Elder Care Services

Elder Care Services provided 229 frail seniors with 35,221 hours of in-home and community-based Services, such as personal Care, light housekeeping, companionship, respite, medical transportation, crisis interventions, and professional Care management in 2022.in addition, over 1,947.5 hours of counseling was provided to caregivers and clients in crisis.

Elder Care Services nutrition Services programs have been serving seniors since 1972 by providing a hot meal which meets one-third of their recommended daily nutritional requirements. In 2022, 470 homebound seniors received 69,941 meals through the meals on wheels program.263 seniors enjoyed 36,128 lunches, along with social interaction and physical activities during the weekdays at 7 congregate meal sites. 243 volunteers delivered meals to participant's homes, contributing (in-kind) over 10,362 hours, $338,660 in time and mileage.

Elder Care Services senior volunteer programs provide seniors 55 years of age or older the opportunity to fill numerous community needs, while keeping themselves active and engaged.

Volunteer programs are:retired and senior volunteers (rsvp) - 254 volunteers served 17,094 hours at 18 different locations, filling various needs at nonprofit agencies, senior centers, food distributions sites, libraries, and other locations. Rsvp volunteers fed over 9,576 seniors each month at 2 jackson county food distribution sites. Foster grandparent program (fgp) - 89 volunteers tutored/mentored 116 pre-k, elementary, and middle school students in 28 public school and pre-k locations throughout leon and 4 surrounding counties. Total hours were 61,547.senior companion program (scp) - 54 senior companion volunteers contributed 19,447 hours helping 65 frail seniors stay independently in their homes throughout leon and 4 surrounding counties.seniors transporting at-risk seniors (stars) - 10 volunteers provided 229 (566 hours) trips transporting clients to medical appointments, pharmacies, and grocery stores.

In 2022, Elder Care Services supported big bend area seniors with a variety of programs:elder day stay:30 seniors with cognitive or physical impairments who could no longer stay home alone were cared for at our Elder day stay facility, a safe, home-like atmosphere. In addition to individualized supervision, Elder day stay provides assisstance with daily activities, medication management, exercise, nutritious meals and snacks, intellectually stimulating activities and socialization. In 2022, 30 seniors spent over 26,020 hours at our facility. Information and referral services:when you call Elder Care Services, you reach a caring, well-informed bi-lingual counselor who is committed to answering questions and responding to requests for help. In addition to providing the right phone number for a community resource, we also offer the following:emergency or short-term help: emergency energy assisstance - 128 seniors received assistance with past due utility bills through eheap (emergency home energy assistance program for the elderly), chsp (community health service partnership) funds and private donations.emergency food pantry - stocks essentials through donations of items such as ensure drinks and non-perishable foods. In 2022, 1,273 bags of food were distributed to seniors. Adaptive medical equipment loan program - saves seniors the cost of purchasing items such as wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, adult briefs, canes, and bedside commodes. In 2022, 84 ame items were distributed. Emergency assistance program - provides emergency items such as incontinence supplies, blankets, heaters, fans, furniture, ensure drinks, produce bundles, and face masks. In 2022, 1,360 material aid items were distributed. Emergency alert response- provides security by connecting isloated seniors with emergency Services through lifeline units places in their homes. Additional meal services:in addition to producing our meals on wheels for clients, our kitchen produces and delivers nutricious hot meals and snacks to various day Care centers and after-school programs on a contract basis. This helps leverage the cost of our meals.