Community Foundation Awards $160,000 in Senior Living Grants
Center for Hospice, Robinson Center, and REAL Services each receive funding support
As part of its 2024 fall grants cycle, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has awarded $160,000 to the following organizations:
Center for Hospice Care: $60,000
Funds will help support the Center for Hospice Care’s Kaleidoscope home-based palliative care program that provides those with serious advanced illness with the right care, at the right time, in the right place. Many seniors suffer from serious advanced illnesses that require specialized care. Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for these seniors by managing pain and other symptoms and providing emotional and psychosocial support. Kaleidoscope also assists families by providing guidance and emotional support to help them cope with the challenges of caring for a loved one. Funds will help support a nurse practitioner necessitated by the increased demand for home-based palliative care across the community.
Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC): $60,000
Funds will help support the “Seniors on the Move” Initiative to strategically support more active, healthy, and connected lives for RCLC’s growing senior program, with a specific emphasis on living with diabetes and ensuring senior participants whose mobility is diminished can continue to be active community members. This is a project for seniors, designed by seniors, which includes educational activities, diabetes-friendly cuisine for senior events, biannual senior field trips, exercise/dance classes and a Senior Adult Program Coordinator. RCLC anticipates serving over 200 seniors through this programming.
REAL Services: $40,000
Funds will assist REAL Services’ downtown South Bend hub for active aging, offering recreation, engagement, and enrichment programs for senior citizens. The hub will combat social isolation and promote healthy aging through structured activities that enhance older adults’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Grant funds will help support essential costs for equipping the center, including furniture, software and IT equipment, and program supplies for the facility, which Portage Township is renovating. REAL Services will manage daily operations through dedicated staff and volunteers, while maintaining administrative oversight of all hub activities and programs and working with other community partners.