 1. What can the Tarrant County Congregate Meal provide for me?
The Congregate Meal program promotes improved nutrition by not only the meal itself, but by also providing the opportunity to share a meal in the company of others, rather than eating alone. 2. Tell me more about the Congregate Meal? In FY07, Senior Citizen Services served more than 5000 seniors and provided 244,000 hot, nutritious meals and other services to elderly participants in thirty senior centers scattered throughout Tarrant County. These meals provide 33% of the daily Dietary Reference Intake for senior adults.We know that a large proportion of all our participants consider the congregate meal their most important source of nutrition in helping them to avoid nutritional risk. 3. What is provided at the Senior Centers? All thirty Senior Centers can provide opportunities for social interaction with others in recreational, educational and physical activities. The Senior Centers provide opportunities for wellness assessments, nutrition and health tips, and legal information. Many seniors are provided assistance when it comes to technology. 4. Can I get information at the Senior Centers that provide me with solving a need? Individual case management assistance, senior benefits information is provided by a licensed social worker. Nutrition Education provides opportunities for seniors to review medications with licensed pharmacists and review dietary needs with registered dietician. 5. What if I wanted to volunteer? It is important to feel connection to society and to make a contribution to it. SCS volunteers give back to the community, sharing their experience and abilities in service. Senior adults participate in volunteer opportunities in senior centers as well as programs affiliated with the RSVP. Senior RSVP volunteers (1,324) gave over 201,576 hours of service in 2007. Their tasks range from the relatively simple to the highly skilled and complex. If we convert those hours to a dollar amount based only at minimum wage, it equates to $1,333,320 in donated service to more than 100 community agencies by senior citizen volunteers. This is a huge impact upon the community, as well as the individual senior volunteer. 6. I am interested in the health and wellness program, what is there available? A new innovative senior health and fitness center has been initiated in 2006 at the Resource Connection. The Sr. Resource Center was opened in 2006, it utilizes a therapeutic swimming pool, fitness equipment facilities and a variety of healthy life-style classes. Staffed with a degreed health sciences center director who is also certified physical fitness trainer, the center is attracting many participants to a new and healthier lifestyle. |
