BACK
TAKE PRIDE - JULY 2008
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY HOUSE:
A COMMUNITY THAT GIVES BACK TO SENIOR CITIZENS
It is often said that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. Here at United Methodist Community House (UMCH), this particular saying serves as motivation to further strengthen our focus on improving and maintaining the functioning level of seniors through approaches that address the needs of their body,
mind, and spirit.
Senior citizens have accumulated so much knowledge and pearls of wisdom that are beneficial to us in many ways, that it is only right that we give back to them as well. Through our successful Outreach/Assistance and Literacy senior programs at United Methodist Community House, we make that happen.
The UMCH Senior Outreach and Assistance Program assists seniors who do not normally use existing health and social services by informing them about available community resources, and helping them access the services they may need.
These services include;
- Helping seniors complete forms/paperwork, taxes, and applications for assistance and/or insurance
- Accompanying seniors to professional, medical, and legal visits, as well as the bank, grocery store etc.
- Advocating and arranging for seniors to obtain services such as: personal care, home repairs, meals, assistive equipment, and disease prevention/health promotion.
- Telephone calls / home visits for care co-ordination.
- Community Presentations
Along with these services, we also utilize community resources to meet the needs of seniors. Through our partnerships with the Area Agency on Aging and Senior Meals, we help seniors with disabilities live in their community with independence and dignity, while also delivering over approximately 200 nutritious meals each day to homebound senior citizens in our community.
In conjunction with the Outreach and Assistance Senior Program is our Senior Literacy Program. Literacy is the key to opportunity and through our program we provide literacy assistance for seniors who have either never had the opportunity to learn to read, or have low literacy skills. As a result of this assistance, seniors are able
to reach their own personal literacy goals.
For example, Mary, a participant in the Senior Literacy Program, used to need assistance on her visits to the grocery store because she was unable to read due the prices on her groceries. With the help of the literacy program, Mary can now recognize the prices and successfully grocery shop on her own without the worry of going over her budget.
For information regarding senior programs, please feel free to contact Anita Christopher at (616) 452-3226.