At BrightStar Care, we continue to work on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic providing Employee Screenings and caring for our most vulnerable populations.
Our caregivers and healthcare professionals include Personal Care Aides, RNs, and CNAs who are working to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Keeping our clients safe is a top priority. To read more about how BrightStar Care has elevated our team's safety efforts and protocol for keeping clients safe, please CLICK HERE.
We also offer online resources available to Louisville caregivers. We want to be a resource to the community and help during the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure seniors are safe. Here are our resources and tools that cover a wide variety of information on types of care and best practices. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS BRIGHTSTAR CARE RESOURCES AND TOOLS.
One primary resource seniors need now is healthy meals. It is alarming to us that the need for food for isolated seniors in Louisville grew by 75% according to the city since the stay at home orders took effect. The city continues its Meals on Wheels program and will focus efforts on it until other resources are identified. Seniors can find information about who qualifies and how to apply by visiting the city's Senior Nutrition Program page.
For seniors looking for food resources, The Senior Nutrition Program is a federally funded program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a contract with the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA). Other sources of funding include Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government and private donations.
"The Senior Nutrition Program provides nutritional lunchtime meals to active senior citizens at Congregate Meal Sites and delivers to homebound seniors through the Meals on Wheels Program, throughout the Louisville Metro area. These programs help improve the lives of older adults by supporting good nutritional health and promoting their independence and well-being."
In March, the Senior Congregate food sites temporarily closed to help stem the spread of COVID-19, and as a substitute, the agency began providing drive-through pick up locations.
Seniors can also connect with St. Stephen's Family Life Center, which helped to provide these meals.
According to wdrb.com/news, the Family Life Center's program director, Pat Mathison, explained that the cost to provide drive by-service five days per week is expensive. She recommended that the city find "sustainable resources to continue providing basic meals to seniors in Louisville." "If we can connect (seniors) to a resource that's already happening, we don't want to reinvent wheels," Mathison said. "Now is not the time for that. We want to make sure the seniors are taken care of."
If any senior needs assistance, you can call the Family Life Center in Richmond at 502-583-6798, and a representative will do everything possible to provide resources.
Home delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) are delivered to homebound elderly aged sixty or older from the 22 neighborhood nutrition sites. Meals are provided to qualified individuals who are homebound due to illness. A social worker conducts an in-home visit to make this assessment. A waiting list is maintained to accommodate the ever-growing need in this community. Those with the greatest physical, social and economic necessity get priority. You can also refer a senior to the program.
Volunteer Opportunities: The Meals on Wheels Programs would not be possible to operate without the help of hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
How to Donate: In addition to the support of our great volunteers, monetary donations can also make a big difference in the life of a senior.
For general information about the Senior Nutrition Program, please call 502.574.6325 or visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/senior-nutrition-program.
BrightStar Care of Louisville provides 24/7 to Hourly Private Duty Health Care and Medical Staffing Services.
We offer support around the clock, providing a full continuum of private duty home health care services and medical staffing services. We proudly serve Greater Louisville areas, including Fairdale, St. Matthews, Middletown, Jeffersontown, Shively, Anchorage, Jeffersontown, Hikes Point, Glenview, Crescent Hill, and Taylorsville.
For more information on how BrightStar Care supports Louisville's essential businesses and learn more about our local team of caregivers, skilled healthcare professionals – please Click Here.