When it was created over 25 years ago, North Fulton’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to adults over the age of 60 hoped to build a community where all older adults are revered, cared for and supported to live meaningful and productive lives.
“Senior Services North Fulton was started in 1991. Our organization wanted to ensure that no senior in our community was hungry, isolated or lonely and ALL seniors had opportunities for socialization and friendship,” said Heather Terry, community relations director at Senior Services North Fulton.
Through its programs, SSNF provides a critical lifeline of services to older adults living in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. The programs include Meals on Wheels, transportation to and from medical appointments and a voucher program that facilitates travel to and from shopping, visits with friends/family and other outings. The agency also operates four senior centers located in Alpharetta/Crabapple, Milton, Roswell and Sandy Springs
“We have found that our Meals on Wheels program combined with our medical transportation service truly makes a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of older adults. Having nutritious meals delivered and access to doctor’s appointments reduces the number of sick visits and hospitalizations,” added Terry.
The organization also provides care management, in-home services and Meals on Wheels for Pets. The services and programs are free or provided at a very low cost to the seniors.
Volunteers can support SSNF’s efforts across North Fulton by becoming Meals on Wheels or Meals on Wheels for Pets drivers, senior center volunteers or join the Friendly Visitor Program.
“We want to keep seniors living safely and independently in their homes and help them avoid costly care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities,” said Terry. “ It has been found participation in these two programs alone make a huge impact on the health of our clients.”
In 2016, SSNF provided services to over 1,800 seniors in the North Fulton community and delivered over 32,000 Meals on Wheels. Over the coming years, Senior Services North Fulton hopes to eliminate senior hunger in North Fulton and ensure seniors in the community have transportation to every medical appointment.
In other news: Amerigroup Community Care of Georgia, a statewide provider of Medicaid managed care services, is working with the Heating Energy Assistance Team, Georgia's oldest statewide fuel fund, to help struggling Georgians pay their heating bills this winter. Amerigroup donated $10,000 to help low-income families stay warm through the coldest months of the year and reduce health risks that often arise from unsafe heating practices. Amerigroup's donation will help HEAT to positively impact more than 30 Georgia households across the state. HEAT has been assisting Georgians with their home energy needs since 1983, and helped more than 5,000 Georgia households from being left in the cold last winter.
Information: ssnorthfulton.org
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