Berks Encore Inc

TO DEVELOP AGING-CONFIDENT INDIVIDUALS TO ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE WELL LATER IN LIFE

SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER SERVICES:PROVIDES OLDER ADULTS, 60 YEARS AND OVER (AND SPOUSES) WITH A NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED NOON MEAL IN A CONGREGATE SETTING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CONSISTING OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, COMPANIONSHIP, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, HEALTH SCREENINGS, EXERCISE CLASSES, ARTS/CRAFTS, GAMES, EDUCATION, COMPUTER INSTRUCTION, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. IN 2021, THERE WERE 48,214 PARTICIPANT VISITS AND 24,953 CONGREGATE MEALS SERVED AT OUR 6 SENIOR CENTER SITES. DURING THE COVID SHUTDOWN, CLASSES AND PROGRAMS WERE HELD VIRTUALLY AND MEALS WERE SERVED AS TAKE-OUT ONLY. CERTIFIED AND MASTER TRAINERS PROVIDE EDUCATION IN THE EVIDENCED-BASED PROGRAMS: CHRONIC DISEASE SELF-MANAGEMENT, A MATTER OF BALANCE FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM, HEALTHY STEPS IN MOTION, DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND CHRONIC PAIN SELF-MANAGEMENT. DURING 2021, 21 DIFFERENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASSES, TOTALING 2,006 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, WERE PROVIDED TO 12,131 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN ONLINE CLASSES DURING THE COVID SHUTDOWNS.COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES, ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLMENT IN SNAP AND OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, AND A GROCERY SHOPPING PROGRAM. IN 2021, THERE 15,079 CONTACTS MADE FOR INFORMATION AND/OR REFERRAL TO OTHER AGENCIES AND 85 INDIVIDUALS SHOPPED FOR AND DELIVERED GROCERIES FOR OVER 131 CLIENTS, VOLUNTEERING 3,243 HOURS OF SERVICE. SENIOR CITIZENS CLUBS AND RETIREE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT BERKS COUNTY ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE ORGANIZATION. THE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS EACH RECEIVE A PROGRAM RESOURCE BOOK, INFORMATION ABOUT SPEAKERS, NEWSLETTERS, AND INCLUSION OF CLUB NEWS IN THE ORGANIZATON'S NEWSPAPER, BERKS ENCORE NEWS. 45,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED OUR NEWSPAPER FILLED WITH CONSUMER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE BERKS COUNTY SENIOR POPULATION.

HOME DELIVERED MEALS:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICES TO SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGHOUT BERKS COUNTY EVERY WEEKDAY.A TOTAL OF 163,210 MEALS WERE DELIVERED TO APPROXIMATELY 1,377 UNIQUE HOME-BOUND SENIORS BY 617 VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED 39,380 TOTAL HOURS OF SERVICES IN 2021.

BERKS ENCORE CARE+:CARE+ IS A FEE-BASED PROGRAM THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES CREATE CARE PLANS AND CONNECT WITH RESOURCES FOR THEIR AGING LOVED ONES. FEES ARE DETERMINED ON A SLIDING SCALE BASED ON THE SENIOR'S INCOME.

PA MEDI (FORMERLY APPRISE):PA MEDI IS THE STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SHIP) FOR PENNSYLVANIANS AGE 60 AND OVER. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING CREATED PA MEDI TO HELP OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS UNDERSTAND THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS UNDER MEDICARE AND MAKE SOUND DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM. PA MEDI COUNSELORS ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. ISSUES HANDLED THROUGH THE PA MEDI PROGRAM RANGE FROM HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING REGARDING MEDICARE, HMOS, SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, AND LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE. THERE WERE 4,711 INDIVIDUALS ASSISTED IN 2021.