FY23 Aging Services Funding

The Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Advisory Committee makes difficult decisions each fiscal year in deciding which providers receive allocations from HCCBG funding and Buncombe County Supplemental Aging Funding (BCSAF) for older adults, age 60+, and their caregivers.  As the FY24 Aging Services Program Application deadline passed on Friday, February 24, Age-Friendly Buncombe County would like to recognize the providers who received funding in FY23 starting July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023.  Following is the list of providers who are doing phenomenal work in Buncombe County to serve older adults and their caregivers as well as a brief description of their services.

Blue Ridge Pride Generation Plus supports the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Queer +) community, age 55+, by providing social and engagement activities to reduce isolation, education on topics relevant to aging, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ population as well as celebrating aging with Pride. Rainbow Inspirations is a monthly virtual series that features LGBTQ+ community leaders or influencers.  Two new programs for 2023 are: Thrive!, a monthly lunch and learn program on various topics to help the LGBTQ+ elders flourish in mind, body, and spirit; and Connections, a monthly socialization opportunity to meet other LGBTQ+ elders as well as to provide education and advocacy.  For more information on these programs, please click on blueridgepride.org/projects/generation-plus.

Council on Aging of Buncombe County provides congregate nutrition and socialization opportunities at four dining sites throughout the County in partnership with Asheville Parks and Recreation, Black Mountain Parks and Recreation, and Weaverville First Baptist Church; as well as minor home repair to improve safety and accessibility; institutional respite; in-home aide services from trained professional caregivers to allow older adults to stay in their homes; and information/referrals about the many resources available to older adults and their caregivers in Buncombe County.  For more information about these programs as well as other programs provided by Council on Aging, please call 828-277-8288 or click on coabc.org.

Jewish Family Services provides socialization and companionship for older adults and respite for caregivers through Faye’s Place Elder Club.  Jewish Family Services also provides mental health counseling through the Health Solutions Counseling program. For more information about these programs, please call 828-253-2900 or click on Home - Jewish Family Services (jfswnc.org).

Land of Sky Regional Council provides health promotion and disease prevention to older adults living in Asheville Terrace through its Asheville Terrace Community Health Workers (ATCHW) Program.  The ATCHW Team are trusted community leaders who are trained to provide services to Asheville Terrace residents to improve their health and social connections.  Services include healthy food distribution, health education, engagement opportunities, providing resources and assistance with the best options for each resident, checking on residents through the Neighbor Knock program, and assisting residents with applying for services, such as transportation, food assistance, financial education, counseling or mental health services, job training and volunteer opportunities.  For more information about the ATCHW Program and other health promotion programs offered at Land of Sky, please call Brea Kuykendall at 828-251-7438 or email Brea at brea@landofsky.org.

Meals on Wheels of Asheville/Buncombe County provides nutritious meals to homebound older adults as well as friendly visits through their volunteers each weekday.  Meals on Wheels also has a Pet Care Program which provides pet food for the pets of their clients.  New this year is the Grocery Shopper Program.  For more information about these programs, please call 828-253-5286 or click on Meals on Wheels of Asheville Buncombe (mowabc.org).

MemoryCare provides treatment and support for families affected by Alzheimer’s and other neuro-cognitive impairments by offering care consultations for the caregivers, education about neuro-cognitive impairments through their Caregiver College Program, Caregiver Support Groups, and a library of resources related to many topics of aging, such as exercise, nutrition, caregiving, age-related illnesses, end-of-life care, etc.  For more information about MemoryCare, please call 828-771-2219 or click on MemoryCare | Quality Time, Quality Care (memorycare.org).

Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) provides home-based primary care through the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Outreach Program for vulnerable older adults at risk for functional and health decline.  The HBPC services are provided by a pharmacist-medical provider team.  Services include comprehensive in-home medication reviews, education, regimen optimization, medication access assistance, and care coordination with primary care, .  For more information about the Home-Based Primary (HBPC) Program and other programs offered at MAHEC, please click on MAHEC. (mahec.net)

MountainCare provides socialization, exercise, activities, meals, specialized care, and support for older adults suffering from cognitive decline or mild physical impairment allowing them to live in the community through the Adult Day Care, Adult Day Health and Mountain Explorers Programs.  These programs provide support and respite to the caregivers too allowing the caregivers to take care of their own needs.  For more information about MountainCare and its programs, please call 828-277-3399 or click on MountainCare (mountaincareservices.org).

Mountain Housing Opportunities provides home repair for older adults through the Emergency Home Repair Program allowing older adults to age in place safely by addressing hazards related to health, safety, mobility, and accessibility. For more information about the Emergency Home Repair Program, please call 828-254-4030 or click on Repair A House – Mountain Housing Opportunities (mtnhousing.org).

Mountain Mobility provides transportation for older adults through the General Transportation and Medical Transportation Programs.  The General Transportation Program delivers trips to grocery stores, retail shopping, senior dining sites, social excursions, banks, and other multipurpose destinations for conducting personal business. The Medical Transportation Program delivers trips to medical facilities for medical and dental appointments, dialysis, chemotherapy, and radiation as well as services to mental health providers, therapy providers, and rehabilitation providers. For more information about these programs and other programs that Mountain Mobility offers, please call 828-250-6750 or click on Transportation - Programs (buncombecounty.org).

OnTrack WNC Financial Education and Counseling provides financial literacy education, counseling/coaching, support, and free tax preparation to older adults through the Silver Dollars Financial Capabilities for Older Adults Program.  This program improves the financial well-being of older adults and aids in stabilizing their housing and finances. For more information about OnTrack, please call 828-255-5166 or click on OnTrack WNC Services for Seniors | Asheville, NC. (ontrackwnc.org)

Pisgah Legal Services provides free legal services to help low-income older adults who are in crisis due to unstable housing or dangerous living conditions, experiencing financial exploitation and physical abuse, consumer scams, unfair debt collection, and lack of basic resources to meet their needs through the Elder Law Program (ELP). The ELP also provides legal representation in court, negotiates and advocates for older adults with private parties or public agencies, and assists older adults facing eviction or foreclosure.  Additionally, this program provides free end-of-life planning documents to low-income older adults through their partnership with volunteer attorneys.  For more information about legal services for older adults, please call 828-253-0406 or click on Senior Legal Services and Protection from Elder Abuse (pisgahlegal.org).