Silver Key Senior Services

Programs: Transportation: silver key's transportation department provides door-through-door ada accessible transportation for medical appointments, shopping, group meals, social activities, recreation trips, and more. Recurring daily, weekly, or monthly rides can be scheduled upon request. Transportation accommodates wheelchairs, walkers, those needing a lift device, oxygen, and other special needs. During the year, silver key provided 50,739 rides to 1,569 clients. There were 19,366 hours donated by volunteers in conjunction with providing rides.

nutrition: this area is comprised of the meals on wheels program, home delivered meals program, golden circle nutrition program, and the food pantry programs. The meals on wheels and home delivered meals programs deliver hot, nutritious meals to seniors (60 and older) in colorado springs, manitou springs, monument, calhan, fountain and the security-widefield area. Hot meals are delivered by our caring volunteers monday through friday, including re-heatable meals on weekends, to provide easy, healthy food options seven days a week. These programs are committed to supporting our senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes, including those in geographically isolated areas. During the year, silver key provided 60,036 meals. Volunteers provided 14,395 hours helping to prepare meals, delivering meals and visiting seniors. The golden circle nutrition program provides nutritious meals to eligible diners in a congregate social setting, such as senior centers and community gathering facilities. The program supports overall good health with a nutritious meal, social interaction, a monthly nutrition education newsletter and nutrition counseling is available. During the year, silver key provided 101,929 meals. Volunteers provided 34,922 hours of donated time serving food and managing meal sites, which includes receiving the food, serving and clean-up. The silver key food pantry works closely with the care and share food bank of southern colorado. Food assistance programs offered through silver key include the commodity supplemental food program (csfp) and the emergency food assistance program (tefap). These federal food programs exist to provide food to eligible low income seniors in our community. The food pantry also serves those in emergency and temporary situations, as well as those with dietary restrictions. Seniors who are homebound receive their commodities through our home delivery services. During the year, silver key provided 20,353 boxes of food to seniors in the community.

information / case management: this area is comprised of referrals and information, case management and guardianship. Silver key offers an information and referral helpline. Members of our staff can assist callers find the local resources they need, provide information, or help individuals sign up for silver key programs. During the year, silver key received over 20,000 calls. Silver key's case management team assists seniors and their families as they navigate the aging process. Holistic assessments are completed with each senior served to identify and resolve any barriers to their continued independence and safety. The short term case managers assist seniors in resolving issues relating to medicaid enrollment, finding affordable housing, utilities assistance, and other health and welfare needs. Without intervention, many of these senior would be in shelters, hospitals, and costly nursing facilities. During the year, silver key case managers served 1,196 clients. Silver key's guardianship program provides comprehensive, personalized case management services and advocacy for individuals who have been deemed unable to make safe decisions for themselves by the el paso county probate court. Through visits, court appointed guardians get to know their individual seniors and advocate for each person's unique housing and personal care needs as well as their medical, social, financial and end of life desires. Silver key guardians are individuals who have the education and the skill set to work with the wide variety of issues that beset many seniors. In addition, guardian's report to, and have the support of, the el paso county probate court when complex, difficult decisions must be made. During the year, silver key provided guardianship care for 36 clients.

retail: the silver key thrift store is a traditional thrift shop offering gently used merchandise at greatly reduced pricing. The thrift store also offers gently used durable medical equipment including canes, walkers, shower chairs and wheelchairs. This program makes affordable equipment available to seniors struggling with a temporary or permanent disability, allowing for improved accessibility and prevention of injuries. The thrift store is mostly staffed by volunteers and resells items that have been donated to silver key. Volunteers donated over 3,000 hours sorting, cleaning and selling items in the store.