Our Activities

      

2012 VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Volunteer services are divided into Core and Seasonal programs. Core volunteer services include services for which volunteers are specially trained by ElderNet. Volunteers are interviewed, screened, and entered into ElderNet’s active database. Core service programs include:  Escort Driver, Telephone Reassurance, Odd Jobs/Chore Services, Friendly Visiting, and Special Projects. Seasonal programs include Special Projects and Development, seasonal Odd Jobs, and the Holiday Basket program. The volunteers may work with ElderNet's Board committees, or may offer special project help through their corporate, youth, faith or other community group.  

For 2012 our volunteer services by program are: Escort Driver Program: 91 volunteers, staff, and one paid service provided 1,807 round trips rides/shopping for 116 clients. Clients are residents of Lower Merion and Narberth with low-moderate income who are too physically or mentally disabled to use public transportation or shared (curb-to-curb) rides.

Telephone Reassurance:  8 volunteers called 13 clients daily, for a total of 2,683 calls. Clients are frail or homebound residents of Lower Merion and Narberth. Callers report any problems with clients to ElderNet social workers for help.                               

Odd Jobs: 11 volunteers provided 36 odd jobs for 15 clients. Clients are low-moderate income residents of Lower Merion or Narberth who need help with chores in order to remain in their homes.                                                                           

Friendly Visiting: 20 volunteers made 118 visits to 19 clients. Volunteers ran errands; helped with bills/bookkeeping and applying for photo ids; read mail for blind/disabled clients; assisted clients with post hospitalization issues; visited; and took clients on outings.                   

Special Projects:  

1,441 volunteers gave 7,418 hours to ElderNet.  Projects included grants writing, the Spring fundraiser, other fundraising, helping at the food pantry and preparing and delivering holiday baskets. 

 Holiday food baskets
ready for distribution! 

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Professional Staff

2012 STAFF & SOCIAL WORK SERVICES 

Information and Referral Services: ElderNet's staff answered 3,854 calls and emails, responding to questions and problems of 2,210 unduplicated persons. first-time callers. ElderNet staffers answer questions and provide help to callers are of all ages and incomes. When suitable, staff refer callers to publicly funded services as needed and/or refer to ElderNet care managers for more complex cases. The figures above do not include volunteer transportation calls—well over 1,000 per month-- or daily Telephone Reassurance calls.
                                                                                                                                                            
Care Management Services:  Our Care Managers worked with 265 Social Work/Care Management clients/families in 2012.  Care management clients have problems that are more complex and require more time than just information or referrals. Care managers help to connect clients with publicly funded services and other services and follow up to make sure services are received.

Emergency Financial Assistance:  ElderNet administers emergency funds (ESSLM and other locally raised small funds) to help people in crisis.  ElderNet takes no money for administering the fund. 384 people were helped with $27,654 in emergency aid from the ESSLM, W.W. Smith, AmerisourceBergen, FEMA/AARA and Dottie Young Funds, plus 3,439 bags of groceries from our food pantry at the Ada Mutch Community Resource Center. Assistance was given for help with heating fuel, rent and mortgage payments, food certificates, utility bills, medical insurance, overnight stays for homeless persons, medical care, and non-ElderNet transportation.

• As part of the Gatekeepers/Carrier Alert Program in the nine local post offices, ElderNet staff has trained local postal carriers to be alert to signs that an older or disabled younger person is in need of services, and to refer him or her to ElderNet for assistance.
• ElderNet also distributed free informational guides to Senior Services and to Housing. ElderNet distributed Files of Life to make emergency medical information accessible.
• ElderNet provides information and advocacy on issues pertinent to elderly, needy or disabled adults. Local and state officials have come to us for information on issues that affect our clients. In 2012, we worked with State legislators, and the State Office on Aging to try to direct money for more home-care services for the frail elderly. We also advocated for needs and services for older people and for affordable housing.
• In 2012, ElderNet produced one newsletter that was sent out to over 3,000 area individuals, service organizations, faith communities and officials keep our community informed on the work of ElderNet.
• ElderNet opened the Ada Mutch Community Resource Center in October 2009 in partnership with Montgomery County Southeastern Regional Services Network (SRSN), Bryn Mawr Hospital, and Main Line Health Services and Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services. The center houses the Food Cupboard: ElderNet Care Management; "Ask a Nurse Program;" APPRISE insurance counselors, by appointment; and "YOUR CALL," a free referral program sponsored by SRSN. The center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please call for program times (610-525-0706)
• The free Lock for Life program, in partnership with the Lower Merion Police Department, has placed over 100 key safes to permit access when an isolated or homebound person may be unable to answer the door to emergency responders.