The purpose of the Senior Services program at South Coast Business is to support and enhance a structure of social, protective and health services for seniors throughout Coos and Curry counties. South Coast Business is one of sixteen Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in Oregon and one of 600 located throughout the United States. This structure serves to provide an opportunity for continued independence, dignity and a higher quality of life for seniors, age 60 and over.
The intent of Senior Services is to provide a comprehensive and coordinated plan of services, for older Oregonians. Prioritizing the needs and strategies that best fit with our community and that also fit within the budgetary and resource realities of Coos and Curry Counties.
Programs & Services
The I&A process may involve a telephone interview conducted by a Screening Specialist to determine an applicant’s service needs. Upon determining the appropriate services needed, the applicant/client may be referred to a service provider for a face-to-face assessment.
The SCB oversees operation of 7 congregate meal sites and provisions home delivered meals across Coos and Curry counites. Approximately 367 seniors receive meals daily either through the Home Delivered Meals program or through the Congregate Meals Program.
• The Home Delivered Meals program provides a hot, noon-day meals delivered to the home between two and four days a week depending upon the community in which the senior lives with functional limitations and nutritional needs. Seven meals are delivered for the whole week in each city.
• Congregate meal sites provide a hot, noon-day meal three days a week. The congregate sites also serve as a central point for a variety of aging services provided for seniors in the community.
The ELAP program provides legal assistance, information, education and counseling services for older adults.
This program is available to add grab bars to wheelchair ramps to the homes of frail older individuals.
The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is a federally funded state program that offers free, objective and local one-on-one health insurance counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. Certified counselors help people make informed decisions about their health insurance. Free help is available to people ready to sign up for Medicare, people already on Medicare, caregivers and advocates.
Call 800-722-4134 or visit Medicare Help.
Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but often overwhelming. Half of older Americans report having someone they consider to be a caregiver and close to one-third say they serve as a caregiver for someone else. Learn about the support resources that are available.
Most older adults want to live in their own homes rather than relocate. learn more about Oregon Project Independence and in-home services that help make it possible for seniors to age at home with dignity and independence.
The VDC program is for Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system who
are in need of nursing care and/or Care Giver services at home, have needs that exceed the hours
available through the VA’s Homemaker/Home Health Aid Program, and are interested in self-directed
care. The program is a collaboration between South Coast Business, the VA and the Aging & Disabilities Resource Connection
(ADRC) serving eligible Veterans.
Transportation can be the key to independence—helping seniors get to the store, to doctor’s appointments, or out to visit friends and family. SCB helps seniors and their families find transportation options and plan for a senior’s driving retirement.
We provide Options Counseling to seniors and their family members. Clients often have many needs and are unsure of where to turn for help. SCB staff help the senior and/or family member sort out their needs and identify options for filling those needs. As the family decides on their course of action our staff provides support, often being consulted multiple times during the process.
Our staff provide the information and assistance our elders need to maintain independence with dignity, no matter what life throws at them. We are always happy to sit down for a one-on-one session with people who need assistance, advocacy, networking, or just need to talk. For example, people sometimes need help filling out social security papers, public housing applications, and others. We do not make the decisions or provide recommendations, but merely read through the paperwork with them. We have helped people to access the Medicare.gov website to help in identifying the Medicare prescription programs that are available.
For instances where SCB does not have the needed resource, we have an entire network of partners who offer companion and complimentary services to draw referrals from. We work closely with the good people at Social Security, Aging and Persons with Disabilities, the housing authority and a host of other local non-profits. While we may not be the best place to fill some needs, we are almost always the best place to start.
Get your list of questions out and give one of our friendly staff members a call today. You’ll be glad you did!
