Cumberland County Council On Older Adults

Direct beneficiaries per year: 8,095 seniors!

Programs: Nutrition services are intended to promote, maintain, and improve the health and well-being of older adults through the provision of a nutritionally balanced meal five or more days per week served in a strategically located congregate setting or delivered to the home; reduce the isolation experienced by many older adults through opportunities for social interaction by participation in the nutrition program; provide nutrition education and supportive service activities in order to enhance the older adult's ability to remain independent; and enable impaired older adults to remain at home as long as possible and facilitate the discharge of older adults from hospitals and care providing facilities. In-home aide services are intended to assist individuals and their families with attaining and maintaining self-sufficiency, and improving quality of life. These services are aimed at preventing the deterioration of individuals' functional capacity, preventing abuse, neglect and/or exploitation and avoiding premature institutional care by assisting individuals in maintaining themselves in their own homes as long as possible. It is the intent of the in-home aide services program to assist, but not replace, family members in carrying out their responsibilities for those individuals needing care or support. Home Improvement Services identify health and safety issues affecting the home or areas adjacent to the home in which an individual or family lives and provides needed improvements to resolve those issues. Health and safety issues include security enhancements; minor home repairs; mobility and accessibility improvements. Information & Options Counseling is a service designed to link persons with resources available to meet their needs and/or interests. It is also intended to be a mechanism to collect information about unmet needs and specific needed services in the geographic area and to share it with appropriate planners and decision makers. The Telephone Reassurance Program is designed to promote a sense of well-being among older adults who live alone and often isolated or greatly limited from normal socialization. The program also gives the older adult a voice, as volunteers and staff advocate on that person's behalf. Caregivers are given a measure of reassurance as they know their loved one is being consistently checked up on. Warm conversation, medication reminders, and safety checks are examples of program activities. The Senior Companion Program provides one-on-one supportive services to assist older adults in an effort to maintain independent living. Service recipients may receive assistance with nutrition, home management, personal care, social, recreation, information, and advocacy service depending upon their individual needs. Caregivers may receive respite and relief from the daily duties associated with caring for an older adult family member.