def #66 03/26/08

FREEHOLDERS HELP MAINTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS

TOMS RIVER – A host of programs and services that help keep seniors active and in their homes have received the support of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Board is scheduled to approve contracts totaling $250,000 to caregiver agencies, and hospitals for programs that assist senior citizens from the healthy and active to the frail and disabled.

“We look to renew these programs annually,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services. “These programs provide numerous benefits to the many seniors that call Ocean County home.”

The freeholders are scheduled to award the contracts during the board’s April 2 meeting.

The awards include $50,000 for Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey which includes all of Central, Western, and Northern Ocean County; $20,000 for the Multi-Cultural Outreach Program and $25,000 for the Northeastern Expansion Program.

Interfaith Health and Support Services of Southern Ocean County will receive $25,000 for the southernmost area of Ocean County. Among the services provided by the interfaith caregiver agencies are: volunteer medical transportation, friendly visits, assisting the elderly with shopping and every-day household chores.

Ocean County’s system of services needs to be varied due to the unique needs of the 60 plus population.

“Our 60 and over population is 26 percent,” Vicari said. “However, we double the state’s percentage of the 75 plus, 80 plus and 85 plus groups.”

Four hospitals will receive funds for community support programs for seniors.

“This money will fund health screenings and programs to improve the health and wellness of older adults through education and promotion and support of healthy behaviors,” said Jane Maloney, director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.

Hospitals receiving $30,000 grants include Community Medical Center, Kimball Medical Center and Meridian Hospital System for health screenings and education, and $40,000 to Southern Ocean County Hospital for health screening and education and an evidence-based physical fitness program.

Vicari added that all of these programs play a vital role in keeping seniors active and in their own homes.

In 2007, 7,778 older adults received 30,459 units of service through these county funded programs.

These contracts are in addition to the more than $4.9 million in county, state and federal funds that the Freeholders awarded for various senior programs at the beginning of 2008.

Those contracts included meals on wheels, transportation services, educational programs, caregiver counseling, benefits screenings, home health care, and a host of other services, Maloney said.

She noted that 544,468 units of service were provided to 35,225 persons in 2007 through these contracts.

“It’s so important that county government reach out to our seniors to make sure they have what they need to maintain a good, healthy quality of life,” Vicari said. “We will do all we can to make sure they have a great life here in Ocean County; they have earned this.”


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