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Press
Release
September 13, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: AoA Press Office
(202) 401-4541
AoA Awards $5.1 Million to Support Community
Services for Seniors Aging in Place
In 22 Cities and Counties
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.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
on Aging (AoA), works with a nationwide network of organizations
and service providers to make support services and resources
available to older persons and their caregivers. For more information
about the AoA, please contact: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Administration on Aging, Washington, D.C. 20201,
Phone (202) 401-4541.
http://www.aoa.gov
Email: aoainfo@aoa.gov
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