Emmaus Services for the Aging believes that many of the needs among low-income seniors can be addressed through a one-stop-shop model offering education to empower seniors, increased access to nutritional foods, regular monitoring by medical professionals, increased access to existing services and programs, and services and programs designed to improve the quality of life of seniors in the District. All of these forms of support are currently offered to seniors at every Emmaus Senior Center. Our programs and services can be divided into five categories:
Outreach Advocacy Program
We seek to provide emotional support and guidance to seniors in the District as they face physical, mental, environmental, or financial challenges. Our staff members work to identify each senior’s needs through a case management approach, and provide services designed to link them to the programs available at Emmaus and throughout their area. These include services to assists seniors with rent, mortgage, and tenant issues. In addition, our staff leads a dedicated corps of volunteers to provide seniors with grocery deliveries, reassurance calls, and home visits.
Health and Wellness Promotion Program
Our staff members recognize the importance of providing seniors with support services designed to place the senior in charge of their overall health and wellness. Our staff members connect seniors to preventative services such as free health screenings, free or reduced cost health care, and classes designed to educate seniors about their health. In addition, our Health and Wellness Promotion Program includes medical escort services, medical translation services, and transportation assistance to and from medical appointments. We also offer exercise classes to improve senior fitness. Some classes focus on flexibility and movement while others are high aerobic impact activities. Seniors who graduate from our beginner’s Thrive and Jive fitness class may move on to the more intensive Raise the Bar class. In addition, yoga and tai chi classes are offered at the Emmaus Asian and Pacific Islander Senior Center.
Nutrition Education Program
Our services ensure that seniors have proper nutrition through various educational programs, supplemental grocery services, and meal activities. Our licensed nutritionist provides oversight for all meals served, and is dedicated to improving senior health by educating seniors about the importance of proper nutrition. In addition, our nutritionist provides counseling to seniors who have a high risk of poor nutrition. Moreover, Emmaus staff members provide cooking classes to teach our seniors how to prepare a nutritious meal with ease on their limited budgets. To improve and maintain healthy senior nutritional status, we provide noon-time meals at all three Senior Centers and five Nutrition Sites, Monday through Friday. In addition, we provide nutritious meals to homebound seniors daily. Our Feast for All Senior Market is a supplemental grocery program allowing low-income seniors to shop for the items they need at no cost.
Recreation and Socialization Program
Removing isolation and loneliness from a senior’s life is one of the greatest areas of support Emmaus provides. The need for community based recreation and socialization services is great in Ward 2, where there are a large number of apartments for seniors. The seniors in these buildings need to be provided with access to a safe space where they can socialize, enjoy recreational activities, and be respected as valuable members of the community. The goal of our Recreation and Socialization Program is to reduce loneliness and isolation among seniors and keep the seniors active and vital in their community. Our seniors are encouraged to provide input on what types of recreation and socialization activities are of greatest interest, so that staff members can develop programs accordingly. Some of these services include creative arts activities, Holiday activities and programs, field trips, and congregate meal activities. Our SeniorNet Computer Lab is an important component of our Recreation and Socialization Program, providing seniors with an opportunity to become computer literate, explore the entertainment and education available through the internet, and connect with friends and family through email and other electronic means.
Counseling Services
Our staff members reach out into the District to find seniors in need of support. Our social workers carefully consider the level of independence and care needed for each senior, taking into account the complexities created from their living situation, family details, social/recreational needs, educational/vocational considerations, overall health, legal needs, psychiatric/behavioral factors, and even criminal history. Our social workers and their support staff identify the needs of each senior, provide case management and mental health counseling services, and connect them to the other services offered at Emmaus and through our community partners, including benefits and other forms of support to which they are already entitled. In addition, through our partnership with the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, we operate a self-help legal office for seniors in need of guidance in creditor and landlord disputes.
