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Economic crisis particularly hard on vulnerable seniors

For some seniors, the impact of the recession been devastating - some have had retirement savings depleted and now must deal with fears about the future. For others, rising prices of food and services causes difficult choices between food and medication or between home health assistance and selling a home.

Founded in 1975, IONA Senior Services is a nonprofit community organization in Washington, D.C., dedicated to empowering older people to live independent, healthy lives. Through a continuum of information, education, counseling and care, IONA offers:

Community programs to engage those who are isolated in their homes and communities. Through transportation assistance, volunteer “friendly visitors”, home delivered meals to the homebound and congregate meals in three neighborhoods in the city, IONA provides practical support and companionship to help seniors stay involved, and retain their activity levels and health. Inexpensive fitness classes and wellness workshops, free health and wellness training and intergenerational or arts programming draws a diverse and active group of seniors to the Breckinridge Center on Albemarle Street, NW.

The Early Alzheimer’s Clubs offers stimulating programming and fellowship to those who are in the early stages of dementia, and The Adult Day Wellness & Arts Center offers a medically-supervised environment for those who are managing loss of function from cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s or who are in frail health. Both programs are moderately priced alternatives to costly assisted living care, providing caregivers with the necessary support and respite they need to ensure that their loved one can remain at home for as long as possible.

Information, counseling and care management to those who need assistance finding resources or needing guidance during a time of life changes, stress or crisis.

Episcopal Senior Ministries (ESM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing personalized, affordable services and housing options for older adults at all income levels, and of all faiths, in the greater Washington, D.C., area, helping them to live with independence and dignity. Founded in 1924, ESM is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in this area.

ESM provides free or affordable support in multiple ways for older adults and their families who are undergoing unfamiliar life transitions. Affordable housing options include Friendship Terrace Retirement Community and Christian Communities Group Homes. Christian Communities Group Homes offers supportive housing, including medication management and personal care, through a licensed Community Residence Facility, and shared housing, meaning supervised housemates, for other older adults. Many of the residents were formerly homeless and the fees are based on their income.

Community outreach programs connect volunteers with older adults who wish to remain safely and comfortably in their homes by providing assistance with basic home projects through Age-In-Place Volunteer Services, while Age-In-Place Home Repair & Maintenance furnishes affordable skilled labor to complete home repairs. Age-In-Place utilizes volunteers to provide home maintenance and repair services for seniors living in Washington, D.C. More than 1200 volunteers from the local area and across the country work within this program each year, completing more than 300 projects in the last year. The one-day projects include yard work, light house cleaning, more extensive home clean-out, and painting. This work helps enable older adults to remain more safely in their homes. There is also an opportunity for volunteers to have a chance to visit with their AIP client.

IONA Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016, phone 202-895-9401, fax 202-895-0236, or [iona.org](http://www.iona.org]

Episcopal Senior Ministries, 900 Second Street, NE, Ste 206, Washington, DC 20002, phone 202-414-6315, fax 202-289-5693, or esm.org