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AoA Awards $5.1 Million to Support Community Services for Seniors Aging
in Place in 22 Cities and Counties
The MatureMarket.com
September 20, 2004
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA), Department of Health and Human Services announced today $5,144,959 in 22 grants (16 new grants and six continuations) to help seniors remain independent in the communities in which they live.
"These projects respond to the overwhelming preference of Older Americans to remain in their homes and communities," Josefina Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging said. "All of the projects will be testing innovative approaches to helping our older citizens to 'age in place' successfully. We are looking forward to sharing the results of these projects with other communities across the nation," she added.
The awards, pursuant to Congressional earmarks, will establish demonstration programs to develop and test models to support older persons in cities, suburbs and counties that have high concentrations of older adults living in apartments, townhouses and single family residences.
New grants are being awarded to private service organizations in Tucson, Denver, Manatee County (FL), Indianapolis, Boston, Bergen, Union, Essex and Ocean Counties (NJ), Atlantic City, Buffalo, Rochester, Providence, Richmond (and Roanoke), Norfolk, Madison, and Seattle. Continuation grants will be implemented in Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Albuquerque, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Most of the demonstration grants will focus on providing access to and linking health and supportive services for seniors who are living in these naturally occurring retirement communities; removing existing barriers to those services, and developing innovative strategies to enhance the quality of life of residents.
Services provided by HHS' AoA through the Older Americans Act, such as nutrition, transportation, health promotion and support for family caregivers, are important components of the continuum of care needed and desired by older persons who want to retain their independence. Providing individuals with greater choices through opportunities for home and community based services is a major goal of the Bush Administration.
A description of each new project and funding amount follows:
New Grants
Tucson, AZ, $196,235: Jewish Family and Children's Service of Southern Arizona. This project will demonstrate supportive services to elderly residents in the East Central area of Tucson with the goal of empowering the community to engage and recognize older adults as valued members of the community and to enable them to continue to maintain their independence while aging in place. Partners including public and private service agencies and the University of Arizona Center on Aging will help identify needs, create community involvement and plan delivery of services overcoming transportation, cultural and linguistic barriers.
Denver, CO, $194,924: Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado. This project will demonstrate supportive services for older adult residents in two Denver high-rise apartment complexes to enhance physical and emotional well-being and sustain their independence. In each complex, committees of residents, apartment complex staff, administrators and project staff will provide guidance on helping residents identify and meet service needs including residence modification, home and personal care, transportation, medical area and recreational and educational opportunities.
Sarasota, FL, $220,764: Jewish Family and Children's Service of Sarasota-Manatee. This project will reach isolated older adults throughout the county who are unaware of community resources, and with assessment of needs, will deliver coordinated services with the involvement of local organizations, agencies, institutions and businesses. An emphasis will be on reaching older adults who are at risk of depression and/or other emotional disorders to provide counseling, case management, volunteer visitations and/or emergency financial assistance.
Indianapolis, IN, $829,094: Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis. This project will demonstrate two supportive service aging in place models for older adults living in the greater Indianapolis area. One model will develop and deliver services in an apartment complex, the other in a single family and multi-family neighborhood. Both will feature intergenerational support networks, resident councils with the goal of decreasing isolation, promoting independence and increasing access to community organizations and services.
Boston, MA, $686,824: Jewish Family and Children's Service. This project brings supportive services to three neighborhoods and housing developments in greater Boston Metropolitan Area (Brookline, Maiden and Swampscott) where the majority of residents are age 65 and older. With partner agencies and organizations, resident councils and volunteers, the grantee will offer a comprehensive array of affordable health, mental health, fitness, social, educational, recreational and personal care services.
Atlantic City, NJ, $122,647: Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties. This project will conduct a demonstration of the delivery of social, health, and case management services to older adult residents of two apartment buildings on the Southern edge of Atlantic City. The major of residents are over age 60, many whom were displaced with expansion of gambling casinos. A partnership of agencies, organizations and service centers will assess and provide support for social, medical and emotional issues of residences using the services of a neighborhood community center and home delivered services provided by professionals and volunteers.
