ELDERNET OF LOWER MERION AND NARBERTH

FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, ELDERNET OF LOWER MERION AND NARBERTH HAS SERVED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY HELPING TO ENSURE THAT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME LOCAL SENIORS (AGE 60+) AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES CAN LEAD FULL AND INDEPENDENT LIVES AND REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITY. ELDERNET CONTINUES TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET WHILE ALSO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS BOUNDARIES AND PROVIDING THE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS THAT ARE PROVEN TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND LIFE EXPECTANCY OF OLDER ADULTS. ELDERNET TO DECREASES OLDER ADULT ISOLATION, PROVIDES HUNGER RELIEF, BROADENS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AND PROMOTES THE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE THAT ALLOWS OLDER ADULTS TO AGE SAFELY IN THEIR HOMES. WITH OUR EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS, ELDERNET OFFERS THREE MAIN PROGRAMS TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY: VOLUNTEER SERVICES, COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AND FOOD PANTRY, AND CARE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. ALL ELDERNET'S PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE FIRST SCREENED FOR ELIGIBILITY BY SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR CARE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. VOLUNTEER SERVICESELDERNET VOLUNTEERS DRIVE PARTICIPANTS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ERRANDS. THEY VISIT PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR HOMES AND ASSIST WITH ODD JOBS AS NEEDED. LAST FISCAL YEAR, 139 VOLUNTEERS WORKED 6,439 VOLUNTEER HOURS PROVIDING 2,122 ROUND-TRIP RIDES TO 144 PARTICIPANTS. THIS IMPORTANT SERVICE ENABLES PARTICIPANTS TO REMAIN HEALTHY AT HOME WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THEM WITH A PERSONAL ESCORT TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS. THIS SOCIAL INTERACTION IS ALSO CRUCIAL TO THE HEALTH OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND THE VALUE OF THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS THAT OFTEN DEVELOP BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS CANNOT BE QUANTIFIED.COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AND FOOD PANTRYTHE LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP 2022 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT SHOWED THAT FOOD INSECURITY WAS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS FACING RESIDENTS. GOVERNMENT CUTS EARLIER THIS YEAR TO THE BENEFITS THAT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE TO LESSEN FOOD INSECURITY HAVE ONLY INTENSIFIED THAT NEEDED. THE CENTER AND PANTRY PROVIDE A PLACE FOR QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS TO SHOP FOR FRESH PRODUCE, MILK, BREAD, MEAT AND PRE-PACKAGED AND CANNED FOOD. MANY PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, LIKE TOILET PAPER, CANNOT BE PURCHASED WITH GOVERNMENT BENEFITS SO REMAIN IN GREAT DEMAND AT THE PANTRY SO MUCH SO THAT KEEPING IT SUFFICIENTLY STOCKED IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE. LAST FISCAL YEAR, 40 VOLUNTEERS WORKED 2,010 VOLUNTEER HOURS DISTRIBUTING 101,650 POUNDS OF FOOD VALUED AT $201,268 TO 2,174 PARTICIPANTS. THE DIRE NEED FOR THIS SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR THE POUNDAGE OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED HAS INCREASED BY ALMOST 40%.CARE MANAGEMENTWITH SUPPORT FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING AND ADULT SERVICES, ELDERNET IS THE ONLY INTENSIVE SERVICES PROVIDER TO SENIORS IN THE TOWNSHIP. THIS SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY TWO LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS IN ACCESSING BENEFITS AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM TO REMAIN HEALTHY IN THEIR HOMES. ELDERNET'S SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE CARE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT TOUCHED EVERY PARTICIPANT WHO AVAILED THEMSELVES OF OUR SERVICES EACH YEAR. LAST FISCAL YEAR, 281 UNDUPLICATED PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE HELPED. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO BE ONE OF THREE SIS (SENIOR INTENSIVE SERVICES) PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY AND WE ARE THE ONLY PROVIDER IN LOWER MERION.