By Thelma Bland Watson, Ph.D, Co-Lead for Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition and Executive Director of Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, Gerontologist
We are pleased to share we have marked many milestones this year with activities of the Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition. These milestones address longevity and opportunities for creating communities as ideal places for all people to grow old. As Co-Lead with Dr. Ayn Welleford, Gerontologist for Community Voice, VCU Department of Gerontology, I am extremely pleased to highlight one of these important milestones: the recent celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the No Wrong Door Service Coordination Program.
No Wrong Door is a virtual system and network of shared resources, designed to streamline access to long term services and supports. It connects individuals, providers, and communities, and provides powerful tools for demographic reports and service outcomes. This system plays a major part in making the Richmond region a great place for all people to grow old, and is an important tool to support longevity.
No Wrong Door is part of a national concept supported by the Administration for Community Living under the leadership of the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). It is a comprehensive system led by the Area Agencies on Aging in Virginia with many community partners.
The Virginia Navigator is part of the No Wrong Door System that allows access to more than 26,300 resources that are available to older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans and caregivers. These resources include programs and services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day, health care, benefits. Community partners include Centers for Independent Living, hospitals, health insurance companies, Alzheimer’s Association chapter and local Departments of Social Services, including Adult Protective Services.
This special anniversary comes on the heels of an amazing year of growth. In 2018, the Richmond Region experienced a 72 percent increase in electronic referrals between community partners, the addition of seven new partners to the network and services to more than 3600 individuals.
In the Greater Richmond Region, Age Wave's work with No Wrong Door has reached new heights. Several years ago, a project team was formed to examine how to increase social connectedness in our Region. Along with Age Wave, the Social Isolation Risk Index project team includes United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, Age Wave co- leads Senior Connections and VCU Gerontology, VCU Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, and Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. The team analyzed regional No Wrong Door data to learn more about predictive factors for social dissatisfaction, a marker of social isolation.
Findings related to statistically significant predictive factors of built environment, mental health, trauma, and transitions have been illuminating, and have led to the launch of new programs, projects, and planning at Age Wave.
What we've learned has informed our work with food insecurity, the business community, local governments, and more.
You'll see the impact of the project team's work on this topic on every page of Age Wave's Longevity Project e-magazine.
We extend best wishes to all for a successful, happy, and fulfilling spring and summer. We appreciate the tremendous support we receive from program participants, community partners, funders, contributors, and supporters. As we continue our work in 2019, we reflect on our rich history and plans for the future as we touch the lives of more than 24,000 individuals each year. Join us as we strive to incorporate person centered practices in activities such as successful initiatives such as the No Wrong Door Service Coordination Program. Such initiatives help us to create livable communities to support us all as we grow old.
Senior Connections is the recipient of one of the 2019 Best Practice Awards from the Commonwealth Council on Aging for the evidenced base Hospital to Home Care Transitions Program.
We are pleased to share we have marked many milestones this year with activities of the Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition. These milestones address longevity and opportunities for creating communities as ideal places for all people to grow old. As Co-Lead with Dr. Ayn Welleford, Gerontologist for Community Voice, VCU Department of Gerontology, I am extremely pleased to highlight one of these important milestones: the recent celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the No Wrong Door Service Coordination Program.
No Wrong Door is a virtual system and network of shared resources, designed to streamline access to long term services and supports. It connects individuals, providers, and communities, and provides powerful tools for demographic reports and service outcomes. This system plays a major part in making the Richmond region a great place for all people to grow old, and is an important tool to support longevity.
No Wrong Door is part of a national concept supported by the Administration for Community Living under the leadership of the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). It is a comprehensive system led by the Area Agencies on Aging in Virginia with many community partners.
The Virginia Navigator is part of the No Wrong Door System that allows access to more than 26,300 resources that are available to older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans and caregivers. These resources include programs and services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day, health care, benefits. Community partners include Centers for Independent Living, hospitals, health insurance companies, Alzheimer’s Association chapter and local Departments of Social Services, including Adult Protective Services.
This special anniversary comes on the heels of an amazing year of growth. In 2018, the Richmond Region experienced a 72 percent increase in electronic referrals between community partners, the addition of seven new partners to the network and services to more than 3600 individuals.
In the Greater Richmond Region, Age Wave's work with No Wrong Door has reached new heights. Several years ago, a project team was formed to examine how to increase social connectedness in our Region. Along with Age Wave, the Social Isolation Risk Index project team includes United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, Age Wave co- leads Senior Connections and VCU Gerontology, VCU Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, and Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. The team analyzed regional No Wrong Door data to learn more about predictive factors for social dissatisfaction, a marker of social isolation.
Findings related to statistically significant predictive factors of built environment, mental health, trauma, and transitions have been illuminating, and have led to the launch of new programs, projects, and planning at Age Wave.
What we've learned has informed our work with food insecurity, the business community, local governments, and more.
You'll see the impact of the project team's work on this topic on every page of Age Wave's Longevity Project e-magazine.
We extend best wishes to all for a successful, happy, and fulfilling spring and summer. We appreciate the tremendous support we receive from program participants, community partners, funders, contributors, and supporters. As we continue our work in 2019, we reflect on our rich history and plans for the future as we touch the lives of more than 24,000 individuals each year. Join us as we strive to incorporate person centered practices in activities such as successful initiatives such as the No Wrong Door Service Coordination Program. Such initiatives help us to create livable communities to support us all as we grow old.
Senior Connections is the recipient of one of the 2019 Best Practice Awards from the Commonwealth Council on Aging for the evidenced base Hospital to Home Care Transitions Program.
