Jackson-Located Senior Center Gets Grant To Expand Senior Services

One of the most impacted communities throughout this pandemic has been the elderly. People in the age group over 65 are in the most dangerous category in contracting the virus. Even in states without lockdown procedures, seniors may have to take extreme caution with traveling because of this. Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have seen frightening spikes in residents getting COVID-19, which is alarming. And with some seniors lacking proper health care, as many do, this could lead to a very big problem as COVID rages on. That’s why the story that Thome PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), a health care program that provides services to low-income senior citizens has received a $250,000 grant to fund an expansion of their Day Health Center, an expansion that will cost $1 million in total.

Here’s some background:

This center serves as an alternative to nursing home care and is run through with United Methodist Retirement Communities as well as Region 2 Area Agency on Aging. These grant funds have been awarded by The Maryland-based Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, who donated to UMRC to help fund this expansion. This health center currently provides services to low-income senior citizens 55+ who live in Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale counties.

UMRC CEO Steve Fetyko spoke on this grant award:

We’re thrilled,” Fetyko said. “Weinberg has been a huge supporter of helping older adults remain vibrant in their communities for a long time and this is just one more way they’ve really helped us to be able to do that”.

The expansion is about 2000 sq foot and is being finished up now, and since the expansion will not be attached to the main senior center until the end, it has allowed construction to continue even though the COVID-19 pandemic.

PACE Executive Director Susan Decker also spoke on this grant award:

This is good news for our participants who have been living alone and experiencing social isolation for the past many months.

Thome PACE team members have done an excellent job in bringing services into participants’ homes, but it will greatly improve participant morale to be able to socialize with their peers again.”

Grants for seniors

GrantWatch currently has 330 aging grants and grants for senior citizens. these grants are for nonprofits, for-profits, and small businesses that provide a variety of services for the aging and senior citizen populations, such as geriatric care, immediate human needs, community improvement initiatives, academic enrichment, arts, and health needs.