Last summer, the East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) CARES team received a referral from Jefferson Transit’s “Dial-A-Ride” program, an ADA-compliant, reservation-based paratransit service for Jefferson County residents with disabilities or residents experiencing health conditions that prevent them from using fixed-route services. The referral was made on behalf of a 65-year-old man living in Jefferson County. After receiving the referral, the EJFR CARES team enrolled the client in Olympic Connect.
His Olympic Connect trusted helpers, Jeff Woods and Aaron Wasson, discovered that the client experienced housing instability and was living in a weathered trailer in the woods that lacked heat and proper plumbing. The client also experienced food instability, financial hardship, and had no known living relatives.
The client also experienced new vision loss, including new blindness, and told the CARES team he didn’t know the cause. He shared that he hadn’t seen a doctor in 30 years.
Over months Jeff and Aaron built trust with the client, visiting in-person several times, providing dedicated follow up, and spending many hours coordinating the client’s care.
Nearly a year later, the results are astounding.
With consistent follow‑up and coordination, the client is now enrolled in Veterans Affairs and Medicare, has secured housing and food assistance, and is receiving Social Security benefits.
Jeff and Aaron also connected the client with a primary care provider and referred him to an eye specialist for treatment of his vision loss.
Once the client established medical care, the EJFR CARES team provided transportation to his first two cataract surgeries. He has now regained vision in one eye, and an upcoming surgery is expected to restore vision in the other.
The EJFR CARES team also helped the client move into his new apartment at Bayside Housing & Services* and brought him food and clothing.
*Bayside Housing & Services aims to strengthen community through housing, advocacy, and human services supporting social and economic independence. To get connected to housing and services, complete a housing inquiry on Bayside’s website.
Olympic Connect is a community-driven network of partners on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas that supports care coordination to local resources like health care, food, financial assistance, childcare, and more. To get started, fill out the online referral form or call 360-301-8252.