Program areas at Shepherds Center of Kansas Cty Ctl
Home Delivered Meals - In 2023 KCSC delivered over 200,000 frozen and hot meals to food insecure, low income, isolated older adults. Delivered 186,000 frozen meals per year, averaging 15,500 meals per month, to 1,165 clients in over 60 zip codes. 55 volunteers delivered daily hot meals to 175 clients 5 days per week, over 26,000 hot meals per year. KCSC pet program delivered 6000 lbs. of pet food to 30 clients, 60 pets.
Resource and Referral and Other Continuum of Care Services. In 2023 KCSC provided 652 hours of case management to 62 clients, provided in-home vaccinations to homebound older adults and held vaccination clinics in senior living apartments, administering 265 vaccines to 195 clients and met our goal to administer 500 total vaccines by the first quarter of 2024, and assisted 225 older adults with durable medical equipment, assistive device replacements, rent, utilities, new beds, coats, home repairs, emergency food, car repairs and much more, totaling more than $26,000 thanks to generous donors.
The Senior Companion Program matches seniors 55 and over in Jackson County, MO who live at or below 200% of the federal financial poverty line with homebound seniors. Senior Companions spend up to 30 hours per week providing assistance and friendship to low-income and isolated older adults, and respite for family members and/or caregivers. For their dedication, the Senior Companions are paid a small stipend and are reimbursed for their transportation. In 2023, 38 Senior Companions provided more than 37,000 hours of in-home companionship and caregiver support to 36 seniors in KCs urban core.
Adventures in Learning - 196 Adventures in Learning volunteers provided programming to 62 repeat participants, for a total of 210 class hours and 1056 volunteer hours. The AIL program facilitated the Evidence-Based program Matter of Balance offering 532 hours fall of prevention class time.
Medicare Assistance Program helps individuals & families understand how to navigate the Medicare system & secure supplemental insurance to meet their changing healthcare needs. The program helps clients enroll in Medicare Advantage Plans, select the best Medicare Supplement Plan & Medicare Part D Prescription Plan annually, file appeals for medical charges believed to be incorrect, enrollment in assistance programs from other state & federal sources, helps replace lost Medicare & Social Security cards & connects clients to other valuable resources through referral. Most clients benefit from meeting with MO CLAIM SHIP trained counselors by saving money and having better access to benefits they are entitled to. In 2023, 7 volunteers provided 1,279 Medicare-eligible individuals with 192 hours of professional, compassionate carrier-agnostic, and free benefits counseling.