2001 Annual Report - Town of South Windsor

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T O W N O F S O U T H W I N D S O R www.southwindsor.org D E P A R T M E N T O F H U M A N S E R V I C E S Point for Older Adults. As such it is a multi-purpose center, providing a program of health, recreational and educational activities for resident’s aged 60 and over. The Senior Center is open 5 days and one evening per week. During this fiscal year the senior center offered a hot meal to seniors 60 years of age and older every day except holidays and weekends (average of 300 meals per month.). The center offered an average of twenty-one weekly ongoing programs and thirteen monthly programs, which include social, educational, health, recreational, or supportive programs. The Center expanded its programs to include day trips to museums, theaters, Riverboat ride, Baseball Games, Rose Garden, etc.. Social Services— Social Services offered to the public include but are not all inclusive of the following list. The Adult and Senior Services Division staff, in addition to office appointments and programmatic duties, made over 370 home visits. SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS Short term crisis counseling Advocacy Case Management Services Income Tax Assistance Handyman Assistance Driver Improvement Special Needs Fund Food & Fuel Bank CT. Fuel Program Legal Assistance Renters Tax Relief Property Tax Relief ConnPace Application Title XIX – Social Security Application Conservator Caregivers Support Group CRT Meals-On-Wheels Weekend Meals Program Friendly Visitors Program (No age restriction) Flu Clinic Home Management Program * Recreation Therapist Benefits Counseling Counseling Holiday Food/Gift Baskets Program Sandman Widow, Widowers Support Group Friendly Shopper Program (New) Grocery Delivery Program (New) * (Partially funded by the State Department of Social Services) Health Information— A major health emphasis continues to be made to provide wellness clinics each month as well as health care screenings and informational talks. Visiting Nurses & Health Services of Connecticut, Inc., staff monthly Elder Wellness clinics, which included footcare, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. We have added monthly health education videos this year as well. The Division worked with the Visiting Nurses & Health Services of Connecticut, Inc. to provide a flu clinic which served over 800 seniors, disabled, and high risk folks. The Town continues to participate in a regional approach to alcohol dependency via a program of outreach counseling through Wheeler Clinic and a monthly support group at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Funding for this program comes from grants from the Area Agency on Aging and Dept. of Health and Addiction Services. 26 2000-2001 ANNUAL REPORT
www.southwindsor.org T O W N O F S O U T H W I N D S O R D E P A R T M E N T O F H U M A N S E R V I C E S seniors. Additionally, special events such as a New Year’s Eve Party, Fat Thursday celebration, Starlight Dinner Dance, Valentine’s Day, Fashion Show, Caregivers Luncheon, Strawberry Shortcake Day, which provides opportunities for socialization, fun, and exercise. Special events draw from 75 to 200 participants and are limited to available space. Outreach— Social Work with multigenerational older adult family caregivers, extended support and professional caregivers continues to be the demand in the area of Senior Services. Cases are managed with an intergenerational approach. Advocacy and/or a coordination of services for these clients coupled with applications for entitlement programs, short-term crisis intervention and social contact in the continuum of care is the primary focus of the outreach component of Senior Services. Recreation Therapy is offered to a special population of older and frail elderly. This program is offered 3 hours a day 3 days a week providing services for elderly who are high risk for premature institutionalization. This program has proven to be a primary community support service that prolongs ones ability to remain in the community several more years before having to looking to a more restrictive setting. Special activities included— Intergenerational Fishing Derby sponsored by the Super Sixty Sportsmen Club; the Senior Picnic (Cosponsored with the Senior Club) had a turnout of 200 seniors. Another annual event, Halloween Happenings, with a Haunted House designed by the Teen Center, story telling and Trick or Treating served approximately 110 preschoolers and 85 The Center continued to support the Fish School (a series of “how to fish classes” for youth), Blue Birdhouse workshops for families and a variety of community Intergenerational activities. The Senior Center has increased its offerings of 55 Alive Safe Driving Classes for older adults by cooperating with the Police Department who has two officers trained to teach the class. The center has formed a partnership with the Timothy Edwards Middle School to use their Computer Lab to teach seniors how to use computers and the Internet. Classes were held 5 days per week during the school year. Well over 100 seniors were taught the basics of computers. Volunteer opportunities were available to utilize the valuable skills of the senior community in the Senior Center, local schools and as Health Screening volunteers. Transportation— Transportation is provided for the Senior and Disabled population via lift equipped buses provided through a grant with Greater Hartford Transit. Part time drivers provided 45-50 driving time hours weekly for Seniors & Disabled residents which also included daily trips to the Senior Center, Manchester Sheltered Workshop, local Medical appointments and some employment locations via a fixed route system. The division also provides linkup transportation for ADA clients using the ADA transit system. 2000-2001 ANNUAL REPORT 27
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2001 Annual Report - Town of South Windsor

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