Senior Resource Center MEDIA KIT Items enclosed: Mission Programs History Leadership Event Photos FAQs Updated January 2012 1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org
Mission Statement Our mission is to increase the quality of life for senior citizens in the seven-county area we serve by providing services that allow seniors to remain healthy, active and in the community. Contact Us If we can assist you with questions or interviews for stories relating to seniors, contact our office. Our team of professionals is well-versed in senior issues. Media Contact: Jessica Franklin Community Education Coordinator jessica.franklin@adss.alabama.gov 334.793.6843 1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org
1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org SARCOA Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging is an Area Agency on Aging serving the seniors of Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties of southeast Alabama. SARCOA is a vibrant and dynamic organization continually seeking ways to better serve the rapidly growing senior population through planning, coordinating and developing community levels of service. As the regional focal point for senior services, SARCOA provides services which improve the quality of life and enhance the independence of the seniors of the area. Primary funding for SARCOA programs is based on the federal Older Americans Act and the Social Security Act. State funds are used to match federal dollars and to fund state senior programs. Additional cash and in-kind support from local government and community further enhances the service network. SARCOA s board of directors, appointed by the seven county governments, guides and directs the agency. An advisory board comprised of seniors and community representatives communicates with SARCOA s staff and board of directors about the concerns and issues of area seniors. SARCOA s programs target care-recipients with the greatest social and economic need. SARCOA s Medicaid Waiver program can provide services that allow seniors to remain in their homes for a fraction of the cost of living in a nursing home. SARCOA coordinates and funds in-home services for seniors and caregivers. Our Medicaid Waiver program is designed to provide services for elderly and disabled low-income individuals who medically qualify for nursing home placement and financially qualify for Medicaid. Clients on the Medicaid Waiver program are assigned a case manager to coordinate services. Services include homemaker chores, personal care, skilled and unskilled respite care, companion services, adult day care and home delivered frozen meals. SARCOA s prescription drug assistance program, SenioRx, has saved clients in southeast Alabama approximately $13 million in prescription drug costs since July 1, 2002. The Alabama SenioRx program is committed to promoting better health and wellness in Alabama s older citizens. SenioRx is a prescription drug assistance program that helps thousands of Alabamians who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases requiring daily medications receive free prescription drugs from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Individuals eligible for prescription assistance include seniors age 55-64 with no prescription drug insurance, those in the Medicare Part D coverage gap and disabled individuals of any age in the 24-month Medicare waiting period. To qualify for free prescription drugs, you must be at least 55 years of age with chronic medical conditions, have no prescription drug insurance coverage and your income must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Square One: Senior Resource Assessment Many of the seniors who contact our office are
1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org continued... unaware of the benefits and services available to them. Most have very limited incomes and would significantly benefit from a decrease in monthly expenses or increase in resources. Because of this, SARCOA has developed an assessment tool called Square One. Using this program, we can assess an individual s needs and provide them with tailored resource options along with guidance in applying for services, programs and benefits. Assessment using Square One is free. Appointments are made for office visits or over the phone for homebound seniors. With an increasingly aging population in the United States, caregivers play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence. The Alabama Cares program was designed to support family caregivers by providing training, assistance and resources to help them take care of aging loved ones and themselves. This program strives to keep families together and to allow seniors to age at home instead of in costly long-term care facilities. Services for caregivers include counseling to help caregivers cope, respite care including adult day care and respite care in the home, and supplemental services such as emergency response systems, incontinent and other caregiving supplies. Resource Center SARCOA s Senior Resource Center provides information assistance and referral. Walk-ins are welcome. Today, nearly 20 percent of older Americans live in or near poverty. With more than 65,000 seniors in our seven-county area, nearly 13,000 may not get enough to eat every week. Hungry to Help is a sponsored meal program that supplements the senior center meal program. Through donations, we can deliver nutritious meals to the doorstep of an area senior. Donors can give a general donation or sponsor a specific individual. Senior centers provide activities to keep seniors active and social and provide daily hot meals SARCOA supports 37 senior centers throughout seven counties. These senior centers serve approximately 350,000 meals per year, 20 percent of which are delivered to homebound seniors. In addition to meals, senior centers offer a variety of social activities. Ombudsman service: SARCOA s Long Term Care Ombudsman program mediates nursing home and assisted living facility complaints and provides consultations and public education. Legal services: Legal assistance is available for persons 60 and older who need non-fee-generating legal assistance with simple wills, power of attorney, consumer assistance, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other health insurance issues.
