LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC

HOME DELIVERED MEALS - MEALS ON WHEELS ARE DELIVERED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. EACH SENIOR RECEIVED A NUTRITIOUS MEAL PLUS TWO OPTIONAL FROZEN MEALS FOR WEEKENDS, CASUAL CONVERSATION AND SAFETY CHECK-IN FOR THE 1,222 SENIORS TOTALING 199,756 MEALS SERVED IN 2023. OF THE 577 SENIORS NEW TO THE PROGRAM, 76% WERE AT HIGH NUTRITIONAL RISK. MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDES A SERVICE THAT ENABLES MANY SENIORS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN THEIR OWN HOME BY RECEIVING MEAL ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OR SHOP, HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING OR STANDING TO PREPARE A MEAL OR LIVE WITHIN MODEST MEANS. THE PROGRAM HAS A MINIMAL SUGGESTED DONATION OF 2.50 PER MEAL. BUT, A MEAL IS GIVEN TO THE RECIPIENT SENIOR REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO DONATE. THE AGENCY DOES NOT KEEP TRACK OF ANY SENIOR WHO DONATES SO THAT EACH DONATION IS SOMEWHAT "ANONYMOUS". THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HOME DELIVERED MEAL CLIENTS; SUPPLEMENTAL PET FOOD, COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD AND FRESH PRODUCE, WERE MAINTAINED OR EXPANDED IN 2023. THE PURPOSE OF THESE SUPPORT PROGRAMS IS TO BRING MORE NUTRITION INTO A SENIOR'S LIFE BY DELIVERING FRESH AND SHELF-STABLE FOOD AND REDUCING SENIOR FOOD INSECURITY. 1,675 PACKS OF PET FOOD WERE PROVIDED TO 125 CLIENTS AND THEIR 258 PETS, 169 COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD BOXES WERE PROVIDED TO 19 CLIENTS AND 569 BOXES OF FRESH PRODUCE WAS PROVIDED TO 72 CLIENTS. THE AGENCY HOSTED THE BLIZZARD BAG ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE AS PART OF OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SUBARU SHARE THE LOVE EVENT FUNDRAISER WHICH PROVIDED 152 SENIORS WITH A BLIZZARD BAG SUPPLY OF 2-3 DAYS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD.

SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES IN 2023, THE SOCIAL WORKERS AT COUNCIL ON AGING CONTINUED TO PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO LAKE COUNTY'S SENIOR POPULATION AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM. THE TEAM OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS CONDUCTS HOME VISITS TO ASSESS EACH CLIENT'S CURRENT ABILITIES, CHALLENGES, AND STRENGTHS TO BEST DEVELOP A CARE PLAN TO HELP THAT INDIVIDUAL MOVE FORWARD IN MAINTAINING A HEALTHY OVERALL WELL-BEING IN THE HOME SETTING. THE SOCIAL WORKERS IDENTIFY AREAS OF NEED WITH THE CLIENT AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM AND HELP BUILD CONNECTIONS TO ASSIST IN THOSE AREAS. THE SOCIAL WORKERS ASSIST CLIENTS BY LINKING THEM TO COUNCIL ON AGING'S SERVICES AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SOME CLIENTS MAY PRESENT WITH MORE COMPLEX ISSUES AND CONCERNS SUCH AS A LACK OF SUPPORT, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES, AND FOOD INSECURITY. SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO CLIENTS WITH REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND ENSURING THE PROCESS IS WELL-COORDINATED AND COMPLETED. THE SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO SERVING THE SENIOR POPULATION IN LAKE COUNTY TO ENSURE THEY ACHIEVE AN OPTIMAL, SELF- DEFINED QUALITY OF LIFE. 2023 SOCIAL WORK SERVICES: PROVIDED SERVICES TO 1,419 UNDUPLICATED SENIORS PROVIDED 1,803 HOME VISITS COMPLETED 677 INITIAL PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED 567 ANNUAL REASSESSMENTS COMPLETED 3,676.5 SERVICE HOURS