United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Community Impact

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Investing in Results
HEALTH FOR SENIORS

LIVE UNITED:
Investing in Results

REAL CHANGES
REAL IMPACT
REAL RESULTS

KEEPING SENIORS HEALTHY AND SAFE AT HOME

CONNECTION TO CARE

REAL CHALLENGES

The over-65 population of our region is skyrocketing, and is projected to grow by almost 37% by 2025, even as our systems of support for senior citizens are already stretched to its limits. For older adults, the core issue for a quality life is the ability to remain safe and healthy in their own homes and communities as they age. With the right support, more seniors can achieve this goal.

Pennsylvania ranks 4th in the nation in the proportion of its households with at least one member aged 65 or over (26.8 percent of all households). Within 10 years, we’re projected to be the oldest state in the nation.
In the four-county region served by United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 150,000 seniors find it difficult or impossible to perform at least one routine activity of daily living and 134,000 seniors live alone.
Most seniors prefer to receive care at home, yet Pennsylvania only spends 23% of its long-term care dollars on at-home care. The other 77% is spent on nursing homes and other facilities.
More than 55,000 older or disabled individuals eligible to receive economic stimulus checks in the four county region last year did not apply – leaving $16.5 million that could have been invested in the regional economy in a recent survey.

A UNITED APPROACH

United Way has woven together a network of support services to help seniors remain healthy and safe in their own homes. United Way supports programs helping seniors in southeastern Pennsylvania live in their homes by providing meals, transportation, and assistance and enabling an additional 3,000 to remain engaged in community life through educational and recreational opportunities.

Our Senior Center Accreditation Project helps centers meet the standards of excellence established by the National Council on Aging, assuring that seniors will have engaging social opportunities as well as critically needs social service support in their own communities.
Our partnership with the Jewish Federation and Catholic Human Services on the Rhawnhurst NORC demonstrates that communities that are “naturally occurring retirement communities” can build both professional and volunteer supports that all seniors to get the benefits of a retirement community in their own neighborhoods – without having to move.
Our Coming of Age partnership – including AARP of Pennsylvania, Temple University and WHYY – has won national recognition as a successful strategy for creating new opportunities for older people to share their experience and skills with nonprofits and communities.
Bringing health care and social services into older adults’ homes and communities.
Preventing falls and accidents at home by funding safety modifications and repairs.
Leading efforts to boost senior community centers, where older adults find help, support, and connection, up to national standards of excellence.

WE ALL WIN WHEN SENIORS ARE HEALTHY AND SAFE AT HOME

REAL CHANGE

United Way is focused on helping to create a healthy and safe environment for the growing population of seniors in southeastern Pennsylvania.

With United Way’s help, 15 senior community centers - 88% of the total – have met or exceeded the standards of excellence established by the National Institute of Senior Centers.
Through Coming of Age, over 50,000 individuals age 55 and over have participated in educational activities, Make Big Difference volunteer teams, and improved their planning for life after retirement.

Impact on Health

Keeping Seniors Healthy and Safe at Home

Your Community Impact Funds promote independence for older adults by:

Providing access to quality health aides, housekeeping and other in-home services.
Boosting the quality of senior centers to meet the highest national standards.
Mobilizing neighborhood networks to connect isolated seniors to support for independent living.
Linking seniors to home modification programs that improve their homes’ safety, efficiency and physical integrity

A sample of your investment’s performance, YEAR ONE:

Goal		Actual
9,269	Seniors who received in-home physical & mental health services	11,534
880	Seniors’ homes modified	603*
3,998	Seniors reporting improved health & well-being as a result of senior center participation	5,938
3,835	Seniors received information and referral services	4,713
880	Senior victims of crimes assisted	1,103
2,943	Seniors receiving meals&other in-home assistance	3,344
* This shortfall is due to higher costs associated with modifications than originally anticipated, resulting in a lower number of repairs and modifications overall.