Program areas at Berks Encore
Senior community center services:provides older adults, 60 years and over (and spouses) with a nutritionally balanced noon meal in a congregate setting with supportive services consisting of outreach activities, companionship, health and wellness, nutrition education, recreational activities, information and referral, health screenings, exercise classes, arts/crafts, games, education, computer instruction, case management, and social and cultural activities. In 2022, there were over 50,000 participant visits and over 29,000 congregate meals served at our 6 senior center sites. Certified and master trainers provide education in the evidenced-based programs: chronic disease self-management, a matter of balance fall prevention program, healthy steps in motion, diabetes self-management, and chronic pain self-management. During 2022, 85 different health and wellness classes, totaling over 2,000 hours of instruction, were provided. Comprehensive information and referral services, assistance with enrollment in snap and other government benefit programs for seniors, and a grocery shopping program. In 2022, there were approximately 16,000 contacts made for information and/or referral to other agencies and 63 individuals shopped for and delivered groceries for over 95 clients, volunteering 2,500 hours of service. Senior citizens clubs and retiree organizations throughout Berks county are affiliated with the organization. The clubs and organizations each receive a program resource book, information about speakers, newsletters, and inclusion of club news in the organizaton's newspaper, Berks Encore news. 45,000 individuals received our newspaper filled with consumer information relevant to the Berks county senior population.
Berks Encore care+:care+ is a fee-based program that was launched in 2020 to assist individuals and/or their families create care plans and connect with resources for their aging loved ones. Fees are determined on a sliding scale based on the senior's income. Approximately 41 clients were served in 2022.
Home delivered meals:the organization provides meals on wheels services to senior citizens throughout Berks county every weekday.over 150,000 meals were delivered to more than 3,000 unique home-bound seniors by over 600 volunteers who contributed approximately 40,000 total hours of service in 2022.
Pa medi (formerly known as apprise)pa medi is the state health insurance assistance program (ship) for pennsylvanians age 60 and over. The Pennsylvania department of aging created pa medi to help older pennsylvanians understand their health insurance options under medicare and make sound decisions about what is best for them. Pa medi counselors are specially trained volunteers. Issues handled through the pa medi program range from health insurance counseling regarding medicare, hmos, supplemental insurance, medical assistance, and long-term care insurance. Appx. 5,000 individuals were assisted with medicare questions & enrollment
Benourished/medically tailored mealsthe organization provides medically tailored meals designed to promote a healthy lifestyle through nutrition to help manage heart disease and diabetes safely and effectively. The meals are planned by a dietitian and made of quality fresh ingredients for nutritious and flavorful meals. In partnership with penn state health st. joseph and redner's markets, we provide medically tailored meals to referred clients with a cardiac or diabetic diagnosis. 30 clients served in 2022.