Senior Neighbors

Essential services: in the current year Senior Neighbors served over 5,502 seniors in a variety of ways, all of which work to enhance the lives of seniors in our community. Senior Neighbors provides a wide range of essential services to older adults to help them stay independent, especially to those with physical, social, or economic needs. These services work to help seniors overcome the many barriers to healthy aging that may be present in their life, from preventing isolation with our five Senior centers to our case management team of social workers connecting them with much needed community resources. Above all, Senior Neighbors works to meet seniors where they are in life and be there to help. Essential services programs include case management, healthy aging exercise classes, home repairs, housing assistance, medicare and medicaid counseling, elder refugee support, and Senior centers.

Transportation services: a variety of transportation options are available throughout kent county so older adults can get to their desired destinations on a daily basis. Rides are often given for medical appointments, grocery shopping, or a visit to a Senior Neighbors center. These rides are provided with agency owned vehicles, as well as local public transportation systems.

Volunteer programs: many older adults are looking for a way to stay engaged with their community through service, and Senior Neighbors can provide a connection to opportunities through several different programs. The goal of the volunteer program is to provide seniors with a connection to the community, their peers, and a sense of purpose. Possible volunteer positions include local police departments, food pantries, Senior companionship connections, or literacy tutoring for young students.

Food services: congregate meals are provided to seniors 60 years of age or more and is a cornerstone of each of the five Senior Neighbors centers across kent county. Oftentimes the nutritionally balanced meal is what attracts seniors to the center, but they find the array of services provided daily are just as important. The sense of community and shared meals at each of these centers is also a key ingredient to the success of the meals program. The pre-prepared meals are cooked locally and provided by meals on wheels of western Michigan. Each day at lunchtime the meals are available to seniors through a requested donation.