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| Year in Review 2006 |
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Case Management Program Case Managers helped elders with applications and problem solving regarding supportive programs such as Fuel Assistance, SSI, Medicaid, Medicaid Waiver, Food Stamps, etc. Case Management staff also provided support and assistance to frail and vulnerable elders who were facing long term care placement. Case Managers assisted those who wished to remain independent access services and supports such as the Choices for Care Program which can prevent or delay nursing home placement. Case Managers served 1,559 elders this year. Senior HelpLine Our Senior HelpLine provided easy access to information about available elder services and programs. This phone line is used by elderly persons and their families, friends or neighbors, other service agencies and hospital staff. Calls to the Senior HelpLine put people in touch with our programs and, through referral, with other service providers who work with elders. 5,776 calls were processed during FY ‘06; 1,830 of these calls were related to Medicare D. Elder Service Clinician Under a contract with United Counseling Service in Bennington and Rutland Mental Health in Rutland, the Council provided “Elder Service Clinician” services in our region. Our Elder Care Clinicians provided in-home mental health support to 67 elders this year. Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) This important program helped elders deal with the complex issues related to health insurance benefits. Out of 3,390 contacts, 3,195 were contacts related to Medicare Part D assistance. This new federal program had elders very upset and confused. In reality, our full staff helped elders through this maze. SHIP staff led and/or participated in 60 Medicare D educational events that were attended by 1,248 people. Community Education Weekly newspaper columns, written by Barbara Hanson, continue to provide information on issues of importance to elders in our region. These columns appear in the Rutland Herald and the Bennington Banner. She also does a column in the Meadows at East Mountain bi-monthly newsletter, The Messenger and The Circle, a Rutland Town publication Council on Aging staff have responded to numerous requests for presentations, classroom trainings, workshops and technical assistance in program development for community-based senior groups during the past year. The Council welcomes any opportunity to offer gerontological education in the communities we serve.
Senior Companion Program(SCP) SVCOA serves as the host agency for the Senior Companion Program in our region. Companions worked with homebound adults in need of regular contact and personal attention because of emotional and/or physical frailty. Supervision is provided by case management staff. Our 15 Companions, who receive a small stipend for this service, worked with more than 100 individuals this year. Community Resource Development In Bennington County, our Community Development staff continued to support eight senior groups. They worked with Danby Seniors to facilitate a new restaurant luncheon program at the Silas Griffith Inn which is enjoyed by over 30 seniors on a monthly basis. In Stamford, new senior housing, which was the top need identified by the Community Development survey process, is moving toward becoming a reality. Stamford seniors, working with the town leaders of Stamford and state housing funders, have completed their feasibility study and have identified a desirable location for the project. Rutland County Community Development staff continued to provide technical assistance to region’s 16 senior groups. They helped the newly formed Mt. Holly seniors establish a restaurant luncheon program on a monthly basis at Harry’s and the Odd Fellows Hall. Staff also worked with seniors to complete the survey process in Wallingford. The new Wallingford senior group is now offering two programs a month including guest speakers and activities. Staff also worked with seniors in Pittsford to begin the survey process in that town. Neighbor to Neighbor AmeriCorps Program SVCOA is the host agency for AmeriCorps members who have been providing a variety of services for elders within our Case Management and Community Development Departments. Two members helped coordinate the efforts of 11 students who provided over 364 hours of chore service to 30 elders. Another SVCOA AmeriCorps member provided support to Bardwell House residents helping them develop educational, cultural and physical exercise events. She also helped recruit volunteer drivers to deliver meals in Rutland. In Bennington County, one AmeriCorps member assisted case managers in their work with clients and another member worked with residents at Walloomsac and Brookside Senior Housing sites to develop new programs and also assisted some residents on a one to one basis.
Nutrition Program The Council provided meal service through contracts with the Bennington County Meals Program (BCMP) and Fitz-Vogt and Associates which serves most of Rutland County. Additional service in Rutland County is provided through contracts with the Young at Heart Senior Center and the Wheel Inn in Benson. Service is also available in cooperation with senior groups in Benson, Brandon, Chittenden, Castleton, Dorset, Fair Haven, Manchester, Mt. Holly, Killington, Proctor, West Rutland, a combined group in Arlington, Sandgate and Sunderland and in Bennington, North Bennington and Danby/Mt. Tabor. 210,265 meals were served to 2,778 elderly persons in our region during the past year. 140,087 of these were delivered through Meals on Wheels to 957 elders. These meals reached the majority of the 40 towns in our service area and were delivered to individuals whose health condition or isolation made it impossible for them to join with others at community luncheon sites. In addition to the meal, the personal contact at the time of delivery provided a valuable check on the well-being of persons who are alone. Again this year, the Council provided more than 800 “Blizzard Bags” containing three shelf stable meals to Meals on Wheels participants and other vulnerable elders. These meals were packaged for use in weather related or other emergency situations. United Way of Rutland County helped support the Meals on Wheels Program in its county and The United Way of Bennington County provided partial funding for meals served in Bennington county. 70,178 meals were served at luncheon sites in our region and 1,961 older persons participated in the program. Sites vary in their days of operation, but each offers an opportunity to share good food and good company. With the help of “Successful Aging” monies, we provided elders with individualized nutrition education sessions with the Council’s Registered Dietician. In addition to this, a pilot breakfast program was continued in Rutland with the help of outside funding sources. Volunteer Opportunities SVCOA programs provided meaningful opportunities for 206 volunteers in our region. We are grateful to these volunteers who served as Board and Advisory Council members, meal drivers and servers, Peer Counselors, Senior Companions, SHIP and Money Management volunteers, or Community Development partners. National Family Caregiver Support Program The Council continued to support caregivers in our region by providing caregiver information through our Senior HelpLine, and our lending library of books and videos. In addition, our agency is responsible for administering the Alzheimer Dementia Respite Grant Progrm for our region, and awarded 87 grants to eligible caregivers. Six NFCSP grants were made to a variety of community providers in our region including Bennington Project Independence, the Bennington Free Library, GRASP, the Pawlet Library and the Rutland and Bennington Caregiver Coalitions. SVCOA’s NFCSP coordinator worked with the Rutland Caregiver Coalition to present two daylong conferences with over 100 people attending, our workshop sessions on caregiver issues as well as a weekly caregiver “coffee hour”. In total, 605 caregivers were assisted by Council on Aging staff.
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