Program areas at Darts
Social services- Darts social workers and service coordinators work with older adults and family caregivers to assess needs and provide guidance, including on-site independent living support. Darts information and assistance call line is the entry point. Service coordinators work with caregivers of older adults to provide counseling and resource connection. In 2022, Darts served 193 people with access assistance, service navigation, support groups, counseling, family meetings and/or respite. The breathing space group respite was launched in two locations. Respite volunteers provided 559 hours of relief. 100% of caregivers surveyed said Darts increased their ability to provide care. 49 seniors participated in the new healthy aging programs: tai ji quan for better balance and fallstalk coaching sessions. Darts provided service coordination and independent living support to 501 clients in ten affordable senior apartment buildings.
Home services- Darts provides household services that assist older adults in remaining in the home of their choice. In 2022, we expanded to serve southern Washington county in addition to all of dakota county. Darts staff, contractors, and volunteers partner to provide services that include housekeeping tasks (including laundry and meal preparation), grocery shopping, and outdoor chores (such as lawn care and snow removal). In 2022, Darts provided home services to 593 older adults. Darts volunteers completed 6,071 service hours assisting older adults with yardwork, providing respite care, strategic, and administrative support for Darts and mentoring elementary and middle school students. In 2022 we began combining intergenerational volunteers and home services to provide tech support through our new tech buddies program. 93% Darts home services clients report these services help to reduce isolation. For all client survey responses, 98% say Darts improved their ability to live at their home.
Transportation- Darts is certified as a specialized transit service (sts) provider. In 2022, Darts used 6 accessible vehicles to provide a total of 8,117 rides. We continued assisting area food shelf clients by delivering 228 food support orders to older adults. Loop circulator routes operate regularly in cottage grove, edina, hastings, lakeville, south st. paul and west st. paul. Support from the older american act and dakota county community development block grants allow us to adjust rates to the riders abilities to pay. Rides help people stay connected in their community and 100% of riders felt safe riding with Darts.
General- in 2022 we helped 1,212 people who averaged using 1.24 Darts services each. 64% report they are at or below 200% of federal poverty levels, 75% are female, and 16% are a race other than white. The average client age is 75.