Princeton Senior Resource Center: A Review and Explanation of Programs

With the growing adult community the need for elderly resource centers, activities, support, and help is also increasing. It is the job of both the community and families in the community to step up and make these needs a reality. One of the major problems in delivering these services is the lack of education about them including how to get them, where to get them, and what sorts of programs are available. The Princeton Senior Resource Center, located in Princeton, NJ seeks to address these issues as well as add to the community through various resources and programs. The Princeton Senior Resource Center offers a wide variety of programs, resources, services, and events for seniors and their families. This paper will address these programs, resources, services, and events offered by The Princeton Senior Resource Center, as well as how and by whom they are implemented, the qualifications of the agency, how these programs meet the needs of the community as a whole and the seniors in it, and the agency's mission.

Mission Statement

"The Princeton Senior Resource Center (PSRC) empowers older adults in the diverse Princeton community to make informed choices and live healthy lives. PSRC offers affordable services, programs and opportunities that support, educate and engage older individuals, their families and caregivers (Princeton Senior Resource Center, N.d)." This mission statement is posted on the Princeton Senior Resource Center website, and illustrates their commitment to not only the seniors of the community, but the families, and caregivers as well. The mission statement emphasizes health, programs, support, and education in each of these groups which are all areas that sincerely need to be met within the community. PSRC's commitment to each of these areas is clearly shown through the programs offered and their impact on the Princeton, New Jersey community.

A Brief Look at PSRC's History

One important thing in choosing an agency as a means of education and services is what experience it can offer you, your loved one, or a personal caregiver. You wouldn't go and hire a doctor without looking at references and experience, so why would you choose an educational and senior health center without looking into the same.

PSRC isn't a new agency, it was founded by Jocelyn Helm and Karin Slaby in 1974. Originally the agency only served a select area around the agency, but later spread to serve the entire Princeton community. In 1994, PSRC spread to serve the Princeton public in two areas after being asked by Princeton Burough to take over the senior programs offered at the Suzanne Patterson building. PSRC is now proudly serving the Princeton area with a newly renovated Suzanne Patterson facility, and as a non-profit organization receiving over 50% of support from "individual and corporate donations, 30% from the Princeton municipal governments, and the remainder comes from United Way, Princeton Housing Authority, Patriot Media, and from participant fees" (Princeton Senior Resource Center, N.d).

Programs

Princeton Senior Resource Center offers a wide array of programs to the elderly and their loved ones. One might be surprised by the availability of programs through the resource center, especially since it is supported solely as a non-profit organization. The amount of, and the quality of the programs seems to demonstrate the impact the resource center has on Princeton, and it's admiring support. The programs to be discussed here are the Home Friends program and the Grandpals program, both of which that impact the elderly participant and a member of the community.

The Home Friends program was created in 1987 and has been effect since then in an attempt to provide companionship for elderly individuals. The Home Friends program consists of a pre-selected and pre-screen volunteer visiting the home of an elderly individual within the PSRC's service area. This volunteer will stay for at least an hour and generally assists the elderly individual in errands, plays games, or just has tea and chats. The purpose of the program isn't really to set up a day, but provide company for the over 60s that are unable to leave home without assistance and thus end up spending a large amount of time alone. Additionally, the service is free, so there is no financial strain for having the service.

Due to the social nature of people this service can make a huge impact as it can relieve the stress or depression of being alone and disabled. It provides means of physical assistance as well since volunteers are willing and able to run errands or possibly perform tasks about the house.

The Grandpals program looks at a different side of elderly and community needs and pairs up a kindergarteners with elderly individuals of the community for reading and intergenerational interaction. Similarly, elementary school students are paired with elderly individuals for math and reading tutoring with the added benefit of forming a relationship with the tutor. This gives the elderly generation a chance to speak up and pass on their knowledge to the youth of Princeton. The program also give them purpose and youthful, lively companionship that can truly lighten one's spirit. Moreover, the benefits of this program are twofold. The youth gains a better education both socially and in the selected subject area. It connects both tutor and tutee to the community and encourages community bonds.

In addition to these programs Princeton Senior Resource Center offers services to aid in a number of different areas affecting the elderly and their loved ones; these include transition assistance, a directory manual for mature adults, and alternate living arrangements for seniors.

