The month of July marks the arrival of many things: high summer, vacations, fireworks, and the start of the state fiscal year; in this case, FY22 (July 1, 2021 -- June 30, 2022). For those in the world of community-based services, this is the time when new funding begins, and end-of-year reporting comes due. For aging services, the North Carolina Home and Community Care Block Grant (Block Grant) and County Supplemental Aging Funds are designated to assist older adults in leading independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
The Block Grant includes state funds as well as federal funds that are authorized by the Older Americans Act. This year, Buncombe County’s Block Grant amount was $1,546,337 to which the County added $500,000 for a total of $2,046,337 to be used to support community-based services, opportunities, and protections for older adults. The funds are allocated based on recommendations from the Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee. The Buncombe County Age-Friendly Action Plan helps inform priority areas for this funding.
Here’s what this year’s funding will support:
Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Inc.
- Institutional Respite: Caregiver specialists assist family care partners in planning and arranging for time away from their loved one in adult day and facility settings. Funds go toward these options to reduce cost burden on families and ensure the level of care required to support the care recipient. This short-term respite option is ideal for families who are unable to keep their loved one in the home while the care partner takes a break.
- Home Care Independence: A program designed to empower adults who need in-home care to identify and employ a Personal Assistant with the support of a Council on Aging Care Advisor. Clients will receive companionship and personal care services to help them maintain their independence, dignity, and well-being.
- Aging-in-Place Home Repair: In partnership with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Council on Aging social workers will work with individuals to identify substandard housing and "aging in place" home repair needs. Clients will receive security enhancements, mobility and accessibility improvements and other home repairs from the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity that go beyond the scope of the Council on Aging Minor Home Repair program, including home rehabilitation/improvement solutions so clients can maintain adequate housing, increase safety and other concerns, reduce cost burden, and improve the likelihood that the individual can stay in their homes as long as possible.
- Senior Dining and Wellness Program: Offers eligible adults the opportunity to enjoy free hot meals from Moose Cafe throughout the week, opportunities to connect with others, and includes educational and fitness programming geared toward health and wellness. Council on Aging works with partnered meal sites at the Weaverville First Baptist Church, Senior Opportunity Center, Shiloh Community Center, and the Lakeview Center for Active Aging to meet nutritional and social needs of our community with food, fun, and friendship.
- Information and Assistance Program: Council on Aging provides information to community members about available resources with aging service specialists and social workers to answer questions, make referrals, and assist callers with getting the services and support they need. We offer comprehensive, person-centered information to ensure clients meet their goals with a "no wrong door" approach to community resources coordination.
- In Home Aide: In Home Aide Care Manager assists eligible clients in receiving no-cost companionship and personal care services through a needs discovery process, including service plans and care management to connect clients to carefully selected, subcontracted, and licensed care providers for regular in-home care from trained professional caregivers (aides). These services could include meal preparation, light housekeeping, assistance with showers, mobility support, medication reminders, toileting, dressing and grooming.
- DayStay Adult Day Services provides daytime, weekday respite for older and impaired adults. DayStay offers an activity-driven program to support socialization as well as a nutritious lunch and snacks.
- Elder Club Group Respite Program: This program meets multiple times weekly to provide socialization and support in a group setting through peer-to-peer communication. Appropriate physical and memory-enhancing activities are included, as well as a nutritious meal provided by our professional chef. Caregivers have peace of mind and a moment to themselves, knowing their loved ones are well-cared for in a safe, welcoming secure environment.
- Healing Solutions Counseling at JFS provides counseling to individuals and couples struggling with depression, stress management, anxiety, trauma, relationship problems, adjustment disorders, healthy aging, parenting issues, grief and loss, as well as providing specific support for our LGBTQ+ community. Counseling is made available to those who are under-or uninsured based on a sliding scale, so that anyone who needs the support of one of our licensed social workers may have access.
- The Asheville Terrace Community Health Worker Program: This program is a community-based model addressing complex needs of high-risk older adults in subsidized senior housing. Because the Asheville Terrace program specializes in community health work with older adults there is an emphasis on social connectivity, safety, physical activity, and nutrition. Services are provided at individual and community level and include food distributions, health education & exercise, access to on-site clinical services and home visits. We also coordinate activities to facilitate the development of social networks and create opportunities for engagement through community volunteerism.
- Home Based Primary Care Outreach: MAHEC will offer home based primary care services and medication management assistance through referrals from Buncombe County Adult Protective Services and agency community partners.
- Meals on Wheels delivers prepared nutritious meals to homebound seniors helping them live nourished lives with independence and security in the comfort of their own homes. The nutritious meal, friendly visit and safety check help them cope with three of the biggest threats of aging: hunger, isolation, and loss of independence. Research proves that when seniors have the right support, they gain greater quality of life, need fewer hospital stays and live longer.
- Caregiver Support Program: MemoryCare is a nonprofit out-patient clinic providing care management services for families affected by dementia that combines medical care of older adults with cognitive impairment with support and education for their caregivers.
- Emergency Home Repair Program: The primary goal of the Emergency Home Repair Program is to reduce imminent threats to life, health and safety in homes owned and occupied by low and very low-income people living in Buncombe County. For HCCBG funding, the program clients are 60 years and older and there are no restrictions on income.
- Transportation Services: Mountain Mobility provides both medical and general transportation to the most vulnerable members of our community who have no other means of transportation. Home and Community Care Block Grant funds allow us to provide life-saving medical trips such as dialysis and chemotherapy and to transport seniors to and from grocery shopping, pharmacies, and other critical destinations throughout our community.
- Adult Day Services: MountainCare Adult Day Services is an engaging, safe, state certified nonprofit Day Care/Day Health program that includes health monitoring, social enrichment, therapeutic activities, and nutritionally balanced meals. We are open Monday-Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm and two Saturdays a month from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Funding supports adult day care, adult day health and transportation to and from the program.
- Silver Dollars Program: OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling’s Silver Dollars Program improves and supports financial wellbeing among older adults with individual financial/housing counseling, education programs/webinars, and free tax preparation. Please visit www.ontrackwnc.org for updates on programs to help navigate finances and housing challenges caused by COVID-19.
- Elder Law Program: Pisgah Legal Services’ Elder Law Program provides free legal services to low-income seniors (age 60 and older) who are in crisis due to housing instability; dangerous or unhealthy living conditions; creditor, financial, and physical abuse; consumer scams; illegal debt collection; or lack of basic resources such as health care access or subsistence income.
We are fortunate in Buncombe County to have such an array of quality services for our older population. To learn more, please visit individual program and agency websites.
