Seniors' Economic Struggles Continue This Holiday; Santa Program Provides Assistance Be a Santa to a Senior®, the popular campaign that has delivered 1.5 million gifts to needy seniors throughout North America during the past seven years, again is helping older adults cope in tough economic times.
The Westmoreland County office of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, the world's largest provider of non-medical in-home care and companionship services for older adults, has partnered with South Allegheny Elementary School, Lifespan, the Stroke Survivor Group, Century III Mall, Walgreens and other local community groups to provide gifts and companionship to seniors who otherwise might not receive either this holiday season.
"Many older adults continue to struggle in a down economy, particularly those who live alone with no family nearby to help provide resources," said David Baron, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Southeast Allegheny County. Seniors have faced a trying year amid the threat of Social Security payment delays as part of the debt-ceiling debate. What's more, seniors have lost almost one-third (32 percent) of their buying power since 2000, according to the Annual Survey of Senior Costs from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).
That's where Be a Santa to a Senior can help. Before the holiday season, the participating local nonprofit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors and provide those names to the local Home Instead Senior Care office. Christmas trees, which will go up in Walgreens at
4 Old Clairton Road near the Bill Greene Shopping Center, Walgreens at the Waterfront at 133 West 8th Ave. in Homestead and Century III Mall at 3075 Clairton Road in West Mifflin starting Nov. 7 through Dec. 12, will feature ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their gift requests.
Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached. "We hope holiday shoppers will open their hearts to those seniors who have given so much to make our community a better place," Baron said. A gift wrapping party open to the public will be held on Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Home Instead Senior Care office, 3612 Main Street, