Dec. 17, 2009

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions has been awarded a $3,500 grant from the Johnson County Community Foundation to provide nutritious meals through in-home delivery and at two neighborhood meal sites.

According to the American Dietetic Association, as many as two-thirds of senior citizens who live by themselves have poor nutrition habits. To help ensure better health, CICOA provides hot, nutritious meals Monday through Friday through its Meals & More program. Additionally the program offers individual nutrition assessments, nutrition counseling, group and individual nutrition education, and outreach. Recipients must be at least 60 years of age or under the age of 60 with a disability and predominately homebound. Each meal meets one-third of the daily nutritional requirements established by the federal government. Meals are provided on a donation basis with a suggested donation of $2.00 per meal. However, no person is denied due to an inability to contribute.

In Johnson County, CICOA serves 250 meals daily to people in their homes or at two congregate sites at the Franklin Community Center or at Cambridge Square in Greenwood.

CICOA learned in September that Social Service Block Grants (SSBG) to Area Agencies on Aging were being reduced by 30 percent, amounting to a $500,000 shortfall for CICOA. These block grants fund a portion of CICOA’s Meals & More program. CICOA is looking to private donations to help make up the difference.

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 3,750 clients, delivers more than 515,000 nutritious meals to homes and 33 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.