Running Head: AGENCY REPORT. Modern Maturity Center. Theresa Carter. Wilmington University

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1 Running Head: AGENCY REPORT 1 Modern Maturity Center Theresa Carter Wilmington University

2 AGENCY REPORT 2 Modern Maturity Center The Modern Maturity Center (MMC) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing programs and services that enrich the quality of life, with respect and dignity for individuals age 50 and above. The center s humble beginnings began when a group of volunteers in Dover, Delaware, who were taking a class on aging, saw a need. According to their website, On March 4, 1969, the Modern Maturity Center was officially incorporated (2011, para. 1). MMC attracts a diverse group of seniors from many socio-economic and demographic backgrounds by providing an array of programs such as: Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, cultural expos during Black History and Asian Pacific Heritage Months, Mother s Day Tea, Family Health Fair, and Grandparent s Day to name just a few. More than 30 thousand Kent County citizen s benefit from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Volunteers aged 55 and older can use their life experience and skills to benefit their community. Participants can volunteer as few or as many hours each month as they wish in the key areas of education, environment, human needs, public safety and homeland security. Carolyn Fredericks, CEO/President of MMC states during 2013, 817 RSVP Volunteers provided 120,384 service hours to MMC sponsored programs, which impacted 65,000 clients (personal communication, June 20, 2014). Day Break is a structured and supervised daytime program designed for functionally impaired adults age 60 or older. Nancy Kinsella has been the director since June 2011, says there are 60 clients, 85% have Alzheimer s or Dementia and the other 15% have physical impairments (personal communication, May 16, 2014). They strive to be a home away from home and provide an enriching environment for older adults who need special care. The primary goals are to avoid or forestall institutional placement, to support or improve social, mental,

3 AGENCY REPORT 3 emotional and physical levels of functioning, to enhance the daily quality of life and to provide respite for caregivers. They provide medical supervision, personal care assistance, nutritious meals, social and recreational programs and transportation, five days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. MMC offers many programs to meet the vast needs of its clients. According to the Modern Maturity Center s website (2011): The Front Porch program at MMC is designed specifically for individuals with mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer s disease, or other early memory-related disorders. The first of its kind in Delaware, the Front Porch focuses on maintaining and enhancing memory and cognitive functioning in a relaxed atmosphere. (para. 1). The Senior Community Service Employment Program s (SCSEP) aim is to provide part-time training jobs with community agencies for Kent County residents 55 years or older who meet SCSEP guidelines. The program demonstrates that mature individuals who want to supplement their income can be effectively trained and employed in various community-service agencies while developing and re-establishing work skills to prepare for permanent employment. MMC operates a transportation program five days a week. Transportation is offered for a small fee to Day Break clients as well as members on a space available basis. In addition, daily outings are offered to area shops and pharmacies. A monthly schedule of outings is available at the centers member services desk. Members can place craft items on consignment in the Golden Eagle Boutique located at MMC. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers a variety of handcrafted items for sale including furniture, jewelry, quilts and Afghans, baby clothes, cards and floral arrangements.

4 AGENCY REPORT 4 Another benefit offered by MMC is the convenient location of medical services on their campus. The Medical Services Building houses: Dynamic Physical Therapy, Generations Home Health Care Agency, The Hope Clinic, which provides free health care to adults age 18 and older who cannot afford health insurance and who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, and Lifespan Medical Services who provides primary care for those age 17 and older. The Caregiver Resource Center provides information and resources for those caring for a loved one as well as offering support group meeting. Besides the medical services offered on campus, MMC offers MANNA Nutrition, Meals on Wheels, a wide range of social and recreational programs and the Wellness Center. Congregate Meals are served five days a week at six sites throughout Kent County. Meals at MMC are served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $7 for those under 60 and a suggested donation of $4 for those 60 and older. All full-time staff pay a $4 fee for lunch as well. Meals on Wheels is a service provided to those unable to eat at one of the sites. Participants must be at least 60 years of age or married to someone age 60 or older. An outreach worker will make an initial visit to determine eligibility. Meals on Wheels is also ideal for short term needs such as those recuperating from surgery or illness. A $4 donation per meal is suggested. There are a wide range of social and recreational programs for members at MMC. Classes are offered in a number of subject areas. In addition to arts and crafts, sewing, line dancing, ballroom dancing, and glee club, the center offers lifelong learning opportunities including sign language, gardening, Brain Age, book club, foreign languages and current affairs. Clubs are available for those who share similar interests such as quilting, crafts, woodcarving, music, singles, cards, and needlework. There are regularly scheduled information sessions and

5 AGENCY REPORT 5 seminars on issues of interest to older adults as well. A trip and tours program is also offered to members with special rates. In addition to daily trips to local attractions, theaters, shopping and restaurants, MMC provides bus tours throughout the United States as well as cruises and trips abroad. One of the benefits of MMC membership ($15 annual membership fee or $150 lifetime membership fee) is eligibility to join the Wellness Center and Pool. The center offers a variety of membership options for either the pool or fitness center or a combined membership. Memberships are available monthly or annually. The Wellness Center also offers a number of classes at competitive rates including aqua aerobics, swim classes, yoga, tai chi, balance, zumba, stretching and aerobics. Staff members are certified and trained in senior fitness needs and are committed to providing a quality program. It is the policy of the Modern Maturity Center to ensure compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as related statutes and regulations to the end that no person shall be excluded form participation in or be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation or national origin (2011, para. 1). MMC is governed by an 18 member Board of Directors. The CEO/President oversees the Vice President of Marketing & Development, Vice President of Building & Grounds, Vice President of Finance, Security and Safety Committee, Director of Employment, Director of Nutrition Services, Director of Mature Adult Care and Director of Care Management. The directors in turn supervise coordinators, staff, instructors, supervisors, administrative assistants and

