UPPER CUMBERLAND — The Upper Cumberland Development District’s Area Agency on Aging and Disability (UCAAAD) team has announced the installation of telehealth stations across the Upper Cumberland in the coming months.
These stations will provide isolated or at-risk older adults, adults with disabilities, and/or their caregivers in rural areas with virtual access to healthcare by decreasing the travel expense and time incurred when accessing specialized healthcare in urban areas. UCAAAD staff members are currently installing telehealth stations at eight housing complexes and 13 senior centers.
“The plan is to complete all the housing units first, and then proceed onto the senior centers,” said Sara Martin, AAAD Family Caregiver/Evidence-Based Assistant.
UCAAAD will set up internet-capable laptops for housing complexes and senior centers across the Upper Cumberland. Each station will be provided with the proper equipment needed for a successful call such as web cameras, printers, and private spaces to conduct the virtual visit.
Housing complexes receiving telehealth stations:
Hilltop – Cannon County
Fiddlers Annex and Fiddlers Manor – DeKalb County
Fairgrounds Fentress County
Shenandoah – Macon County
Laurel Creek – Putnam County
South Carthage – Smith County
Golden Oaks – Warren County
Senior centers receiving telehealth stations:
Cannon County
Dekalb County (Alexandria and Smithville)
Fentress County
Overton County
Pickett County
Putnam County (Algood, Cookeville, and Monterey)
Smith County
Van Buren County
Warren County
White County
Funding for this service comes from a $95,000 Aging and Disability Resource Center COVID-19 grant for the period of December 2020 through September 2021. In addition to the telehealth stations, this grant will also allow UCAAAD to implement the SAMScan system to enhance the data entry and invoicing of contracted services, provide funding for senior centers to offer online grocery shopping classes to seniors, partner with Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP) to provide in-home telehealth services to 15 clients and purchase home-delivered meal supplies to providers.
To learn more, visit the Area Agency on Aging and Disability department tab on our website or call (931) 432-4111.
