For over 45 years ElderSource has been able to help countless seniors and their families live better lives by connecting them to valuable community resources. While we may not be able to share every success, here are a few that give a glimpse into how our agency has been able to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Several of our featured clients were served by our Senior to Senior Program which is an endowment created by J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver coordinated through the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida to assist seniors facing an unexpected financial crisis. The program is also generously supported by a grant from The Jim Moran Foundation.
Moving In
Mr. Gus is 67-years-old and raises his two granddaughters, who are 4 and 6-years-old. He lives on a limited income while also getting some help from the Department of Children and Families and the granddaughters’ father. Mr. Gus was a plumber for 15 years, but retired a few years ago due to a disability.
Struggling to make ends meet along with the expenses of taking care of his grandchildren, he signed up for HUD housing and was finally approved after a two-year wait. Mr. Gus found a house and contacted ElderSource requesting assistance to pay the deposit and first month’s rent.
Thanks to the Senior to Senior Program, Mr. Gus and his granddaughters were able to move into their new home.
A Clean Start
Mr. Kerry is 72-years-old, suffers from extreme arthritis and lives alone in Clay County. Recently his washing machine stopped working. When he attempted to use his washing machine, water gushed out and spread everywhere. Mr. Kerry did his best to clean up the water to avoid any possible mold issues, but was left with a broken machine.
Unable to wash his clothes for several weeks because his arthritis prevents him from lifting a heavy laundry basket, Mr. Kerry was ashamed to come out in public because of how his clothes looked and smelled.
Through our Senior to Senior Program, ElderSource was able to provide Mr. Kerry with a new washing machine helping him to remain independent in his home.
Hurricane Relief
Meet Ms. Norma. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, Ms. Norma a widow caring for her disabled adult daughter, experienced damage to both her fence and porch roof. The fence was torn away, while the porch roof started leaking. She also lost all her food due to an electricity outage. Because ElderSource was able to tap into Disaster Recovery Funds, her fence was fixed and peace of mind was restored. Also, Ms. Norma was referred to the Small Business Administration (SBA) where she received a loan which was able to cover the roof repairs, along with food cards to cover grocery needs for her and her daughter. Ms. Norma. is very thankful for our help in restoring her yard and fence.
Ramping It Up
Ms. Patricia is 60-years-old, legally blind and uses a wheelchair. She has multiple health conditions and limited mobility due to a stroke. Ms. Patricia rarely leaves home because of her limited mobility. When she does, her mother and aunt have to lift her wheelchair over old wooden steps that lead into their home. This is an unsafe circumstance and hazard for Ms. Patricia and her family. Ms. Patricia’s case manager from Aging True referred her to ElderSource for assistance in getting a ramp built for the home. The Senior to Senior Program helped pay for the ramp to be built making it safe and easy to transport Ms. Patricia in and out of her home.
Video Testimonials
We also have video testimonials featured on our YouTube page. View a sample of our videos below and subscribe to our channel for future success stories.
