Louisville City Wire

Louisville  – On March 14, Councilwoman Donna Purvis (D-5) and Councilman Phillip Baker (D-6) joined representatives from Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS) and the Humana Foundation to announce a $250,000 grant from the Humana Foundation to JFCS.

The funding will be used over a three-year period and will enable JFCS to take its Klein Older Adult Program’s highly successful array of services to residents in Council Districts 5 and 6. These resources will help combat loneliness, isolation, and connect seniors with community resources that will help them live longer independently and increase their quality of life.

The program will establish a pilot project in those districts to address social, emotional, and physical needs of aging residents. With the primary focus to increase socialization opportunities for residents close to home by offering group activities and individual services to promote well-being and reduce isolation.

“Through programs like group social activities, exercise and recreation classes, and home-based services, we hope to decrease the social isolation seniors often experience as they try desperately to remain independent and age with dignity,” said JFCS CEO, Dr. David Finke.

The Humana Foundation through its health equity strategy is focused on partnering with grassroots organizations to combat loneliness in diverse and underserved communities. “We’re proud to support Jewish Family & Career Services in empowering seniors to live longer, healthier and more connected lives,” said Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of the Humana Foundation. “The Klein Older Adult Program will enable Louisville seniors and help them to age with merit and independence.”

JFCS worked closely with Councilmembers Purvis and Baker to identify the most pressing needs for seniors and identified the following neighborhoods to concentrate on during the funding period, District 5 (Shawnee, Chickasaw, Portland, and Russell neighborhoods) and District 6 (Old Louisville, Shelby Park, and parts of the Algonquin and Park Hill neighborhoods).

“This is such an exciting partnership, thank you to Humana Foundation for providing these funds and to Jewish Family & Career Services for taking the lead on the program. This is going to have a huge impact in our districts, and I can’t wait for programming to start,” said Councilwoman Purvis.

Programs aimed at reducing senior isolation not only bridge generational gaps but also serve as a testament to our commitment to fostering a compassionate and interconnected community. “When we prioritize initiatives that bring our seniors together, such as this one with Jewish Family and Career Services, we enhance their quality of life and enrich the fabric of our entire community,” said Councilman Philip Baker. “I thank Councilwoman Purvis, Jewish Family & Career Services and the Humana Foundation for lending their support to this important initiative.”

JFCS has hired a program coordinator, Whitney Boswell, who will plan social group activities with the senior living communities in the targeted districts. Some of the activities will include exercise, education, and recreational groups.

Seniors who are homebound are at particular risk for loneliness and social isolation. This new programming will provide homebound residents with customized home-based services to address their individual needs and preferences.

Participants will be identified through interactions with other residents of the complex or through referrals from council members, complex management, or community leaders.

Individuals will be screened and re-assessed at intervals, using the UCLA loneliness scale and the Social Network Index. Services provided may include assessments and care planning, service coordination, care navigator check ins, friendly visiting, and telephone reassurance.

For further information about the JFCS programming, please contact Marketing Manager, Jim Mahanes at (502) 322-1906, Councilwoman Purvis’ office at (502) 574-1105, or Councilman Baker’s office at (502) 574-1106.

###

About Jewish Family & Career Services

Jewish Family & Career Services is a local non-profit with over 115 years of service to the Louisville community. Today JFCS provides services in four main areas: Career & Economic Opportunities; Clinical Services; Family Stability; Klein Older Adults services.

About the Humana Foundation

The Humana Foundation was established in 1981 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. and is focused on health equity, working to eliminate unjust, avoidable, and unnecessary barriers in health and healthcare. The Foundation fosters evidence-based collaborations and investments that help people in underserved communities live connected, healthy lives. As a steward of good health, the Foundation creates healthy emotional connections for people and communities and is shaping a healthier approach to nutrition to support lifelong well-being. For more information, visit humanafoundation.org.

Humana Inc. and the Humana Foundation believe everyone should have access to the tools and support needed to have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Our commitment to improving health outcomes for all – our members and patients, employees, the communities we serve, the healthcare system, and the environment - is the foundation of our Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) impact platform.

Original source can be found here.