CHATHAM COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC

THE COUNCIL ON AGING'S MULTIFACETED NUTRITION PROGRAM IS VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHATHAM COUNTY'S OLDER ADULTS. THE COUNCIL ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF MALNUTRITION AND SOCIAL ISOLATION BY PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS (MOW), CONGREGATE NUTRITION, AND FROZEN AND SHELF-STABLE MEALS. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS DELIVER MEALS ON WHEELS ON 12 ROUTES THROUGHOUT CHATHAM COUNTY TO HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS, MANY OF WHOM LIVE ALONE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A DAILY MEAL, VOLUNTEERS ALSO PROVIDED A WELLNESS CHECK TO ENSURE THE CLIENT'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. THE COUNCIL'S TWO SENIOR CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE ALSO SERVE AS CONGREGATE NUTRITION SITES AND OFFER A NOON-TIME MEAL AND ACTIVITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE NOT HOMEBOUND OR DO NOT QUALIFY FOR MEALS ON WHEELS. FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ON A MEALS ON WHEELS ROUTE AND CANNOT OR DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND A CONGREGATE NUTRITION SITE, THE AGENCY OFFERS FROZEN MEALS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, 21,308 HOT MEALS, 620 FROZEN MEALS, AND 140 SHELF STABLE MEALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM. DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, 11,608 HOT MEALS WERE SERVED TO THE CONGREGATE NUTRITION CLIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, 7,340 FROZEN MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO OPTED TO NOT RECEIVE DAILY MEAL DELIVERIES THROUGH THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, THEIR ADDRESS DID NOT FALL WITHIN A CURRENT MOW ROUTE, OR THEY DID NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN A CONGREGATE NUTRITION SITE.

THE COUNCIL OFFERS AN IN-HOME AIDE (IHA) PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR PERSONAL CARE NEEDS, AS WELL AS RESPITE CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE PROVIDING CARE TO THEIR LOVED ONE. THE COUNCIL MAINTAINS CONTRACTS WITH STATE-LICENSED HOME CARE AGENCIES FOR THESE SERVICES. IN-HOME AIDES PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH PERSONAL CARE, MEAL PREPARATION, HOUSEKEEPING, AND OTHER TASKS THAT OLDER ADULTS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY CANNOT DO FOR THEMSELVES. ADDITIONALLY, RESPITE SERVICES PROVIDED TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS ALLOWS THE CAREGIVER TO TAKE A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK, TEND TO OTHER TASKS, OR HANDLE SOME OF THEIR OWN NEEDS OR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ALL WHILE KNOWING THEIR LOVED ONE IS BEING CARED FOR. CARE PLANS ARE CUSTOMIZED TO EACH CLIENT'S SPECIFIC NEEDS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, A TOTAL OF 8,228 HOURS OF IN-HOME ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE IHA PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, 370 HOURS OF RESPITE CARE WAS PROVIDED FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.