Bergen County, NJ, $196,235: United Jewish Federation of Bergen County and North Hudson, New Jersey. This project will deliver near-home and home services to older adults living in a high density suburban area that includes 70 municipal jurisdictions where residents are often isolated by a fractured public transportation system that limits older adult access to needed services. Challenges will be met collaboratively with partners and with public and private agencies and organizations offering case management, nutrition, adult day care, health, social, cultural, educational recreational and wellness programs.
Morris County, NJ., $196,235: United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, New Jersey. This project will test a suburban services model of delivering supportive services to a high density area of well and frail elderly living in an eight square mile section of Morris county and Parsippany, New Jersey, with the goal of maintain independence as long as possible. Older residents will be contacted using volunteers from local churches and community organizations to arrange assessment of priority needs for services delivered through partner public and private organizations in cooperation of the county Division of Aging.
Ocean County, NJ, $245,294: Jewish Federation of Ocean County. This project will demonstrate delivery of social, health and case management services to older adults living in three age-restricted, active adult gated communities in Ocean County. Isolation of older adults who can no longer drive but need assistance to maintain their residence is a challenge in areas with limited public transportation. Access to community services and delivery of some services in the homes will be accomplished with partners and of private and public service agencies.
Buffalo, NY, $98,118: Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County. This project will develop and refer supportive services to Italian American older adults aging in place in downtown Buffalo. Residents living in private and public low-rise housing developments, townhouses and single family units within a one-mile radius of a community center will be encouraged to participate with project partners as volunteers to help project partners assess needs and deliver services.
Rochester, NY, $98,118: Jewish Family Service of Rochester. This project will implement a supportive services program for older adults living in two apartment complexes in the City of Rochester and suburban Brighton through a partnership of landlords, social service providers and other community institutions. Its goal is to sustain the independence of residents by increasing their connection with the resources of their community including an integrated array of services.
Providence, RI, $49,059: Jewish Seniors of Rhode Island. This project will conduct a falls prevention program for residents of a senior apartment complex in the City of Providence. Tenets will be visited by graduate students in Geriatrics and Pharmacy programs of the University of Rhode Island to identify environmental hazards and conduct comprehensive prescription drug review to reduce risks. It will also be a test site for a Tai Chi exercise program to strengthen muscle tone, improve gait and increase balance.
Richmond, VA, $196,235: Jewish Family Services of Richmond. This project will demonstrate delivery of services to low and fixed income older adults in two Richmond neighborhoods and a third site in Roanoke (Southwest Virginia) to help them maintain independence in their own homes. Residents and resident managers will work in collaboration with service and community organizations, to integrate social services, socialization, education, and health and wellness activities and services in each site.
Norfolk, VA, $171,705: Jewish Family Service of Tidewater. This project will provide supportive services to linguistically and culturally isolated older residents in two apartment complexes in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Social, healthcare and recreational services will be provided on or near each site by community service providers, property owners, businesses and the volunteer assistance of other neighborhood residents.
Seattle, WA, $147,177: Jewish Family Services of Seattle. This project will develop and conduct a comprehensive health promotion project in three diverse residential areas of suburban Bellevue, Washington, with high concentrations of immigrant elders. A variety of health promotional activities, including health fairs, educational programs, physical fitness activities and a fall prevention program will be offered through partnerships with managers of apartment house, University of Washington and the local area agency on aging.
Madison, WI, $343,412: Oakwood Lutheran Homes Association. The Madison Area Continuing Care Consortium will develop a community-based supportive service program in a residential urban area in Dane County, Wisconsin, with the goal of improving the quality of life for older adults and reduce the cost of care through improved coordination between medical and social service providers and the creation of a senior association.
Continuations
Miami, FL, $245,294: Greater Miami Jewish Federation. For 2004, the project will involve a neighborhood worker (ombudsman) in each of four sites. This individual will identify common needs of the residents, develop a plan, and broker needed services for a group of residents to more efficiently use these services. The worker would also organize volunteers from the neighborhood to provide some services like simple home repairs, friendly visits, or organize social outings.
Atlanta, GA, $73,588: The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. This project is a part of a larger community initiative overseen by the Atlanta Regional Commission entitled, Aging Atlanta. Each Naturally Occurring Retirement Community site is based on three major objectives: 1. building individual capacity to age at home; 2. building neighborhood capacity to support aging at home; 3. and building a more "elder friendly" community through working with organizations, businesses and religious institutions to more effectively serve older adults.
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