VNA-Community Services Celebrates New Role as “Aging at Home” Coordinating Agency during November Program Launch:

VNA Invites Senior Citizens to Participate in Brainstorming Sessions

For the 23,000 older adults living in Eastern Montgomery County, the ability to age with dignity in their own homes has just gotten a bit easier.  The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UNGPSNJ) has selected the Abington office of VNA-Community Services (VNA) to serve as the coordinating agency for a new pilot program – “Aging at Home – A Community Network” – designed to ensure that seniors have streamlined access to services they need to support their health and quality of life.

The new program will serve the communities of Abington, Roslyn, Glenside, Cheltenham, Willow Grove, Huntingdon Valley, Jenkintown, Meadowbrook, Rydal, Elkins Park, Wyncote, North Hills and Ardsley. It will be funded through a three-year grant from the UWGPSNJ. In its role as coordinating agency of the pilot program, VNA will develop strategic relationships with local community providers, stakeholders, policy-makers, and health and social service agencies to develop or identify services to support the needs of area senior citizens. These could range from health screenings, chore assistance, transportation, volunteer placement opportunities and more. All will be available through one call to VNA’s Abington office.

“As coordinating agency, it will also be our intention to pinpoint gaps and ongoing needs and to identify best practices for the delivery of services and supports to older adults,” explained Richard Cirko, Executive Director of VNA Community Services.

According to Cirko, this new role is a natural extension of VNA’s mission to enhance, support and positively impact the quality, integrity and wellbeing of the community where it has served since 1919.

At the November program launch Jill Michal, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, stressed that VNA’s role in piloting the “Aging at Home” program will be critical. “Over the next three years, the work of the VNA team in Abington will inform the future of the work we do at United Way on behalf of older adults all across our region, as well as how we advocate for a sustainable system of aging that is ready to serve this growing part of our community,” she emphasized.

Michal’s enthusiasm for VNA’s new role was echoed by PA State Rep. Madeleine Dean and Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards, both of whom joined dozens of guests at the kickoff launch.   “As I watch one of my own senior family members struggle with diabetes and cancer, I know firsthand what having this type of help available means to a community,” said Dean.

Recognizing the importance of gaining input from senior citizens in order to make the “Aging at Home - A Community Network” program a success, VNA invites area senior citizens to serve as Senior Ambassadors.

“Essentially, this means that they share their ideas with us at focus groups over refreshments, we listen, and we evaluate ways to make their recommendations realities,” explained VNA’s Aging at Home-A Community Network Director, Margo Fine-Gabbay.  Fine-Gabbay encourages senior citizens who wish to participate in this brainstorming opportunity to call her at 215-302-9900. This also the number to call to learn more about “Aging at Home.”

About VNA-Community Services, Inc.

VNA-Community Services, Inc., serving Eastern Montgomery County and surrounding communities, is a non-profit  501 (C) 3 agency with a focused mission of providing community-based programs that address family health and social services needs. VNA has cared for its community since 1919 and currently provides in-home services for seniors, connection to benefits for vulnerable individuals and families; access to aging in place services for seniors and primary health care services for children.  VNA serves over 5,000 individuals each year.  For more information, visit www.vnacs.org or call  215-572-7880

Photo caption:  Celebrating the program launch of “Aging at Home” at the Abington office of VNA-Community Services are (l to r):  Jill Michal, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey; Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards; PA State Rep. Madeleine Dean; Joanne Nichols, a member of VNA-Community Services’ Neighborhood Advisory Committee and Richard Cirko, Executive Director of VNA Community Services.