Neighbor-to-Neighbor

Challenge:
Initiative:
Lead Partner:
Description:
Expanding services to vulnerable seniors, including educational, financial, social and
physical development.
Money Management Bill Payers
Senior Connections
This initiative will expand opportunities for vulnerable seniors residing in Richmond to
broaden their learning skills through one-on-one guidance from volunteers within the City
of Richmond government (employees), partnering financial agencies, as well as the general
public.
Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, is a private nonprofit, 501(c)
(3) organization. The mission of the Agency is to help older adults maintain their independence
in their homes and communities with support to prevent or delay more costly
services such as assisted living, nursing home care, and repeat hospital visits. The Agency
has served the City of Richmond and other localities in Virginia Planning District 15 since
1973. There are 25 Area Agencies on Aging in Virginia and almost 700 throughout the
United States.
As a regional organization, Senior Connections serves as the umbrella for home and community
based programs that meet a range of needs. The Agency also serves as a community
resource for seniors, persons with disabilities and caregivers. Senior Connections
has many volunteer opportunities to engage older adults as well as multi-generations.
Volunteers provide support services to seniors in need, address issues that adversely impact
the community, give of their time to advocate on public policy concerns and donate
hours to help government and nonprofit groups deliver products and activities. While
Senior Connections promotes volunteer opportunities for all ages, it especially encourages
individuals age 55 and older to become involved with civic engagement that matches their
time availability, interest, expertise and experience. The contributions of volunteers significantly
impact the Community’s overall economy, wellbeing and vitality.
The Money Management Bill Payers initiative matches volunteers with seniors who need
help managing their personal finances. This includes assisting with writing checks to pay
bills, balancing checking accounts and planning budgets. Many of the seniors assisted have
health, cognitive or financial problems that prevent them from managing their business
affairs. They may either forget to pay monthly bills or do not have the resources to do
so. Some have gotten into trouble with credit card debt. The Program’s volunteers visit the
homes of the seniors they assist at least once a month to write out checks for bills, help
balance their checkbooks, and assist with budget ing. Volunteers also help identify other
resources that may be available to the seniors. These volunteers are on the front line
for helping vulnerable seniors age in place suc cessfully and remain in their homes and
communities. This is also a preventive program that can help reduce fraud and financial
exploitation of vulnerable elderly citizens who must rely on others to manage their financial
affairs.
The Money Management Program currently has 50 volunteers, and this N2N initiative will
expand it to provide more volunteers who assist more seniors. Current goals are to expand
the program by 200% to serve more than 150 seniors - with more than 150 volunteers
- thereby significantly helping Richmond’s senior population better manage their
personal finances.
www.richmondgov.com/neighbortoneighbor
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