Monday, April 29, 2024
As we get older and reach our golden years, normal everyday tasks like driving and cooking can slowly start to become more challenging — especially while aging in place.
But luckily there are many resources available in Hood County that can lessen the burden and stress on these individuals as they continue to live independently.
MEALS
Meals on Wheels (MOW) of Hood County, sponsored by the Hood County Senior Center and the Hood County Committee on Aging, provides meals to homebound seniors struggling with hunger every day.
“Our mission is to ‘see Hood County seniors live nourished lives with independence and dignity,’” said Shylo Preston, meal program manager for MOW. “A volunteer driver delivers a hot lunchtime meal and a friendly check-in once per day, Monday through Friday.”
Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver about 300 meals a day and serve more than 6,000 meals each month in Hood County.
Volunteers deliver much more than a hot meal. They also deliver care, compassion and love to their clients.
“Qualifications are 60 years of age or older, homebound, and unable to properly shop and/or cook for themselves, which may result in poor nutrition,” Preston said. “Clients do not receive an invoice for meals; meals are provided with a suggested donation of $3.50. We are a private non-profit.”
To start receiving meals or to become a volunteer, visit mowhctx.org online, or call the Hood County Senior Center at 817-573-5533.
TRANSPORTATION
The Hood County Senior Center and the Hood County Committee on Aging also offer a transportation program Monday through Friday for seniors 60 and older.
Transportation can be arranged for grocery shopping, lunch at local restaurants, and scheduled appointments.
Clients will be transported to and from local doctor and dentist appointments Monday through Friday. These appointments will be given first consideration when scheduling all transportation. Transportation reservations must be made by noon of the day before the client wishes to be picked up, unless they already have a standing reservation. Doctor appointments will be handled on an as-needed basis.
To be eligible for the program:
⦁ A person must be 60 years of age or older.
⦁ A person must reside within the allowed transportation coverage area.
⦁ A person must not have transportation available through other resources.
⦁ A person must not be able to drive.
⦁ Paperwork must be filled out prior to using this transportation service. A Solid Gold Rider Card identification number must be issued to each HCCOA client using The Transit System transportation.
For more information or to schedule a ride, call the Hood County Senior Center at 817-573-5533.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Mission Granbury, Hood County’s largest nonprofit organization, provides several resources for residents like a weekly food pantry, emergency assistance, veteran assistance, and a shelter for women and children.
But Mission Granbury also has a program that’s strictly designed for seniors.
In mid-2020, Mission Granbury absorbed the Senior Connection program, now known as Senior Care. The Senior Care Referral program helps seniors with a variety of needs like small home repairs, utility assistance, fans in the summer, heaters in the winter, and weekly pantry deliveries for low-income homebound seniors.
Mission Granbury’s Ken Horton and Pat Andris, case managers, along with Anthony Wilson, client services assistant, work together to field calls from seniors and provide help when needed.
They’ve helped seniors with their medications, appliance installation and financial assistance — anything from hearing aids to dental work.
"We do food delivery and we partner with StoneWater (Church),” Wilson said, who has worked with Mission Granbury for close to three years. “They provide the drivers; we provide the food. Sometimes in between, we give them a little extra, like blankets and heaters. One resource we lean on a lot — like for house cleaning or basic yard work — is the elders with the LDS church here in town because they're always looking for service projects.”
"We will also partner with Area Agency on Aging and get them in touch with Jackie,” Andris said. “If they're elderly and fit the profile, then she can get housekeeping for them.”
Many local businesses — like Lowe’s, Mattressville, Pirate Pest Control, G&G Electric and Atomic Plumbing — donate their merchandise or give a discount on their items or services to the Senior Care Referral program.
“This lady's hot water heater went out, so she needed a 30-gallon tank. Lowe's gave us that for half price,” said Andris, who has served as a case manager for Mission Granbury for close to seven years. “We had one little lady call not long ago and her mattress was about to give way. She'd sit on it, and she'd fall off; it was just worn to shreds. Mattressville worked with us and got us a good price on mattresses. We have such good relationships with businesses around town.”
The Senior Care Referral program provides seniors with a gift card to Mission Granbury’s Resale Shop for clothing, while First Baptist Church of Granbury also regularly donates a gas card to assist seniors who need to travel to doctor appointments.
“Granbury's the best thing I've ever seen with partnering with a lot of people,” Andris said. “It's not just us helping seniors; it’s a whole teamwork of people that are working together to help them.”
Andris, Horton and Wilson also serve as financial consultants to seniors and help them make the best possible purchasing decisions regarding their income.
"When we took over Senior Care, I never had an idea that our seniors were in such bad shape,” Andris said. “They honestly live on $900 a month on their social security and they're paying rent, they're paying utilities, they have a car payment — they're just in terrible shape.”
"They are already living on minimum needs,” Wilson said. “There are some seniors that I spoke to who are 80 years old and their grocery budget for the month is $100. They rely on us and Meals on Wheels. They may not have a car, so coming to the food pantry is just not a solution. You have to be very careful not to get too sad at the end of the day.”
“We have to work really hard to leave it here and not take it home with us because I've gone home and just cried,” Andris added. “We just help everybody that we possibly can.”
Andris said most seniors are “very appreciative” of anything they do for them, and said she hopes the town of Granbury soon realizes some of the huge needs that seniors face daily.
"I love to help people, but I can’t do all that on my own, so working here at Mission Granbury is a real blessing to be able to step out and help these individuals, and make a difference just in making a decision,” she added. “We love what we do, and we love working with the seniors.”
For more information about the Senior Care Referral program or to inquire about assistance, call the main number for Mission Granbury at 817-579-6866.
