AROSS

The easiest way is to contact us by phone at 032.886.90.90. This will allow us to inform you about the orientation interview and to ask you a few questions in order to best answer your request. During this first contact, we will be able to see with you what is the best time to organize a meeting.

During the orientation interview, we always prefer the presence of a close relative (spouse, child or close relative) of the elderly person.  Your presence allows us to have a richer and more complete exchange, to measure your state of fatigue if you are a caregiver and to give you some useful information.

We plan appointments taking into account the degree of urgency of the situation as well as the availability of the persons concerned and their entourage. The delay can vary from 1 to 5 working days for urgent situations to 2 or 3 weeks.

We cannot force a meeting with a person who does not want to. However, if you are concerned about your relative's situation, we can listen to you and think about possible solutions together. We will inform you and advise you on the providers and services useful in your relative's situation. Do not hesitate to contact your relative's family doctor. And if a care provider is providing assistance to your relative, don't hesitate to talk to them either.

The orientation interview usually takes place at your home, with yourself, a relative and an AROSS coordinator. During the orientation interview, we assess your situation in a global way (state of health, social situation, housing, family and friends, economic concerns, future plans). The purpose of the orientation interview is to allow us to make recommendations to secure your living space, to respond to your needs for help and support, in order to encourage support at home, or to accompany you in a project to change your living space.

In the context of an application for registration in an EMS or a pension, each person is entitled to an orientation interview conducted by AROSS. The purpose of this contact is to orient you towards an establishment adapted to your needs. This procedure does not change the fact that you remain free to choose in which establishment you wish to be registered, provided that its mission meets your needs. Or

• The orientation interview is mandatory before entering a long-stay EMS or a boarding facility. The objective of this measure is to orient you towards the place or services that best meet your needs.
• In addition, AROSS has a global vision of all available places in EMS and centralizes all admission requests.

When registering in an EMS, you are free to choose the one that suits you provided that the mission of the facility meets your needs. However, in the case of an urgent admission, you may initially be referred to another facility that has space at that time. A change of facility may be made at a later date, but this may take some time, depending on the availability of the chosen EMS.

Some people have wished to anticipate a registration in an EMS or pension. In practice, admission to an EMS is based on the number of places available, taking into account the degree of urgency required by the person's situation. It is therefore not necessary to put oneself on a waiting list in advance, and this practice is tending to disappear.

Your family doctor has probably noticed that your health seems to be more fragile, that you seem to be more tired, maybe you have even fallen? He/she would like us to conduct a home orientation interview to get a more complete picture of your difficulties and needs at home and to discuss your life plan together. We collaborate with the attending physicians to whom we share our observations and recommendations. This information is often useful and can help them understand your daily life at home. The exchange of information with your doctor is only done with your agreement.

AROSS coordinators are professionals specializing in the health and/or social fields. They have experience in geriatrics and receive ongoing training.

AROSS is an institution that emerged from the projects of the medico-social planning of the canton of Neuchâtel. Financed by the State, AROSS services are free of charge for the population. Your family doctor may charge you for the time spent outside your presence, following the exchanges we request with him/her.

During the interview, we will make recommendations for service providers, such as home care services, physiotherapists, day care centers, meal delivery, etc. We will give you the addresses of service providers in your area who are able to meet your needs, and then it is up to you to make your choice. We do not favor one provider over another.