Project Grant 20SCSSC001

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 GOAL 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 STANDING 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 FOCUS AREA- HEALTHY FUTURES AND WILL ALLOW AGING IN PLACE UTILIZING TWO SERVICE AREAS: (1) INDEPENDENT LIVING AND (2) RESPITE SERVICES. THE SCP WILL UTILIZE 1 SCP VOLUNTEER STATION TO ACCOMPLISH SCP PROJECT GOALS: (1) SENIOR SERVICES INC. OF CHESTER COUNTY. WHILE WORKING WITH THE 1 SCP VOLUNTEER STATIONS, THE SCP VOLUNTEERS WILL COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS IN HOMES BY PROVIDING SERVICE ACTIVITIES WHICH FACILITATE PERSONAL CARE, RESPITE SERVICES, NUTRITION, SOCIAL/RECREATION, HOME MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION/ADVOCACY. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021, SENIOR SERVICES IS SEEKING FOR THE SCP TO MAINTAIN AN AVERAGE OF 24 FEDERALLY FUNDED VSY'S FOR A TOTAL OF 25,056 HOURS. THE TOTAL FUNDING LEVEL FOR THE 24 VSY'S AT A FIXED RATE OF $6500 PER VSY'S IS ANTICIPATED AT $75,168 FOR STIPENDS AND A TOTAL FY 20 SCP PROGRAM FUNDING LEVEL OF $156,095. 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.