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HomeMy Public PortalAboutHigh Country Elder Care,Z°h1 K /ley l /yec, 7(,a/ High Country Elder Care program awarded grant money In June, High Country Elder Care was awarded 2 grants equal- ing $10,000. The first grant for $5000 was given by the Alzheimer's State Check Off Committee. This money will be used to pro- vide scholarship money for those people who suffer from Alzheimer's or dementia and can- not afford the cost to attend the senior social day program. It will help reimburse us for the full amount so we can con- tinue to offer our service. We have room for more participants. The second grant was award- ed by IDA-ORE, Idaho Planning and Development also equaling $5000. This will be used to help with program expenses. The High Country Elder Care Program is a non-profit Senior Social Day Program. Our goal is to keep the senior active and in the mainstream of life by rekin- dling old interests and develop- ing new ones. Clients participate in regular activities such as stretch and tone exercise classes. Arts and Crafts, games, group discussions and outings. The pro- gram is designed to meet the needs of each individual with supervi- sion by our caring, professional staff. Our hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with transportation available. We are in need of donations so we can continue to offer our ser- vices to all despite their ability to pay. We are also looking for vol- unteers who might like to teach: a craft, play music, help with an out- ing, or just help out at the pro- gram. Our program is unique to the State of Idaho and we hope to ;see it grow and become an inte- gral part of the care system in car- ing for our seniors. For more information call Tracy or Caroline at the McCall Senior Center (208) 634-5408. High Country Elder Care gets $10,000 in grants High Country Elder Care in McCall has been awarded two grants totaling $10,000. The first grant for $5,000 was given by The Alzheimer's State Check Off Committee. The money will be used to provide scholarship money for people who suffer from Alzheimer's Disease or dementia and cannot af- ford the cost to attend the senior social day program. "It will help reimburse us for the full amount so we can continue to offer our service," Elder Care coordi- nator Caroline Valle said. "We have room for more participants." The second grant was awarded by IDA-ORE, Idaho Planning and De- velopment also equaling $5,000. This will be used to help with program expenses The High Country Elder Care Pro- gram is a non-profit Senior Social Day Program that operates at the McCall Senior Citizen Center. The programs goal is to keep the senior active and in the mainstream of life by rekindling old interests and developing new ones. Clients partici- pate in regular activities such as stretch and tone exercise classes, arts and crafts, games, group discussions and outings. The program is designed to meet the needs of each individual with su- pervision by a caring, professional staff. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with trans- portation available. Donations are needed in order to continue to offer services to all de- spite their ability to pay. The program also is looking for volunteers who might like to teach a craft, play music, help with an outing, or just help out at the program. "Our program is unique to the State of Idaho and we hope to see it grow and become an integral part of the care system in caring for our senior," Valley said. For information, call 634-5408. 7-77 - /'4,✓s — Valle leaves Elder Care Caroline Valle, left, who is step- ping down as director of High Coun- try Elder Care, receives a plaque and praise Monday from Tracy Moudy during a presentation at the McCall Senior Citizens Center. Valle, who helped set up the pro- gram two years ago, is turning over the director's position to Moudy, Photo by Tom Grote who has served as assistant direc- tor. The elder care program pro- vides activities for shut-in senior citizens in an attempt to cut down on the need for institutional care. Activities are offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the senior center. For information, call 634-5408. P i-- /YPY/s — i//2/93— Photo by Roger Phillips Elder care receives money from church Tracy Moudy, front Left, of the High Country Elder Care, receives a check for $640 from Caroline Valle on behalf of the Outreach Program at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in McCall. The money was given by the church in recognition of Valle, a church mem- ber and founder of the elder care program. The money will be used for a scholarship program to allow low-income senior citizens to be able to take part in the senior day care, which is offered at the McCall Senior Citizen Center. Also pictured, seated, are Ray Lappin, Bertha McClellan and Marie Bennett, who take part in the elder care program. For information, call 634-5408. 9idh News el ta, (q?s High Country Elder Care gives senior citizens in area a day care strictly for grown ups. BY SHARI HAMBLETON The Star -News "Be brave Bertha. Fill those petals in." Jane Tilton encourages se- niors gathered at the McCall Senior Citizen Center during an afternoon art lesson. "We're just looking at pure color here," Tilton said, lean- ing over one woman' s creation. Brush strokes are slow — sometimes excruciatingly slow while bright strokes of yellow and red form flowers. Tracy Moudy Baker's bub- bly giggle.dances through the room with classical music play- ing gently in the background. Baker carries on a conversa- tion with other afternoon artists sitting on each side of her. Both have come to participate in the activity sponsored by the High Country Elder Care program. "People confuse us all the time with the Payette Lakes Care Center," said Baker, director of High Country Elder Care. "They have their place and we have ours. We're trying to help people here who aren't at the (residential) care center level yet." High Country Elder Care is an adult day care program which provides supervised activities and a healthy hot meal for senior citizens through- out the community. Photo by Shari Hambleton "If something seems childish, they shut off right now," says Tracey Moudy Baker, working here on an art project with Ray Lappin. It gives seniors a place to call their own where they are treated with respect and can socialize in a safe, supervised environment. "If something seems childish, they shut off right now," Baker said of the seniors who partici- pate in High Country Elder Care programs. Activities are not limited to the McCall Senior Citizen Center. "We go on outings to places like Ponderosa State Park and Burgdorf ... and picking apples in Council," Baker said. "It surprises people that we actually leave this place." But that may be because the McCall Senior Citizen Center is mistaken by many as a resi- dential treatment facility when it's not. "At High Country Elder Care, we provide a day pro- gram which has a warm friendly home -like atmosphere combined with activities struc- tured to meet the needs and enhance the daily lives of its seniors," Baker said. Baker, 24, has a college degree in health education and began working two years ago at the elder care. "My whole fight here is against boredom (for seniors)," Baker said. "Here, every day is different." In addition to art lessons, daily activities include exer- cise classes and catching up on issues and activities by read- ing newspapers. "It really bothers them to not know what's happening around them," she said. Soft pastel wallpaper trim circles a room in the back of the center filled with plush re- cliners. Baker said afternoon rest time is a must for most of those in the program. "They can just come in here and rest and relax for awhile," she said. High Country Elder Care is open to all seniors 60 years and over in Valley and Adams counties. An application must be filled out and an inter- view will be scheduled. A medical form is also needed from the applicant's physician. Cost for the program is $3 per hour or $25 per day. But Baker said no one is turned away be- cause they can't pay. A big part of the High Country Elder Care Program is giving care- givers and their loved ones a break from everyday care of a senior family member, Baker said. "People do not seem to accept that they can not always do it all," she said. "Sometimes they need a break before they burn out." High Country Elder Care is lo- cated in the McCall Senior Citizen Center behind McCall City Ha11 and Central District Health Department. The program operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call Tracy Moudy Baker at 634-5408.