seniors

Older population declining in Charlottesville, climbing in border counties, report says

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NBC29 spoke with JABA CEO Marta Keane about how the older population is increasing in surrounding rural counties, and more specifically, how it is decreasing in Charlottesville.

"The seniors are decreasing [in Charlottesville] and it's a concern," said Keane.

"Many independent cities had neighborhoods with a relatively large older population 20 or 30 years ago, in Charlottesville the area neighborhoods around downtown were 25-30 percent over 65 in 1990 but today they are probably under 15 percent," says Hamilton Lombard, a demographer for the Weldon Cooper Center, tells JABA. Charlottesville’s 65+ population has only risen slightly since the 2010 census, while Albemarle County’s 65+ population has gone from 12.5 % in 2000 to 19.4 % in 2020. Surrounding counties have also seen sharp increases in their 65+ populations in the last two decades.

A study JABA helped conduct showed there were three main factors that may be forcing seniors to leave Charlottesville.

"The three top areas were affordable housing, transportation, and social engagement," said Keane, emphasizing the cost of housing.

"That is one of the serious concerns for seniors who are on a set income unless they go back to work, and even then they have to watch what they earn. They have to really make everything fit within whatever their social security, and perhaps their retirement has provided for them."

Eight years ago, JABA and other organizations formed the Charlottesville Area Alliance, a collaborative effort to address those issues - which are also important to people of all ages - and to identify needed services and call attention to those that already exist.

"It doesn't need to be about our organization so much as elevating the needs of seniors," Keane said, and "to be that advocate and that voice."

Cooking Up Community: JABA celebrates the importance of nutrition for older adults

This March, JABA joins the Administration for Community Living and nutrition service providers across the country in celebrating the anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program, which coincides with the national awareness campaign about nutrition.  This year’s theme “Cooking up Community” puts an emphasis on the way providing access to healthy food helps build healthier communities for people of all ages.

JABA helps older adults in our community, and their families and caregivers, by promoting healthy eating, decreasing social isolation, and improving health. Our programs also provide connections to home and community-based services that can support independence and overall well-being. For instance, our Home Delivered Meals program provides healthy meals to low-income, home-bound older adults or those who are having trouble preparing meals on their own. At our Community Senior Centers and Respite & Enrichments Centers (REC), not only do we provide much needed social interaction, members receive healthy lunches, nutrition education, and health support from on-staff nurses and caregiver professionals.

Since 1972, the Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults. Funded by the Older Americans Act, local senior nutrition programs serve as hubs for older adults (60 and older) to access nutritious meals and other vital services that strengthen social connections and promote health and well-being.

Senior nutrition is now more important than ever. Each year in the U.S., up to half of adults age 65 and older are at risk of malnutrition, and more than 10 million face hunger. In communities throughout the U.S. – including our own – older adults sometimes lack access to the high-quality, nutritious food they need to remain healthy and independent.

And it’s easy to understand why. In Charlottesville and our surrounding counties, 6.5% of adults 60 and older live in poverty and 4.6% receive food stamps or SNAP. What’s more, 26.6% live alone, 8.6% don't have a vehicle, and almost 30% have a disability. Any combination of these factors can make it difficult for older adults to get the proper nutrition they need.

For more than 50 years, senior nutrition services have helped create healthy, strong communities where all members can flourish regardless of age. That’s why we proudly recognize this anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program and its tremendous impact on the health and well-being of older adults in our community. Join us in celebrating our seniors, our programs, and our community!

Musical guests from The Front Porch enrich the lives of seniors and preschoolers

Last November, The Front Porch, after receiving a grant from Twice Is Nice Upscale Resale Boutique, announced that they were launching an intergenerational music exploration program with the seniors and preschoolers at JABA. The Front Porch was already supporting our Shining Stars preschool with weekly music classes, but now our preschoolers and seniors are engaging in music experiences together!

On Friday, January 27, we heard classics like Hokey Pokey, You are My Sunshine, and Country Roads.

"We're absolutely LOVING these intergenerational musical moments and sing-alongs with our friends over at JABA in Charlottesville," The Front Porch posted on Facebook. "It's been emotional to see the preschoolers and senior members interact, dance, and sing along to old (and new) favorites."

Every other Friday, Front Porch artists will be going to JABA to provide this musical enrichment to a combined group of senior members and preschoolers. (photos courtesy of the Front Porch)


JABA - Help Us Respond - Virtual Fundraiser

From September 12 to September 16, you'll notice something different on JABA's website, across our social media, and in our email newsletter. We'll be launching our first ever virtual fundraising campaign and we'll be sharing all the reasons why people reach out to JABA for help. we encourage you to share and comment on social media during the week. With all of us spreading the word, the campaign can have a bigger impact. One of the first things you can do is visit our events page on Facebook and invite folks. Thanks!

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/609663900879520?ref=newsfeed

How Respite Care Can Help Caregivers

Charlottesville Tomorrow - Respite is a short rest from doing something difficult, and across Virginia over a million caregivers providing millions of hours of unpaid care for loved ones at home are doing something very difficult.

“Caregiving is very stressful,” says Donna Baker, JABA’s Director of Operations, “…its stressful emotionally, and its stressful physically. Caregivers need a break. And there are some things in the community that can help them.”

Indeed, according to an AARP study in 2019, 69% of unpaid caregivers in Virginia reported they were stressed emotionally and 70% reported they were stressed physically. Many unpaid caregivers are trying to work, take care of their own families, and care for an older loved one who needs extra care or supervision. Trying to balance all that can be very difficult.

Fortunately, there are several ways these caregivers can seek help. Homecare agencies are thriving, and they can provide both medical and companion care, depending on what a loved one’s needs are. Many long-term care facilities also provide overnight care so that caregivers can get away for the weekend or go on vacation. Here in Virginia, the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) also has a relatively new Respite Voucher Program, which provides eligible Virginia caregivers with a $595 reimbursement voucher to cover the costs of temporary, short-term respite care provided to individuals of any age, with a documented disability or medical condition.

Home-delivered meals programs, like Meals on Wheels or the one we provide at JABA, are also a good way to reduce the burden of preparing meals while knowing loved ones are getting regular, healthy meals.

Finally, JABA has two Adult Care Centers in Charlottesville and Louisa, which provide supports five days a week for older adults and those 18 and over with disabilities who need supervision. JABA Adult Care Centers provide a fun-filled day of activities, along with professional nursing care and a healthy lunch. Caregivers have found that knowing their loved ones are being well taken care of during the day at our Centers provides much-needed peace of mind, socialization for their loved ones to prevent isolation, and ultimately makes it easier for their loved ones to remain in their homes

“At JABA, we look at our jobs as not just taking care of a caregiver’s loved one, but also taking care of them,” says Baker.

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