CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions Awarded Grant to Provide Nutritious Meals to Hamilton County Seniors

Online, October 21, 2009 (Newswire.com) - CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions has been awarded a $10,000 grant to provide nutritious meals to Hamilton County seniors through in-home delivery and at two neighborhood meal sites. The grant is from the Legacy Fund, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), which provides Hamilton County donors a vehicle for using their gifts in effective ways that benefit the community.

The grant has proved timely for CICOA, which learned in September that the state would reduce Social Services Block Grants (SSBG) to Area Agencies on Aging by 30 percent, amounting to a $500,000 shortfall for CICOA. The SSBG funds are used in part to provide nutrition services to area seniors. CICOA is looking now to private donations to help make up the difference.

"Nutrition is a concern at any age but can be a particularly difficult issue for seniors who may have trouble getting proper nourishment," said CICOA President and CEO Orion H. Bell IV. "This grant makes it possible for CICOA to continue providing hot, nutritious meals to seniors that promote health and improved quality of life at home. We are very grateful to the Legacy Fund for their partnership in providing services to seniors in Hamilton County."

From July 2008 through June 2009 CICOA funded more than $133,000 in home-delivered and congregate meals in Hamilton County. CICOA provided approximately 12,000 home-delivered meals to seniors through Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County and served an additional 6,000 congregate meals at PrimeLife Enrichment and Noblesville Senior Services. Private funding supplied another 2,000 "second meals" for seniors.

About CICOA
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions is the premier source of information and access to resources for seniors and persons with disabilities living in Central Indiana. Through a network of agencies, service groups and volunteers, CICOA provides home care services including personal home care, home-delivered meals, home health care, senior transportation services, respite care and caregiver assistance. Annually CICOA provides in-home care management to more than 3,000 people, delivers more than 515,000 nutritious meals to homes and 32 neighborhood sites, and offers respite care and supplemental services to 1,500 caregivers. CICOA's Aging & Disability Resource Center handles more than 44,000 calls per year from people seeking assistance with aging and disability issues. CICOA is a leader in community change with its Lifelong Living Communities Initiative designed to make central Indiana the most elder-friendly community in the country.