Senior Services Consortium Of Ramsey County

Programs: Senior services consortium of ramsey county supports older adults, and their caregivers, in their desire to age in the homes and neighborhoods they love. Through its network of neighborhood-based member organizations, the consortium offers a variety of home and community-based services throughout ramsey county, with significant support from volunteers. While services are available to all, our special mission is to offer support to those with limited resources. The consortium's cornerstone service is meals on wheels, offered by all its eight members and operating in a coordinated fashion. In addition, all consortium members provide a variety of services which are accessible to all older adults, including low-income people and all ethnic and cultural groups in the communities served; utilize an outcome-based evaluation system; and meet service quality standards established by the consortium. Each of the member agencies serves a specific geographic area, ensuring that residents throughout ramsey county have access to services. During 2016, the consortium member agencies:-delivered 163,058 meals on wheels to 1,212 people who are elderly, frail, disabled, and/or homebound and unable to prepare meals for themselves. -recruited/retained/supported 2,109 volunteers, who contributed 37,936 hours. -provided a variety of other services including chore, transportation, information/referral, and case management. While member agencies provide direct service to older adults, the consortium serves as the operations and strategic leadership backbone for important functions: funding, uniform policies and processes, developing best practices, marketing, quality control, central purchasing and evaluation. As one larger organization, the consortium facilitates the operation of a more efficient, streamlined, higher quality service than any of the members could achieve alone. Member organizations benefit, as follows:-operationally, members consistently deliver high quality services because of sharing of best practices, innovations brought to scale and strong referral network to ensure seniors have access to all they need. -economically, members reduce program costs through group purchasing, particularly in the area of food acquisition. The consortium's ability to help raise government and private funds improves each program's bottom line, bolstering their ability to serve those with limited resources. -members value being part of a larger organization, opening doors to initiatives and opportunities not available individually. This is especially true in the emerging discussions about collaborative efforts between the healthcare and social service sectors. With the dramatic aging of our communities, and with the awareness that the current system of community-based senior services is fragmented and cumbersome to access, these organizations are building on their "acting as one" strategy. In addition to providing meals on wheels, consortium members are now seeking to expand and create an integrated, full-service network of services consistently throughout ramsey county. Integral to this vision is creating ways to allow ease of access for older adults, their caregivers and social service and health care professionals.