Transition from one home to another can be an extremely difficult experience for an elderly individual. For this reason PSRC provides transition assistance for mature individuals by experienced and well trained staff. The program consists of assessment, consultation, and counseling by a licensed and certified gerontological social worker. This social worker addresses the concerns and emotions associated with the transition to a new home and location as well as finding a new home and relocating there. An action plan is discussed and put into place and support groups are discussed and made available.

PSRC also offers arrangements for Food Stamps and legal services appointments. They also provide a resource directory for elderly individuals. An online pdf and print booklet entitled Alternative Living which provides a discussion of alternative living situations as well as a listing of locations, complete with information on each listing. Alternative Living meets the needs of seniors and their families when seeking a new living arrangement.

Similarly, PSRC offers what they call "Caregiver Resource Center" which addresses the needs and concerns of caregivers. The Caregiver Resource Center connects caregivers with the other offerings of PSRC which can mean a great deal of physical and psychological relief for the caregiver. The program attempts to do the aforementioned doe to the wide variety of caregivers who experience feelings of exhaustion, of being overwhelmed and depressed.

Another valuable service is the Evergreen Forum. The Evergreen Forum is a forum for retired and semi-retired community in order to eliminate feelings of emptiness, loneliness, or depression that can result from being away from the social environment that work provides.

Another way to meet the social linking needs of the Princeton community, PSRC offers a number of classes both educational and recreational. Some of the educational classes include art, computer basics/introduction to internet and e-mail, memoir writing, and literature. Recreational classes include ballroom dancing, pilates, ping-pong, and chair exercises. Games are also a part of the events offerings and include Bingo, Bridge, and Scrabble. Additionally, PSRC offers regular blood pressure screening. Each of these events offers a much needed social outlet bridging the gap between community members. Of course each also provides education that many seniors miss and would much appreciate.

The well trained and experienced staff of the PSRC work with the accreditation of the National Council on Aging. The accreditation was received in 1998 and PSRC was the first senior center in New Jersey to receive the honors. Additionally PSRC has been recommended by the Institute for Advanced Study's Human Resources department. The Princeton Public Library also pays its tribute with a full listing of PSRC's programs and services, listing it as a place that is "designed to empower individuals in the Princeton area to age in place with dignity" (Princeton Public Library, N.d).

These recommendations, along with others from Princeton resource websites, indicate the significance that PSRC has in the community. They emphasize PSRC's importance in providing for aged of Princeton, and the importance in having programs available. Clearly the elderly of communities around the world need more help than some people may realize. The importance in having a resource center dedicated to the needs of the elderly, their families, and their caregivers cannot be understated. The health of our elderly communities, both physical and mental, need to be addressed to meet the growing needs and concerns of its members.

Princeton Senior Resource Center has done a great deal to make Princeton a more friendly and supportive environment for seniors and those with elderly friends or family, and caregivers. The resources are those which a community must have to attend to the needs of its aging and aged. The resource center provides bridges between the community, it provides education, support, and care for the elderly. Most importantly, the community plays a central role in the programs and their implementation. This is what makes Princeton Senior Resource Center so successful. Without community support a center such as PSRC cannot be as successful as the elderly community needs it to be. Thus, community support is what many of the resource centers around the globe are lacking. Although programs and resources may be available, without community support and information on the resource center not all elderly individuals can receive the help they need. Princeton Senior Resource Center meets these needs through extensive programs and government support, this is something that all resource centers across the country and around the world can only hope for.

References

Institute for Advanced Study. (N.d). Human Resources. Retrieved May 16, 2007, from Institute
for Advanced Study Website: http://www.admin.ias.edu/hr/community.php

Princeton Public Library. (N.d). Princeton Senior Resource Center at the Suzanne Patternson
Center. Retrieved May 16, 2007, from Princeton Public Library Website:
http://www.princetonlibrary.org/crf/21.htm

Princeton Senior Resource Center. (N.d). Princeton Senior Resource Center: Mission. Retrieved May 16, 2007, from Princeton Senior Resource Center Website: http://www.princetonsenior.org/