55 Kip Center was awarded our 2008 grant of $65,000 at the Women United in Philanthropy Annual Event on October 18th. The grant will fund a new pilot program for older adult women at the Center who are living alone and are at the greatest risk of vulnerability to fraud, theft, exploitation, abuse and neglect, or who are caregivers for their spouse and whose health may be compromised because of the strain of caring for a loved one.
What is 55 Kip Center?
55 Kip Center is a comprehensive community center for 700 seniors and their families from 14 diverse communities in South West Bergen. Opened in 1985 in partnership with the Interfaith Council of Rutherford, it is the only nationally accredited Senior Center of Excellence in Bergen County and the first to achieve five-year accreditation in the State of New Jersey.
The Center offers a senior meal program, social and recreational activities, educational and cultural outings, support groups, volunteer opportunities, special events, medical screenings and information, resource and referral services, Tuesday through Saturday.
Sixty three percent of Kip Center’s clientele are over 75 years of age, 85% fall into the HUD Low-Moderate income category, 28% are eligible for public assistance/disability income and 65% are receiving entitlements. Eighty percent of their clientele are women (560). The majority of them are living alone. 35% are the primary caregivers for their loved one.
What is the Pilot Program that is being funded?
The grant funding will create an “Inside the Center” support community for 45 older adult women with:
Preventative Education
A 5-session course (developed by the Rosalyn Carter Center), to cover: Being the Decision Maker; Taking Care of Yourself; Building Cooperative Relationships; Preventing and Solving Problems; Accessing and Developing Resources.
A “threaded discussion” support group on the Center’s website, accessible from home, with support and computer access at the Center’s Boiling Springs Computer Bank (8 workstations).
A Speaker Series at the Center featuring volunteering professional, including WUiP members.
Direct Assistance
Direct assistance of trained and supervised volunteers, providing in-home support, companionship, transportation, shopping help, chore assistance, including special “Pairs that Care” opportunities for parents and children, scout troops and other adult supervised youth organizations (65 volunteers in total).
Early intervention care by a RN Geriatric Specialist providing health counseling, assistance with medication management, risk identification, health assessments, screenings, vision care, and help navigating the medical, social service and insurance systems.
