Manling

In 2022, Manling Wu was struggling. At the time, she was 84, coping with Parkinson’s disease and living in Monterey Park with her daughter, Emily Lin, and son-in-law, Wai Li. As Manling’s symptoms continued to worsen, she began to experience life-threatening complications, including trouble swallowing. Eventually, Manling was admitted to the hospital. She underwent a tracheostomy to help her breathe and had a gastrostomy tube inserted to deliver nutrition directly to her stomach. When she was ready to be released, Manling was transferred to a nursing home to receive extra care.

In the months that followed, Manling’s health continued to deteriorate. Soon, she was unable to walk or talk. At the same time, her family was not able to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions — and they were becoming increasingly anxious, wondering how they would care for Manling when she returned home. “I desperately wanted my mom to be surrounded by family,” says Emily, “so I started looking for services to support me in caring for her at home. That’s when I found Huntington Health’s Senior Care Network.”

Through Senior Care Network (SCN), Emily was able to get her mother enrolled in the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP). MSSP provides care coordination services to seniors on Medi-Cal whose physical or cognitive impairments put them at risk of nursing home placement. “MSSP can be a lifeline for older adults and their caregivers,” says Eileen Koons, director of SCN (pictured right with Emily). “Services include education and support for family members, help navigating health care plan benefits, referrals to community resources and more.”

For more than two years now, Manling has been receiving support services through MSSP. “My mom’s social worker calls at least once a month and visits us at home every three months,” says Emily. “She connects us to helpful resources and gives me a sense of comfort and care. Each time she’s here, she helps me problem solve and addresses my concerns.”

Today, Manling continues to live safely at home while getting the care she needs. Emily shares how SCN and MSSP have impacted her life: “Before I was connected to SCN, I felt overwhelmed in the face of my mom’s health needs. Now, I feel confident in providing care for my mother because we have support. I don’t know what I would do without SCN and I’m so grateful!”

Learn more about Senior Care Network’s helpful services for older adults and their caregivers.