CHATHAM COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC
261 MILES BRANCH, PITTSBORO, NC 27312 www.chathamcouncilonaging.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS AMONG CHATHAM COUNTY'S OLDER POPULATION THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDES HOME-DELIVERED (MEALS ON WHEELS), FROZEN/SHELF-STABLE, AND CONGREGATE MEALS; IN-HOME PERSONAL CARE; GENERAL AND MEDICAL

TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS AMONG CHATHAM COUNTY'S OLDER POPULATION

THE COUNCIL'S MULTIFACETED NUTRITION PROGRAM IS VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF SENIORS. THE COUNCIL HELPS OLDER ADULTS AT RISK OF MALNUTRITION AND SOCIAL ISOLATION TO EAT A NUTRITIOUS MEAL AND ENJOY THE COMPANY OF OTHERS THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS (MOW), CONGREGATE/SENIOR CENTER MEALS, AND FROZEN AND SHELF-STABLE MEALS. IN 2019, OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS DELIVERED MEALS ON WHEELS ON 12 ROUTES THROUGHOUT CHATHAM COUNTY TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS, MANY OF WHOM LIVE ALONE. THE COUNCIL'S TWO SENIOR CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE OFFER A NOON-DAY MEAL AND ACTIVITIES. FOR SENIORS WHO CANNOT ATTEND THE CENTERS AND ARE NOT ON MOW ROUTES, THE COUNCIL OFFERS FROZEN MEALS, WHICH ALSO AVOIDS FOOD WASTAGE. ALL MEALS ARE PRODUCED BY THE COUNCIL. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL MAINTAINS A SUPPLY OF SHELF-STABLE MEALS FOR USE IN ADVERSE WEATHER AND OVER HOLIDAYS. IN TOTAL, ABOUT 387 SENIORS RECEIVED 29,458 MEALS IN 2019. THESE NUTRITIONAL SERVICES ARE VITAL TO HELPING VULNERABLE SENIORS REMAIN LIVING SAFELY AT HOME. AMONG MOW CLIENTS, 93% FEEL THEIR OVERALL HEALTH HAS IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF MEALS AND 97% SAY MEALS ON WHEELS HAS HELPED THEM REMAIN AT HOME. AS ONE MOW CLIENT ATTESTS: "IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US SENIORS TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE CARES ENOUGH TO BRING US A MEAL-OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT EAT A NUTRITIOUS MEAL ON SOME DAYS. I ALSO REALLY ENJOY THE VOLUNTEER VISITS AND CONVERSATION." ANOTHER RECIPIENT CALLED THE MOW VOLUNTEERS "ANGELS". IN 2020, THE COUNCIL HAD TO ALTER ITS MEALS PROGRAM DUE TO COVID-19. IT STILL PROVIDED MEALS AND SUPPLIES, BUT HAD TO REPLACE HOT MEALS WITH FROZEN AND SHELF-STABLE MEALS AND COULD NOT USE ITS VOLUNTEERS, MOST OF WHOM ARE SENIORS.

THE COUNCIL OFFERS AN IN-HOME AIDE (IHA) PERSONAL CARE SERVICE AND RESPITE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS USING STATE-LICENSED HOME CARE AGENCIES. THE COUNCIL ARRANGES FOR IN-HOME AIDES TO PROVIDE PERSONAL CARE, MEAL PREPARATION, AND OTHER TASKS THAT FRAIL ELDERLY CANNOT DO FOR THEMSELVES AND THESE AIDES ARE ALSO USED TO OFFER RESPITE TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS. SIMILAR TO ITS NUTRITION SERVICES, THE COUNCIL OFFERS ITS IN-HOME PERSONAL CARE AND RESPITE TO HELP FRAIL ELDERLY REMAIN LIVING SAFELY AT HOME. THE CARE PLAN IS CUSTOMIZED TO EACH PARTICULAR CLIENT'S NEEDS AND FAMILY SUPPORTS. ABOUT 104 SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2019, RECEIVING 22,010 HOURS OF SERVICE. THE TYPICAL IHA CLIENT BEING AN 82 YEAR OLD FEMALE WHO LIVES ALONE. AMONG IN-HOME AIDE CLIENTS, 95% SAW THEIR NUTRITIONAL HEALTH IMPROVE OR BE MAINTAINED AND 83% MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED THEIR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. THE SERVICE HELPS DELAY, IF NOT AVOID, PLACEMENT IN A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY 9 OF 64 RESPITE CLIENTS HAD TO MOVE INTO FACILITY CARE BETWEEN APRIL 2015 AND JUNE 2020. AS ONE FAMILY CAREGIVER NOTED, "FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE COUNCIL HAS ASSISTED MY MOTHER IN CARING FOR MY BEDRIDDEN FATHER. OUR FAMILY THANKS YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED. YOUR STAFF IS WONDERFUL, PROFESSIONAL AND LOYAL TO THE CAUSE."

THE COUNCIL PROVIDES GENERAL AND MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THROUGH CHATHAM TRANSIT, THE LOCAL COORDINATED SYSTEM WHICH PROMOTES COLLABORATION AND EFFICIENCIES. THE COUNCIL ARRANGES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF OLDER ADULTS TO ITS TWO SENIOR CENTERS FOR NOON-DAY LUNCH AND ACTIVITIES (ON 8 ROUTES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY), FOR STOPS AT THE GROCERY STORE AND PHARMACY, FOR TRIPS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, AND OCCASIONALLY FOR OUTINGS (E.G., FARMERS MARKETS, MUSEUMS). ABOUT 357 SENIORS BENEFITED BY RECEIVING 20,437 RIDES IN 2019. LACK OF TRANSPORTATION CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO INDEPENDENT LIVING. AS A STUDY OF CHATHAM BY UNC PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS CONCLUDED "TRANSPORTATION IS AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. INCOME AND AGE ARE THE MOST DIRECT BARRIERS TO ACCESSING MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION. THE ELDERLY ARE AN ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE SUB-POPULATION; THEREFORE, SPECIALIZED EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO HELP TARGET AND ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC BARRIERS THEY FACE." AS ONE SENIOR CENTER PARTICIPANT PUT IT, "THE TRANSPORTATION YOU PROVIDE IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE." COVID-19 ALSO HAD AN EFFECT ON TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY GENERAL TRANSPORTATION.

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