The Council on Aging for Henderson County was formed by a group of concerned local community members who wanted to ensure that an agency existed that focused solely on the safety and well-being of the older adults in the Henderson County community. This was realized on May 9th, 1969 when the Council on Aging incorporated as a private, non-profit agency and started operations at the Southern Railway Company’s old passenger depot.
Although originally designed as a “council of agencies†that brought together other organizations that provided services for older adults, it soon became evident that unaffiliated volunteers were willing to contribute money or time in aiding those handicapped as a result of infirmities attributed to aging. Starting with those volunteer contributions, and with the help of governmental funds from the several sources and organizations like the Land of Sky Regional Council and United Way, the Council on Aging began to grow and develop its own programs that provided services for the older adults in Henderson County.
The first program the Council on Aging developed was the Visiting Nurse program, where nurses would visit homebound older adults unable to leave their homes to go visit the doctor. From this program, such things as a Visiting Committee, a Hearing Aid Program, and the development of the first nutrition site were done by the Council on Aging.
In the fall of 1978, federal funds became available under the Older American’s Act to employ a director full-time to assist the Council in becoming the “Local Point on Aging†in Henderson County. This allowed the agency to take a larger role in providing services for the older adults in Henderson County.
Beginning in 1981, the Council on Aging initiated a home-delivered meal program to supplement the Meals on Wheels program at the time run by the Department of Social Services. By 1996, the Council on Aging was awarded Block Grant money for home-delivered meals and had taken over the county wide delivery of the Meals on Wheels program and have provided the service to homebound older adults ever since!
In 1998, the congregate meals program at the Sammy Williams Center was started, and has provided older adults 60 and above an opportunity to socialize and enjoy a hot meal every Monday through Friday ever since.
The Partnership for Independent Living, established in 2005, is a partnership between the Council on Aging and the Department of Social Services where professional social workers and support staff who assist the older adults in Henderson County with remaining independent and living in their own homes for as long as possible by coordinating appropriate services within the community.
We provide and coordinate services to keep the older adults of Henderson County living independently.
Meals on Wheels
Our Meals on Wheels program delivers over 1,000 meals a week with the help of over 125 volunteers. In the past two years we have garnered the support of 205 volunteers. Many of the recipients of this service would not be able to remain in their homes without it. Limiting time spent cooking meals helps minimize falls which are the number one reason for elderly 911 calls. According to the CDC, in 2013, 2.5 million nonfatal falls among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 734,000 of these patients were hospitalized. The resulting cost was $34 billion. Any time an ambulance responds to a call, it costs Henderson County $400.
Many seniors opt for less healthy options to eliminate the need to cook or prepare a meal. Our nutritionist-planned meals cover 1/3 of their daily nutritional needs. We average over 46,000 meals delivered per year. FY 2014/2015 we served 370 people. It is projected that we will serve 400 in FY 2015/2016.
This program is more than just a meal. Through our volunteers, we are able to assess other needs and concerns around the home through a visual check and chatting with the clients. According to a study by AARP and Meals on Wheels of America, these visits “reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation†and help them “eat healthier…and feel safer.†http://goo.gl/DDjfoO.
“Lunch at the Sammyâ€
Our congregate meal program takes place at the Sammy Williams Center for Active Living. Meals are donated by Carolina Village and service is provided by Council on Aging staff and volunteers. In addition to meals, the Center provides exercise classes, technology classes, and other learning opportunities. This program not only provides 1/3 of attendees' daily nutrition, it also provides much needed socialization. The friendships formed at the Center between its members are of immeasurable value.
Partnership for Independent Living
A community collaboration between the Council on Aging for Henderson County and the Henderson County Department of Social Services, the Partnership for Independent Living allows social workers to advocate for older adult residents. It is a model program within the state of North Carolina. It is the only intensive, case management program in Henderson County providing ongoing, non-medical case management to at-risk and high-risk older adults. By maintaining or improving their ability to feel independent, self-sufficient and confident, this advocacy ensures that needed in-home services are provided and monitored.
The majority of our clients would be unable to live independently, and most would probably be institutionalized, without the support and advocacy of this program. In the past two years, the Partnership for Independent Living has assisted over 175 individuals in remaining independent and safe in their own homes. This saves the community a tremendous amount of money, as well as supports the goal of an individual's right to self-determination.
Information & Assistance
Information and Assistance is a service designed to link older adults with resources available to meet their needs and/or interests. It also helps to collect information about unmet needs in the community. “Information†informs people about programs and services by identifying the types of assistance they need and connecting them to appropriate service providers. “Assistanceâ€, on the other hand, is a comprehensive service for those persons who need more in-depth help. According to the service standards “Assistance includes the provision of planning, referral, coordination of services, follow-up and advocacy on behalf of the older adult or their family.†Assistance may also include a home visit to gather more information and identify needs so support may be offered and initiated.
Often people are unsure of where to start or which services are available to them. Our Information and Assistance staff field calls from older adults, their children, and caregivers about available services whether they be through the agency or other organizations. Through these calls and in-person appointments, we identify need, eligibility, and point them in the right direction whether it be through one of our programs or other area agencies. Last year our Information and Assistance staff served 724 individuals.
