Program areas at ISS
Consultation, Care Management and Counseling: Iona's core programs are built around the needs of older adults and family caregivers who are facing difficult transitions, isolation, loss of family and social supports, and/or serious health challenges that impact their safety, well-being, and ability to remain in the home of their choice. Through these programs, compassionate and highly trained social workers, psychotherapists, and registered nurses provide intensive, customized, person-centered support and solutions to older adults and families, helping them navigate complex challenges. In FY22, we served 196 clients with Case Management and Counseling services.
Community Programs: Iona also supports active older adults in the community who want to live vibrant lives through the innovative Aging Solo curriculum, and Around Town DC. Our newest and widest reaching Around Town DC program also serves the DMV with online and in-person wellness classes. With a lack of brick and mortar senior wellness centers in Wards 2 and 3 this program was developed and funded by DACL. In addition, volunteers helped to deliver 284 Share packages to vulnerable older adults throughout the district.
Washington Home Foundation Adult Day Health Center: In FY22 provided 53 residents access to over 18,000 hours of in-person and virtual adult day health care. With a focus on well-being and creativity, we lift spirits, build confidence, and stimulate cognitive function. At the same time, our approach reduces depression, hospitalizations and long-term care placements . High quality adult day health care provides older family members a reason to get up in the morning, enjoy activities, and make new friends, all while under the care of compassionate nurses and other staff.
Iona's Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Wellness & Arts Center: Iona's Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Wellness & Arts Center is an award-winning, state-of-the-art adult day health program that provides holistic, individualized care and robust programming for older adults in a safe, medically-supervised and social community. Iona's trained and experienced staff members care for and engage older adults living with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, diabetes, stroke, and many other chronic conditions and/or physical and intellectual disabilities, while providing support and respite to their family caregivers. In FY22, Iona's staff served 57 participants with 4,076 days of in-person and virtual care.
Nutrition Program: Iona's licensed Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) and Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) provide professional clinical community nutrition services, medical nutrition therapy via telephone, in-office, and home visits, and nutrition education. They provide information, answer food and nutrition questions; assess current food, food security, nutrition and nutrition security needs; and work collaboratively with Iona staff to maximize participants' food and nutrition status and overall well-being. Nutrition education is provided through group education presentations, cooking demonstrations and informational handouts. Through a grant from the DC Department of Aging and Community Living, Iona offers high calorie and high protein liquid nutrition supplements to eligible older adults assessed to be at high risk for unintentional weight loss, physical frailty, and other qualified conditions. In FY22, 648 cases of nutrition supplements were delivered through Iona's Food Pantry Plus (FPP) Program. FPP provides limited shelf-stable food, supplemental nutrition, incontinence products, toiletries, and paper goods to Iona clients to supplement other food or prepared meal resources. In FY22, FPP made 708 deliveries to 146 unique clients.
Information and Referral Helpline: In FY22, Iona's Helpline answered 2,385 calls by expert staff comprised of social workers who connect people to resources at Iona and beyond.
Iona hosts three advocacy groups and combined have contributed over 5,000 hours of volunteer service to improve the quality of life for older adults and their families in Washington, DC. The DC Coalition on Long-Term Care ("the Coalition") was founded in 1995 by concerned consumers, advocates, and health care providers to develop quality and affordable long-term care options for low-income DC older adults and persons with disabilities or chronic health care needs to age in place. The DC Senior Advisory Coalition (S.A.C) was founded in 2009 by 12 agency leaders and advocates concerned about the need to improve and expand services for DC's steadily expanding older population. The Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) seeks to draw more attention and resources to the needs of older adults, including continuing opportunities to contribute to the community. As a mini-commission on aging, the Group works to identify critical community issues affecting older adults in Ward 3, promote collaboration among older adult groups, and educate the community on aging issues.
Contracts: Iona provides consultation and support to Senior Villages and faith community leaders so they can effectively serve members dealing with the challenges of aging and caregiving. In addition, Iona provides confidential, comprehensive support and resources to help employees through the challenges of caregiving. The services Iona provides include full- or part-time onsite professional consulting by a licensed social worker; in-depth customized resources and referrals; educational seminars on caregiving and retirement; professionally-facilitated support groups; and articles for employees on aging/caregiving issues.