Finding solutions, one person at a time
Peer support specialist Christina Little knew her elderly and isolated client Lydia would benefit from the services offered through Providence’s ElderPlace in Seaside. But Lydia was suspicious about the program. “By being a consistent support to her, I helped give her the emotional safety she needed,” said Christina. Lydia allowed Christina to go with her when she enrolled in ElderPlace. “Although Lydia has some ongoing struggles, ElderPlace has been a great success for her.”
Thanks to your support, Better Outcomes thru Bridges, known as BOB, began operating out of Providence Seaside Hospital in 2022. Both Christina and Dean Louder, emergency department outreach specialist, work directly with people who have a high rate of emergency department use and are struggling with issues, such as mental health, substance abuse and complex medical needs.
services. Many of his clients are homeless, and most are over 50. He has noticed that his relationships with clients develop organically. “Once a client begins to trust me, they will start sharing what’s happening in their lives, and that’s when the work begins,” he said. “Usually there are friends and family involved, and now you have a group of people who are engaged and working towards the same goal.”
For Christina, the core of what she does is “build trust, show up consistently and be a safe person for people who don’t have someone they can rely on.” Like Dean, she helps find and connect her clients with resources they need. Many of her clients are socially isolated and have complex health care needs. “I wanted to work with folks who are neurodivergent and are struggling. I want to be a support for them,” she said. “This role really offers that in so many ways.”