired in at least two daily living activities.
• Respite Purchase of Service:  Care recipient is at least 18 years old and is impaired in at least one daily living activity or in two instrumental activities of daily living.

rECENT Conversations

Recent Santa Maria Times article discusses how the current state budget impasse affects Linkages and the vulnerable clients it serves.  Click here.

Check out the April 3, 2008 press release from Lois Capps, congresswoman of the 23rd District of California.  Congresswoman Capps expressed her strong support of H.R. 5613, proposed legislation that would protect Medicaid benefits for Californians who might otherwise lose the kind of vital support services that Linkages offers.   Read Congresswoman Capps' press release.

Donate Today!

Linkages Helps Online Shoppers Donate
iGive.com facilitates free donations

Support Linkages for free! Visit the Mall at www.iGive.com the next time you shop online. It’s completely free and confidential, and neither iGive.com nor Linkages will ever sell your e-mail address or personal information to anyone. iGive.com has helped its members raise over $1,700,000 for their favorite worthy causes — all at no cost to their members or their causes.

Simply select the Linkages Program from among iGive.com’s listed charities, or visit the Linkages Web link at www.iGive.com/LSFLinkages, whenever you shop. (iGive.com hosts a wide variety of well-known product brands from which to shop.) Up to 26 percent of every purchase you make supports Linkages, depending on the merchant. Every penny of that percentage directly supports your favorite cause — no administrative costs, fees or mark-ups. And because you purchase your books, music, videos, office supplies, toys, clothing, gifts, flowers, and hundreds more products online, you’ll save money, too.

Additional ways to help:

• Register with iGive.com using the link above. Add it to your favorites, or create a shortcut to your desktop.
• Provide a regular reminder by adding a signature, including the link, to your e-mail. (From among the pull-down menus in MS-Outlook, click Tools, then click Options, then the Mail Format tab. Then click Signatures. You’ll be prompted to create or edit your signature. Just type in your signature text but also add www.iGive.com/LSFLinkages. It’s that easy.
• Forward this information to everyone on your e-mail mailing list.
• Talk with the vendors with which you regularly interact and which regularly order online, and encourage them to try iGive.com.
• Start saving and donating for free today!

"Because I Care" Greeting Cards

Need a greeting card that captures your soul and helps others?  Take a look at our "Because I Care" greeting cards.  Painted by a Linkages participant, the cards display a vast array of rich colors, textures and compositions.  For your $15 donation plus shipping costs receive a set of 8 cards (2 of each design per set):

Please send your checks, made payable to Life Steps Foundation, Inc., to:

Linkages

c/o Life Steps Foundation, Inc.

3450 Broad Street, Suite 104

San Luis Obispo, CA  93401

Or call us with your order:  (800) 491-2246 or (805) 547-9680

If you're in the San Luis Obispo area, please visit the following retailers, which stock the Linkages greeting cards:

The Art Cafe and Bakery

570 Higuera Street, #105

San Luis Obispo, CA  93401

Mari Robeson Home

151 W. Branch

Arroyo Grande, CA  93420

Retailers, stock your shelves with cards whose images evoke the courage of the human response to the challenge of aging and physical disability!

Vehicle Donations

Got a functioning boat, truck, motorcycle, RV, ATV, bus or plane you no longer use?  If you have any of these vehicles, please donate them to Goodwill Industries, and get a valuable tax deduction.   Linkages, as a nonprofit program partnered with the Goodwill Industries Vehicle Donation program, can benefit from your donation.  Simply request in writing, when the donation paperwork is being processed, that proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle be split between Life Steps Foundation, Inc. and Goodwill Industries.  You will help two important services in our community!  Please visit:

http://www.scgoodwill.org/vehicles.html

check out issues of Linkages Insites!

A quarterly newsletter from the California Linkages Site Association.

PDF    LINKAGES INSITES Winter 2007

PDF    LINKAGES INSITES Spring 2008

PDF    LINKAGES INSITES Summer 2008

PDF    LINKAGES INSITES Fall 2008