1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org FAQs As a senior, how can I receive a meal? Meals are provided through the senior centers for people age 60 and older. To sign up, contact the senior center closest to your home. Because of limited resources and high demand, some senior centers may have a waiting list. If the senior center closest to you has a waiting list, you may be able to receive sponsored meals through SARCOA s Hungry to Help program. I am homebound and can t travel to the senior center to receive a meal; is that my only option? Meals are delivered to homebound seniors through the senior centers. If the senior center closest to your home has a waiting list, you may be able to receive sponsored home delivered meals through SARCOA s Hungry to Help program. The Medicaid Waiver program also provides home delivered frozen meals. If a person can live alone but needs help with daily chores, what help is available to them through SARCOA? SARCOA has several programs that provide in-home services for seniors and disabled individuals. Services include homemaker chores, meals, respite care, personal care and providing medical and care giving supplies. These services are provided through Medicaid Waiver and Alabama Cares. If a person is already living in a nursing home, is there any help available from SARCOA? SARCOA has a long- term care ombudsman to help residents in assisted living and nursing homes with their complaints. Individuals can use the ombudsman service if they have a question or problem about the care they are receiving, their rights, Medicare or Medicaid payments or any other benefits to which they are entitled. How long does it take to be approved for services? Each program has its own waiting list and application process. New clients are approved in relation to case load and funding, making it difficult to predict a timeframe for approval of services. How can I help? SARCOA has many opportunities for volunteers. Donations to our Hungry to Help program help us provide meals for more needy seniors. Our Santa for Seniors project is largely volunteer-based, as are most of our events. All contributions are tax deductible.
1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org Robert Crowder Executive Director Robert Crowder serves as executive director of SARCOA. He is a board member of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Alabama Gerontological Society and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. He is on the National Peanut Festival Board of Directors, a member of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Houston County Spirit of Service. He is a past president of the Alabama Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Alabama Gerontological Society and the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama. He was chairman of the 1994 Wiregrass United Way Board of Directors, the 1996 United Way campaign, and the Troy University Dothan Advisory Board. He was awarded the Troy University Dothan Man of the Year award and is a member of the 2009 class of the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. He is a former mayor of Taylor, Ala., and served three terms as Chairman of the Houston County Commission. History of SARCOA SARCOA is one of 13 Area Agencies on Aging in Alabama operating under the framework of the Older Americans Act. More than 629 Area Agencies in the nation serve as advocates for the elderly and administer a network of services within their designated regions. SARCOA was formed in 1986 by a multijurisdictional agreement of the seven county governments. It was designated as the Area Agency on Aging for southeast Alabama by Governor George Wallace and the Alabama Commission on Aging (now known as the Alabama Department of Senior Services). SARCOA is a multi-jurisdictional governmental entity.
SARCOA Quick Facts SARCOA is part of the national aging network established under the Older American s Act to respond to the needs of older adults. SARCOA is one of 13 Area Agencies on Aging in Alabama and 629 throughout the United States. SARCOA provides services to improve seniors quality of life and enhance their independence. Services include in-home services, caregiver assistance, senior centers, long term care ombudsman, prescription assistance, legal assistance, meals, transportation and events. SARCOA supports 37 senior centers throughout seven counties. Meals are served to individuals 60 and older through the senior centers. Homebound seniors receive delivered meals. Through donations to Hungry to Help, we can deliver nutritious meals to the doorstep of an area senior who might not otherwise get enough to eat. SARCOA s programs target care-recipients with the greatest social and economic need. SARCOA Annual Events: March: Ms. Senior Wiregrass Pageant May: Older American s Day August: Coping with Aging November: Senior Day at the Fair SARCOA Annual Projects: March: Leadership Institute for Retirees December: Santa for Seniors Area Statistics: (Based on 2010 Census) Seven-county area: Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Covington, Geneva, Henry and Houston. Total Population: 311,060 Number 60 years and older: 66,422 Percentage 60 years and older: 21.4 % Population 65 years and older: 47,166 Living alone: 28.1% 1075 S. Brannon Stand Road, Dothan AL 36305 334.793.6843 800.239.3507 www.sarcoa.org
Event Photos Clockwise from top left: (1) Seniors dance in the aisles at Older American s Day 2010. Older American s Day is celebrated the first Wednesday of May in honor of Older American s month. Approximately 2,000 seniors attend each year. (2) A senior couple waits to ride the Ferris wheel at Senior Day at the Fair, during the National Peanut Festival week. (3) Ms. Senior Wiregrass 2010, Clara Jones, is crowned by Ms. Senior Wiregrass 2009, Betty Rowland. The Ms. Senior Wiregrass pageant is held in March. Proceeds from the pageant benefit Alabama Cares, SARCOA s caregiver assistance program. (4 and 5) Santa for Seniors recipients receive their gifts at Christmastime. Santa for Seniors is a grass roots, volunteer effort to share the Christmas spirit with Wiregrass Seniors who are in need of basic necessities and home repairs. SARCOA case managers recommend the neediest seniors in the area as Santa for Seniors recipients. In 2011, 408 seniors received gifts through the program. One hundred percent of proceeds go directly to seniors in the Wiregrass area.