Senior Friendship Centers Inc

TO PROMOTE HEALTH, DIGNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY OF AGING.

NUTRITION: SENIOR HUNGER HAS REACHED SHOCKING NUMBERS BOTH NATIONALLY AND REGIONALLY. ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF SENIOR HUNGER REPORT BY FEEDING AMERICA 13.6% OF SENIORS ARE MARGINALLY FOOD INSECURE, 7.7% ARE FOOD INSECURE, AND 2.9% ARE VERY LOW FOOD SECURE. THIS TRANSLATES INTO 8.6 MILLION, 4.9 MILLION, AND 1.8 MILLION SENIORS, RESPECTIVELY. IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, THOSE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF OLDER ADULTS OF ANYWHERE IN THE NATION. MANY ELDERS HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR SAVINGS AND ARE RELYING ON MEAGER SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO STRETCH. SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS OFFERS DIRECT HELP FOR SENIORS AGED 60+, OFFERING DAILY NUTRITIOUS LUNCH SERVED IN PLEASANT SETTINGS WHERE THEY CAN GATHER SOCIALLY AND NOT EAT ALONE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)MEALS ARE ALSO DELIVERED TO HOMEBOUND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO SHOP OR PREPARE MEALS. EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS HELP THOSE WHO ARE TRULY FACING DIRE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, AND ARE MAKING DIFFICULT CHOICES BETWEEN MEDICATION, PET FOOD, RENT AND GROCERIES. NUTRITION COUNSELING IS PROVIDED BY REGISTERED DIETICIANS.

SUPPORTIVE AGING: LESS THAN 4% OF ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 65 LIVE IN ASSISTED LIVING OR SKILLED NURSING. THE OTHER 96% ARE EITHER HEALTHY ENOUGH TO REMAIN AT HOME AND IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE STATE THEIR PREFERENCE IS TO REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOME AS THEY AGE. BUT MANY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO AFFORD MOVING INTO A FACILITY WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE PROVIDED; IT'S COSTLY. THIS IS THE SEGMENT CARED FOR BY SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS. SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS COORDINATES CARE MANAGEMENT FOR IN-HOME COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT TO HELP FRAIL ELDERS REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND IN THEIR OWN HOMES FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. LICENSED ADULT DAY PROGRAMS PROVIDE SAFE, SUPERVISED SETTINGS WHERE CLIENTS FUNCTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE, WHILE FAMILY CAREGIVERS CAN WORK OR HAVE MUCH NEEDED RESPITE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE OFFERED TO CAREGIVING FAMILIES THROUGH CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTERS.

HEALTHY AND ACTIVE AGING: SENIOR ISOLATION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO THE HEALTH OF AMERICA'S SENIORS, WHILE IT REMAINS AMONG THE MOST DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE. IT'S A HEALTH RISK NOT OFTEN DISCUSSED, BUT AT LEAST A QUARTER OF SENIORS OVER 65 LIVE WITH IT AND ITS DEVASTATING EFFECTS CAN BE FELT PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. SENIOR ISOLATION IS POISED TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES FACED BY OLDER AMERICANS. SOME 18% OF ADULTS AGE 65+ IN THE U.S. LIVE ALONE, AND 43 PERCENT REPORT FEELING LONELY ON A REGULAR BASIS. A UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (UCSF) STUDY FOUND THAT PARTICIPANTS 60 YEARS OLD AND OLDER WHO REPORTED FEELING LONELY SAW A 45 PERCENT INCREASE IN THEIR RISK OF DEATH. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ISOLATED SURVEY RESPONDENTS ALSO HAD A 59 PERCENT GREATER RISK OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DECLINE THAN THEIR MORE SOCIAL COUNTERPARTS. FRIENDSHIP CENTERS' SENIOR CENTERS ARE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT ENRICHES LIVES AND HELPS SENIORS COMBAT THE ISOLATION AND LONELINESS THAT OFTEN COME WITH AGING. THE WIDE VARIETY OF STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXERCISE AND MIND FITNESS PROGRAMS, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT COUPLED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTEERISM IS THE KEY TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING. TOGETHER, PARTICIPATING IN THE SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES AND VOLUNTEERING NURTURES A PROFOUND SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND VALUE. FALLS PREVENTION EXERCISES, TECH CLASSES, AND LIFELONG LEARNING CREATE A VITAL CENTER OF ACTIVITY AND INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. INCREASINGLY THESE CENTERS ARE A REFUGE FOR ECONOMICALLY INSECURE OLDER ADULTS.