Senior Community Services

Working with geriatric-trained care managers, care management helps older people to live safely and comfortably at home. The care manager meets the client in the home and develops a step-by-step, comprehensive care plan. The care manager implements the care plan serving as the consumer's liaison and advocate with the selected Community resources and agencies. Services may include personal care, light housekeeping, home-delivered meals, adult day care, home modifications, health insurance counseling, medical supply reimbursement, emergency response systems and respite care for family caregivers. The care manager remains in communication with the older person to continue to guide the care and respond to changing circumstances. In 2021/2022, scs served 1,889 older adults in its long term care management program.

The caregiver support program (csp) provides support and guidance for family members caring for elderly loved ones. The program provides free, compassionate counseling helping caregivers find positive ways to work with the challenges of insuring elderly loved ones are well cared for at home. The program links family caregivers to benefits, Community resources and Services. Financial support for caregiving-related expenses is also provided. Csp served 150 caregivers and their families in 2020/2021. Csp also provides Services and support for grandparents raising grandchildren.

Scs operates four nationally accredited Senior centers in Delaware county which nurture the mind, body and spirit of active older adults. Located in the city of chester, darby township, ridley township and yeadon borough, the centers offer a welcoming place to socialize with old and new friends, engage in fitness activities, educational and art programs, delicious meals and fulfilling volunteer roles. Offering information and assistance, the centers also refer older adults to other resources that help ensure continued independent living. Transportation is available for people needing a ride to the center. Fiscal year 2021/2022 began a process of return to normal operations, resuming in-person activities while continuing the pandemic - inspired alternative programming. During the year, almost 4,500 unduplicated persons participated in the Senior center activities and Services, making over 33,000 visits. Almost 2,400 "wellness telephone calls" were made to non-attending center members. Fiscal year 2022 represented the eighth year of aging at home, started as a demonstration project in partnership with united way of greater philadelphia and southern new jersey. Originally, targeted to the "greater lansdowne area", the greater ridley area was added in fiscal year 2018. The innovative "village style" program targeted to low and moderate income population aims to enable older people to remain living in their home with independence and peace of mind. As of 2021/2022, over 900 "members" were enrolled, receiving door-thru-door transportation, volunteer handyman Services, vetted home repair referrals and volunteer home chore Services. Although demonstration funding ended in fiscal year 2018, aging at home is now an integral component of scs' scope of Services. Scs scope of Services also includes: the pa medi (formerly called apprise) health medicare counseling program continued its successful pivot to "telephone counseling and virtual group presentations to perform its important Services. Despite the limitations of pandemic conditions, 1,002 older persons received one-on-one counseling sessions and 162 group outreach/education events were conducted with 1,007 attendees.volunteer service - as with most scs Services, the volunteer program remained operational during 2021/2022, but scaled back to maintain safety during the pandemic. Still, a total of 22,532 volunteer hours were logged during the year (over 40,000 hours is typical). However, in may 2021, the hold on volunteer homebound meal delivery system was lifted and, with much enthusiasm, scs' dedicated volunteer drivers and "runners" resumed their important role delivering vital nutrition to frail, ill homebound older persons. Cognitive stimulation program - with long term care facilites being the primary setting for the "kits", the program was essentially dormant for much of 2020/2021. Howeveer, this hiatus period enabled a substantial effort of kit renewal and new development. 2021/2022 saw the resumption of kit deliveries to nursing homes, assisted living facilites and Senior centers in Delaware county and the broader region. During 2021/2022, 575 kit activity sessions were conducted, beginning a return to traditional program level (approximately 1,100 sessions per year).