Anne M. Chernin, (l.) Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations Director of Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service of So. Palm Beach County; and Janice Friebaum, (r.) Senior Planner, Community Planning of Jewish Federation of So. Palm Beach County met with Alliance of Delray President, Robert Schulbaum and this Blogger who serves as First Vice President of the Alliance of Delray, Tuesday morning, April 29, 2008 for a wide ranging discussion on what services are most needed for seniors in South Palm Beach County.
Ms. Friebaum is the lead investigator for the Jewish Federation charged with gathering useable ideas that can help older residents and make recommendations to the Federation to support their implementation.
We offered several suggestions where there is dire need:
1. Transportation services to take people to doctors and food shopping.
2. Delivery of meals to the homebound on a larger scale than exists at present.
3. A day care center in West Delray area for Alzheimer’s and dementia afflicted people.
“The Cumberland Ave. library, soon to be used as a book storage and shipping point by the Palm Beach County Library system when the new Hagen Ranch Road library opens in June or July would, with little alteration, be a perfect building for such an asset, so family caregivers could get a few hours respite.” said Schulbaum.
4. A system of one-on-one visits to homebound seniors by volunteers or qualified staff members to determine if these people were eating properly, caring for personal hygiene needs and taking their medications.
5. An independent transportation network, something that Ms. Friebaum has been studying that is in use in a few other states. She plans to do further in-depth research into this possibility.
Schulbaum made clear to the two women that the South Palm Beach County Partnership comprised of the Alliance of Delray, the Coalition of Boynton West (COBWRA) and the West Boca Community Council can seek the help of elected officials when needed for the betterment of our citizens.
Ms. Friebaum said she would continue to speak to other community leaders, then put together her recommendations to attempt to obtain funds for the future that would impact people in need favorably.
If you have some other good ideas you can reply to this blog.
Comments (1)
My friend lives in Santa Fe and asked me to look in on her folks who live near me. I brought over some home made soup for them and they were thrilled!
( my mizvah for today) Seems like there is a big need for this. Googled meals for seniors, and found your blog. Thinking of starting a home based business of cooking delicious home made food and delivering to seniors in the Boca Delray area. Whats your thought on this.
Posted by Penny Turkell | July 8, 2009 6:25 PM
Posted on July 8, 2009 18:25