The U.S. Census report (2000) indicates that there is a significant low-income senior population in William Byrd Community House's service area. Low-income and minority elders often face more barriers identifying and accessing appropriate and necessary resources. As a result, lower income and minority seniors need flexible, developmentally appropriate programming that reduces or eliminates barriers to attendance.
Gerontology theory and research indicate that successful aging requires access to meaningful activities, satisfying peer-family-community relationships, mental stimulation, physical exercise, and health care. Activities that strengthen social networks and interpersonal interactions are particularly vital to successful aging (Atchley, 2000). Seniors with limited social connections are at increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia (Fratiglione et. Al., 2000; Zunzunegui et.al, 2003). This cognitive decline is predictive of decreased independence and higher mortality rates in older persons (Korten et. Al., 1999; Anstey et.al, 2001).
Social integration and support are also associated with protection against negative physical and mental health outcomes such as depression, heart disease, and hypertension (Seeman et.al, 2001). William Byrd's Senior program expands opportunities for social interaction while removing common barriers to service use. Although Senior Program activities officially take place two days per week, the full scope of the program is much broader due to the holistic spectrum of services offered by WBCH to all clients. Many home and hospital visits, assessments, interventions, advocacy, and extra activities take place outside of normal program hours.
The WBCH Senior program fills a service gap that daily programs do not address. Our two-day-a-week activity program is designed to meet the needs of area seniors who prefer to participate on a limited basis and are not in need of daily, intensive services, or those who are too frail to attend a multi-day program but not limited enough to consider adult daycare. An extensive review of current literature on aging and conversations with Dr. E. Ayn Welleford of Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Gerontology has revealed much empirical support for an effective programmatic "dosage". Research from the Mayo Clinic (2004) indicates that even a few hours a month of increased socialization and activity can help seniors feel more connected to their communities.
Senior Program activities foster social integration, health monitoring and nutritional information, as well as opportunities to exercise and join discussion groups, participate in intergenerational activities, and leadership activities. Senior clients in this program have knowledge of and access to WBCH's full range of services. These services include the following programs: emergency services, crisis intervention, and intensive case management services. Our highly trained Licensed Social Worker and Masters of Social Work staff specialize in gerontological social work. Their skills and expertise increase the opportunity for early detection of problems and intervention when issues are detected in our seniors.
