def #04 01/09/08

OCEAN COUNTY SENIOR PROGRAMS RENEWED FOR THE NEW YEAR

TOMS RIVER - With more than a quarter of Ocean County’s population over the age of 60, including almost 70,000 people aged 75 and older, providing beneficial programs and services for the older adult population continues to be a priority for the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Board expects to award 36 contracts at its Jan. 16 meeting to a host of service providers for programs ranging from outreach services to the homebound elderly to volunteer friendly visitors, telephone reassurances, health screenings and education.

"We want to make certain our older adults who call Ocean County home have quality of life programs and services available to them," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of Senior Services. "Our Office of Senior Services serves as a clearinghouse, teaming up seniors with programs that can help make a difference in their daily lives."

Ocean County’s senior programs and services need to be varied due to the unique needs of the 60 plus population.

"Ocean County doubles the states percentages for the 75 plus at 13 percent with 69,669, the 80 plus at eight percent with 44,034, and the 85 plus at four percent with 22,344," Vicari said. "The Office of Senior Services oversees a total of 51 contracts with 21 governmental and non-profit agencies. The contracts total about $5.2 million."

"More than 547,000 units of service will be provided to over 36,000 persons in 2008," he said.

A key component to the county’s services to seniors is the extensive meal program that is offered. The Board of Freeholders recently awarded contracts to Community Services Inc. to continue to provide this program.

"Over 75,000 congregate meals will be served in 2008," said D. Jane Maloney, the director of the Office of Senior Services. "In addition, 220,000 daily home delivered meals and over 21,000 weekend/holiday meals will be served."

A contract will also be awarded Jan. 16 for the Kosher Home Delivered Meals Program.

"Nutrition screening surveys of home delivered meals clients show that 59 percent of the clients are at a high nutritional risk and 34 percent are at a moderate nutritional risk," she said. "These meals are often a lifeline for these seniors bringing not only a nutritional value but also a social one."

Other support areas include transportation, legal services, caregiver services, care management, benefits screening, chore services and a host of others.

Access to information and assistance is a major focus for the Office of Senior Services, Maloney said.

"There were 200 presentations made to county residents in 2007," she noted.

Senior Services staff provided over 19,010 units of service to over 10,809 persons in 2007.

There were 3,447 walk-ins averaging 37 minutes per client. In addition, 314 individuals participated in the Part D Days at the County Connection at the Ocean County Mall in Toms River.

"We are also working with our seniors to focus on good health and physical fitness," Vicari said. "It’s so important to stay active. It keeps us healthy and sharp."

Health EASE continued to grow with the Chronic Disease Self Management series, the Mind/Body Program, the Medicare Preventative Services, and the "Move Today" exercise group.

Vicari noted that there are major challenges the county will keep abreast of such as strengthening Social Security and Medicare for the future.

"The first 'Baby Boomer' submitted an application for Social Security recently," Vicari said. "More than 70,000 people who live in Ocean County are between the ages of 50 and 59 years-old. We need to be ever mindful that the popluation is aging and we need to respond to those needs."

Maloney noted that the senior services staff in Ocean County and its network has earned the trust of area residents and the office has been recognized by both the federal and state government for its efforts in assisting older adults, in particular, with the historic Part D prescription drug plan.

"The feedback we receive on our quality satisfaction surveys is very positive," Maloney said. "Of those that participate in the survey, 99.75 percent said they would call or contact us again and they would recommend our assistance to a friend."


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