Causes: Food, Meals on Wheels, Senior Centers, Seniors, Transportation Assistance

Mission: Helping older people live in their own homes and neighborhoods, maintaining their independence and health. The council is also the support system for their caregivers and families.

Programs: Transportation: the council's transportation program provided paratransit and fixed route transportation services (transportation services to the general public in addition to transportation for disadvantaged residents of martin county, florida) through january 31, 2012 through a contract with martin county, florida. Since that date the council has focused its transportation program more towards the transportation needs of those seniors who need the services offered at the charles and rae kane center in stuart.

case management services: the goal of case management is to empower clients to become more self-sufficient and to maintain or improve their functional capabilties so that they are able to remain at home in an effort to prevent or delay institutionalization. Case managers assess a client's needs, plan and arrange for appropriate services, coordinate services, monitor the changing needs of impaired clients and make appropriate changes to the care plan. Case management is the client's link between health care and social service delivery systems. Case management also provides the contact for family caregivers with neighborhood-help organizations and voluntary services that may provide assistance to the client. Case managers arrange for and oversee the following services for clients - personal care, (cont. On scheule o) (case mgmt. Cont. )homemaking, respite care, meals on wheels, adult day care, financial risk, caregiver support, transportation - as well as referring clients to other necessary resources that are able to provide needed assistance in the community.

meals program: there are three components to the meals program: meals on wheels, senior dining centers and nutrition education. Meals on wheels provides hot noontime meals to seniors who are unable to safely cook or shop. Weekend and breakfast meals are also available upon request. All meals on wheels are delivered by volunteers who commit to one delivery day per week. For active seniors, four senior dining centers located throughout martin county also provide hot, noontime meals that are served in a group setting. These centers are open from 9 am to 1 pm, monday through friday. Activities such as bingo, guest speakers and crafts are also included to give seniors time to socialize. Dining center meals are also served to the seniors participating in the council's adult day (cont. On schedule o) (meals program cont. ) care program. All meals served meet one-third of the daily referenced intake (dri) for people over the age of 55 and are frequently monitored by a licensed, registered dietitian for content and temperature compliance. The dietitian also provides regular nutrition education to all seniors receiving meals. The meals program targets economically disadvantaged and socially isolated seniors. A family caregiver is also eligible to receive food. No fee is required to receive meals; therefore, donations are always needed.

adult day care: the adult day care program provides therapeutic, social, and health services to impaired adults. The service offers respite to caregivers as well as socialization for frail older adults that are living alone. An individualized care plan is created to help maintain or improve the client's ability to function physically or mentally, and is overseen by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of the registered nurse, the case manager, and the dietician. Kane clinic: during the year ended june 30, 2012, the council began an on-site primary care clinic (kane clinic) at the charles and rae kane center in stuart, that serves a wide range of seniors by providing specialty geriatric care in a setting that conveniently houses a range of social support services. Senior center: at the charles and rae kane center in stuart, the council offers a range of senior center programs designed to help active seniors stay healthy and engaged within the community.