Project Grant 17SCSSC002

SENIOR SERVICES INC. OF CHESTER COUNTY (SSICC) IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1973 WITH A MISSION OF DEVELOPING, FOSTERING, AND ENCOURAGING SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES OF HEALTH, WELLNESS, EDUCATION, AND FELLOWSHIP AMONG OLDER CITIZENS THROUGHOUT CHESTER COUNTY. SSICC'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HELP ALL SENIORS REMAIN HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, AND SAFE WITHIN THEIR HOMES FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THROUGH PROGRAMMING, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COLLABORATIONS, SSICC MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO MAXIMIZE AND/OR IMPROVE THE LIVES OF SENIORS AND/OR THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES IN THE HOME. IN AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION THROUGH THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM, THE AGENCY FOSTERS, POSITIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS, RECRUITMENT AND VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE BY MARKETING ITSELF AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS OF OTHER HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY EXPOS AND HEALTH FAIRS. THE MISSION OF THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM (SCP), IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE PERSON-TO-PERSON SERVICES THROUGH ASSIGNMENTS MADE BY SCP VOLUNTEER STATIONS BY PERFORMING SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO HAVE EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, IN-HOME CARE NEEDS, AND CARETAKER RESPITE SERVICES. THESE GOALS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING TWO HEALTHY FUTURES-AGING IN PLACE FOCUS AREAS UTILIZING TWO SERVICE AREAS: (1) ADVANCING BETTER LIVING FOR ELDERS, AND (2) COMPANIONSHIP. THE SCP WILL UTILIZE 3 SCP VOLUNTEER STATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH SCP PROJECT GOALS: (1) SENIOR SERVICES INC. OF CHESTER COUNTY, (2) HOSPICE CARE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND (3) CHESTER ACTIVE DAY CARE. WHILE WORKING WITH THE 3 SCP VOLUNTEER STATIONS, THE SCP VOLUNTEERS WILL COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS IN HOMES AND AT 1 FACILITY BY PROVIDING SERVICE ACTIVITIES WHICH FACILITATE PERSONAL CARE, NUTRITION, SOCIAL/RECREATION, HOME MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION/ADVOCACY. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017-2018, SENIOR SERVICES IS SEEKING FOR THE SCP TO MAINTAIN AN AVERAGE OF 23 VSY'S FOR A TOTAL OF 24,012 HOURS. THE FEDERAL FUNDING LEVEL FOR THE 23 VSY'S AT A FIXED RATE OF $6000 PER VSY'S IS ANTICIPATED AT $136,500. THE LOCAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE AGENCY IS ANTICIPATED AT $13,650. AS A RESULT OF SCP IN CHESTER COUNTY, IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE SCP WILL ADDRESS THE IN-HOME NEEDS OF THE MANY OLDER INDIVIDUALS LIVING ALONE DETERMINED TO HAVE SELF-CARE LIMITATIONS AND PROVIDE RESPITE CARE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO SERVE AS CAREGIVERS FOR AN AGED SPOUSE OR FAMILY MEMBER. ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THESE TWO PLACEMENTS PRESENTLY RECEIVE LIMITED CARE. BY USING SCP VOLUNTEERS WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK THE ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANCILLARY RESOURCES AND MORE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION WHICH CREATES GROWTH IN THEIR PERSONAL FUNCTIONING AND LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN DAY TO DAY LIVING WHICH FACILITATES 'AGING IN PLACE.' IN ADDITION TO THE PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF AGING, OTHER ANTICIPATED SCP OUTCOMES ARE THAT IN-HOME ELDERLY CLIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES INDEPENDENTLY VERSUS BEING PLACED IN GROUP OR INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS AND CAREGIVERS WILL BECOME LESS RESTRAINED, ENJOY LIFE, AND BE ENERGIZED IN ORDER TO POSITIVELY CARE FOR THEIR HOMEBOUND ELDERLY.