Catholic Youth Association
Improving Outreach to the Frail Elderly

Description:  The agency will partner with two other Adult Day Services (ADS) providers (Seton Center, Easter Seals) to determine the factors that result in underutilization of their adult day services and to develop and implement a plan to increase average daily attendance.  United Way funds will support this effort as a pilot while the partners work to increase daily participation. 

The Program Serves a Population with Great Needs:  Most ADS participants are between the ages of 75-90 years, with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, and are functionally dependent.  The three ADS programs serve Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Garfield, Polish Hill, Morningside, Strip District, Brookline, Overbrook, Dormont, Greentree, Mt. Lebanon, West Deer, O’Hara, Aspinwall, Sharpsburg, Shaler, Hamarville, and West View.

The Program Achieves Measurable Results:  The three programs have a combined capacity of 130 participants, with average daily attendance at approximately 38% capacity. 

The Program Applies a Sound Approach:  The availability of ADS services gives seniors alternatives to nursing home placement by providing nursing, recreation, nutrition, therapy, personal care, and transportation five days/week, up to eleven hours/day.

Alignment with Preferred Outcomes and Likelihood of Community Change:

• Remain safely in home/least restrictive community setting (91 of 130, or 70%)
• Caregivers able to keep loved one at home (91 of 130, or 70%)
• Adequate/improved nutritional, health, and/or functional status (91 of 130, or 70%)

Community Outcomes:  ADS allows seniors to stay home with loved ones by providing specific services for seniors and respite for caregivers.  The agency will document the strategies that work to increase utilization, those that do not, and those likely to work for other ADS providers.  These shared results will help with identification of systemic issues affecting the ADS delivery.