Pew Announces Grants to Support Philadelphia Region’s Elderly

Philadelphia—The Pew Charitable Trusts announced today that it will provide $4,285,000 over the next three years to 27 Philadelphia area organizations that work to preserve the dignity and quality of life of low-income, frail elderly individuals.

The agencies deliver important services that help seniors obtain public benefits and community resources vital to their health and financial stability; reduce elder depression and social isolation, which can affect their physical well-being; and provide in-home assistance to help them with self-care and household chores. The grants will also help to fund programs for informal caregivers, such as family members who often juggle responsibilities for elderly loved ones while managing their own health and financial well-being.

“Low-income and frail elderly are among the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Frazierita Klasen, senior director of Pew’s Philadelphia program. “Pew is pleased to support local partners whose services and care help strengthen the dignity of the elderly and enable them to live safely and securely in their own homes for as long as possible.”

With Pew’s assistance, the agencies will annually help approximately 26,000 seniors meet their basic needs; provide counseling services to an additional 1,200 to address social isolation and depression; and offer personal care and chore services to about 2,600 individuals with physical impairments. In addition, approximately 600 caregivers will receive assistance through the supported organizations.

A list of the 2015 grantees follows. All grants are for three years. 

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Grants for programs serving the frail elderly in the Philadelphia region, categorized by funding goal:

Goal 1: To assist elderly individuals to meet their basic needs by helping them to obtain available public benefits or such services as nutritious meals, financial counseling, and housing-related legal assistance.

Benefits Data Trust—$187,000

For support of the Pennsylvania Benefits Center to assist low-income elderly in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)—$225,000

For continued support of the CARIE Line, a free telephone service providing information and consultation to vulnerable elderly people in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties.

Community Legal Services—$174,000

To continue to provide legal assistance to low-income elderly in Philadelphia to help them secure financial and health benefits as well as home-based services.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley (aka Clarifi)—$140,000

For continued support of financial education and counseling for seniors in the five-county Philadelphia area.

ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth—$55,000

For continued operating support to provide information and referral and in-home services to elderly individuals.

Family Service Association of Bucks County—$150,000

For continued support to provide information and referral and case management services to elderly public-housing residents in Bucks County.

Golden Slipper Center for Seniors—$130,000

For continued support to assist vulnerable elderly, including those who are Russian immigrants.

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania—$150,000

To continue to provide services to low- and moderate-income elderly in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.

Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance—$120,000

To provide nutrition counseling and meals for elderly individuals in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.

Senior Community Services—$185,000

For operating support for a range of services for low-income elderly in Delaware County who participate in its senior centers and in-home programs.

SeniorLAW Center—$175,000

For continued support of the Homeowners Assistance Program, which addresses housing-related legal problems of low-income elderly in Philadelphia and the four suburban counties.

Goal 2: To significantly alleviate the symptoms of depression among elderly individuals and decrease their social isolation.

Central Montgomery Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center—$137,000

For continued support of the Senior Outreach Service program, providing in-home mental health assessments and treatment to the elderly and assisting their caregivers.

Family Services of Montgomery County—$150,000

For continued support of Project Hearth to provide in-home mental health counseling and support services to frail elderly people of Montgomery County.

Intercommunity Action—$175,000

For continued support of peer-led counseling groups for elderly individuals in Philadelphia who are at risk of or experiencing depression.

Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation—$142,000

To provide mental health counseling to Korean elderly in the Philadelphia region.

Supportive Older Women’s Network—$121,000

For continued operating assistance to maintain and establish support groups to reduce the incidence of depression among low-income elderly women in Philadelphia.

Goal 3: To improve the ability of elderly persons to live securely and independently in their homes through the provision of such services as personal care assistance, volunteer chore help, friendly visiting, and supports that enhance personal and physical safety.

Drexel University—$150,000

For continued support to provide geriatric care and social services for low-income, frail elderly in Philadelphia.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia—$242,000

For continued support to provide in-home services to frail elderly in Philadelphia.

Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia—$165,000

To strengthen and expand volunteer services for isolated seniors in Northeast Philadelphia.

Klein Jewish Community Center—$165,000

For support of social services to assist low-income elderly in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties to obtain needed resources.

Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life—$249,000

To provide in-home support to frail elderly living in Northeast Philadelphia.

Penn Asian Senior Services—$198,000

To help low-income Asian-American elderly to adhere to their medication and care plans.

Surrey Services for Seniors—$150,000

For continued support of the Surrey Cares program for older adults in Chester and Delaware counties.

Visiting Nurse Association Community Services—$150,000

For continued support of the In-Home Care program to provide personal care and homemaker services to low-income elderly people in Montgomery County.

Goal 4: To substantially strengthen the capabilities of informal caregivers through respite, training, and other supportive services.

Adult Care of Chester County—$100,000

For continued operating support to provide day care services for elderly people living with chronic illnesses as well as respite and educational programs for their caregivers.

Lutheran Settlement House—$150,000

For continued support of the Caregivers Reducing Stress (CARES) program in Philadelphia.

Thomas Jefferson University—$150,000

For continued support of the Jefferson Elder Care Dementia Service program.