6 AGENCY REPORT 6 volunteers. There are roughly 225 total employees, though this number does fluctuate, 45 full time employees and 400 volunteers. The CEO/President, Carolyn Fredericks who has worked at MMC for over 30 years, is really the brain behind the operation. Not only is she a staunch advocate for the center, spending hours in meetings with lawmakers trying to effect change and bring awareness about the needs of older adults, she writes grants and secures funding, oversees all operations at center, knows most clients and participants and does whatever is needed to get the job done including washing the steps of the stage for a wedding reception that is renting space for the weekend. She is a true visionary, always looking for ways to improve the lives of older adults, expanding the centers resources by partnering with other agencies and organizations who can offer extended services. According to MMC s Annual Report (2013), the center helped secure a $700,000 budget increase for the Division of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities for the Meals on Wheels program. Each year MMC holds their annual fundraising gala that helps support the center and its programs. They receive foundation and community support from Palmer Home $25,700, Delaware Community Foundation ($15,000), M&T Bank ($8,000), Kent County Levy Court ($4,000) and Mid-Del ($1,500). The gala sponsors who have given $5,000 or more were: For Dreamers Gallery, Hope Medical Clinic and Smith Rust Group. They were 11 platinum sponsors ($2,500), which included Wilmington University, seven gold sponsors ($1,500), and 18 silver sponsors ($1,000). MMC also sponsored a Doo Wop concert that raised over $6,000, their dinner theater raised more than $39,000, Miles for Meals 5k raised funds for the Meals on Wheels Program and their 10 th Annual, A Fabulous Affair gala raised more than $83,000. Funding also comes from the Longwood Foundation, banquet facility rentals and services, and room rentals.

7 AGENCY REPORT 7 Collaborating with other agencies and organizations has been key to MMC s success. Their partnerships with Dynamic Physical Therapy, Generations Home Health Care Agency, The Hope Clinic and Lifespan Medical Services led to the building of a multi-million dollar Medical Services Building located on campus, which opened in MMC partnered with the University of Delaware in 2010, to become the Kent County campus for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (2011, para. 7). Joining with M.A.N.N.A (Mature Adult Neighborhood Nutrition Agency) and Meals on Wheels through the Division of Aging and Adults with Physical disabilities has enable the center to provide congregate meals to clients and staff at a reasonable cost and has allowed dozens of volunteers the opportunity to assist homebound seniors by delivering quality meals. The Senior Olympics is located at MMC and has provided the organization access to hundreds of active seniors who attend the many programs and activities at MMC. Easter Seals participants assist with preparing the dining area at MMC for lunch Monday thru Friday. There a many more organizations (YMCA, Delaware Aging Network, Stand by Me, CHEER, DE Social Services Division) that play a role in the success of the Modern Maturity Center. MMC is constantly looking for ways to improve not only their services, but their facility as well. The center participated in an energy audit that revealed a potential savings of $57 thousand. The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (DSEU), is now working with C. Fredericks to save the center thousands of dollars by becoming more energy efficient (C. Fredericks, personal communication, May 16, 2014). Some members of MMC board also work for the State Legislature, which provides MMC with advocates inside the judicial system that understand the needs of seniors. This relationship has helped secure legislature that benefits seniors such as the Senior Trust Fund. This fund was established when violent crimes against a growing number of

8 AGENCY REPORT 8 senior adults were being committed in Delaware (C. Fredericks, personal communication, May 16, 2014). The fine that is opposed on the perpetrators goes into the trust and helps fund programs for seniors in the state. Some of the challenges MMC will face in the upcoming years, are clients aging out of the programs. The center does not presently have a marketing budget, which is needed to promote the many programs, activities and assistance the center provides to so many throughout Kent County. Actively seeking new, younger seniors is vital to the continued success of MMC. Being able to offer competitive wages to staff is also a challenge for MMC. Just recently, staff received salary increases for the first time in 5 years. This can dissuade potential highly qualified individuals from wanting to work at the center. As an intern, it has been difficult to define a personal role that can both benefit the center and satisfy educational and professional goals and requirements. Through the weeks, learning how to navigate and make oneself useful through the plethora of activities and events that happen daily at MMC with little guidance has been daunting, but things are beginning to turn around. The experience may not exactly be ideal, but learning how to be assertive and actively looking for challenges and ways to best utilize this experience has been uplifting and a big confidence booster. Everyone has been so kind, gracious and open. MMC is an amazing place that does so much for the Kent County community. It really is a privilege to be amongst so many that care and want to assist in any way to make the lives of others a little better, a little more comfortable, and a little less lonely. It not only takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community of helpers to change the lives of older adults and seniors so that they too can live their full potential.

9 AGENCY REPORT 9 References Modern Maturity Center (2011). Front Porch Early Memory Loss Program. Retrieved from Modern Maturity Center (2011). Membership Eligibility and Code of Conduct. Retrieved from Modern Maturity Center (2011). Our History. Retrieved from