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Major Investments in Innovative Senior Services
Contacts:
Donisha Greene: (216) 443-7075; dgreene@cuyahogacounty.us
Cleveland, OH – Today, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) announced major investments to senior services in Cuyahoga County totaling over $250,000.
“The needs of seniors have evolved since senior centers were created 50 years ago and now is the time to re-envision the one-size-fits-all approach that has traditionally shaped many of our centers,” said County Executive, Armond Budish. “We will continue improving and providing innovative services to help our growing senior population lead healthier, more dynamic lives and make Cuyahoga County the most age-friendly region in the 21st century.”
DSAS added six new senior centers to its Community Social Services Program (CSSP). These centers will receive a collective total of $163,970 to deliver services to seniors in the City of Cleveland and surrounding Cuyahoga County suburbs.
The six new senior centers will provide the following services:
Additionally, three existing CSSP-funded senior centers are adding the following new services:
With this new funding, DSAS will now fund a total of twenty-eight service providers at 40 senior centers.
“We are delighted to add capacity to these senior centers as we expand our reach into the aging community and help older adults live their best life”, said Dr. Richard L. Jones, DSAS Administrator. “In fact, many of these centers serve communities that are typically underserved. For example, the Hispanic Senior Center not only provides services to the Latino population, but also to refugees from Nepal and other limited-English speaking older adults.”
In early 2016, the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) awarded $25,000 planning grants to four senior center collaboratives to encourage innovation among senior centers providing services to Cuyahoga County’s growing senior population. The progress of these collaboratives has been monitored for several months.
Today DSAS awarded two additional $50,000 grants to two of these collaboratives in an effort to implement their innovative pilot projects by engaging non-traditional organizations in their service delivery, further improving services to seniors in Cuyahoga County.
Engaging older adults in senior centers offers significant benefits because they serve as a gateway to the nation’s aging network, connecting older adults to vital services that help them stay healthy and independent. DSAS will continue its mission to encourage innovation within this network to empower seniors and adults to age successfully.
Donisha Greene: (216) 443-7075; dgreene@cuyahogacounty.us
Cleveland, OH – Today, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) announced major investments to senior services in Cuyahoga County totaling over $250,000.
“The needs of seniors have evolved since senior centers were created 50 years ago and now is the time to re-envision the one-size-fits-all approach that has traditionally shaped many of our centers,” said County Executive, Armond Budish. “We will continue improving and providing innovative services to help our growing senior population lead healthier, more dynamic lives and make Cuyahoga County the most age-friendly region in the 21st century.”
DSAS added six new senior centers to its Community Social Services Program (CSSP). These centers will receive a collective total of $163,970 to deliver services to seniors in the City of Cleveland and surrounding Cuyahoga County suburbs.
The six new senior centers will provide the following services:
- Catholic Charities, Fatima Family Center- Adult Development services
- Catholic Charities, St. Philip Neri Family Center- Adult Development Services
- City of Bedford Heights - Senior Transportation Services
- City of Solon - Adult Development Services
- Eldercare Services Institute, LLC, a division of Benjamin Rose Institute - Adult Day Care Services
- City of Brecksville - Adult Development Services and Congregate Meals (also includes seniors residing in Broadview Heights, North Royalton, Independence and Seven Hills, which comprise the RIBBS Collaborative)
Additionally, three existing CSSP-funded senior centers are adding the following new services:
- Catholic Charities, Hispanic Senior Center - Adult Development
- City of Euclid - Congregate Meals
- East End Neighborhood House Association - Congregate Meals
With this new funding, DSAS will now fund a total of twenty-eight service providers at 40 senior centers.
“We are delighted to add capacity to these senior centers as we expand our reach into the aging community and help older adults live their best life”, said Dr. Richard L. Jones, DSAS Administrator. “In fact, many of these centers serve communities that are typically underserved. For example, the Hispanic Senior Center not only provides services to the Latino population, but also to refugees from Nepal and other limited-English speaking older adults.”
In early 2016, the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) awarded $25,000 planning grants to four senior center collaboratives to encourage innovation among senior centers providing services to Cuyahoga County’s growing senior population. The progress of these collaboratives has been monitored for several months.
Today DSAS awarded two additional $50,000 grants to two of these collaboratives in an effort to implement their innovative pilot projects by engaging non-traditional organizations in their service delivery, further improving services to seniors in Cuyahoga County.
- The Coordinated Programming Initiative (C.P.I.) is an innovative pilot project led by Rose Centers for Aging Well, LLC, -a division of Benjamin Rose Institute. The C.P.I. model will offer a central repository for a variety of evidenced-based and evidenced-informed programs that are accessible to senior centers and other community-based organizations. The Coordinated Programming Initiative will for the first time allow senior centers access to ready-made evidence-based programs without taking on the high administrative costs related to research, program design, and implementation. This strategic partnership includes the City of Cleveland, ESOP (Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People), Fairhill Partners and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
- Communities Assisting Residential Elderly (C.A.R.E.) is a collaboration bringing together eight (8) cities in the region, including Cleveland Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Maple Heights, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, South Euclid and Solon. This project differs from existing home repair and village models because it includes an individualized assessment to evaluate independent living risks and referral services for older homeowners. This project will allow older homeowners to benefit from a personalized service plan that will provide home maintenance and modification at a low cost allowing them to age in place safely and independently. It will enlist corporate, non-profit, civic, school and faith-based partnerships, to recruit and train volunteers, as well as utilize staff from the partner agencies to complete services.
Engaging older adults in senior centers offers significant benefits because they serve as a gateway to the nation’s aging network, connecting older adults to vital services that help them stay healthy and independent. DSAS will continue its mission to encourage innovation within this network to empower seniors and adults to age successfully.
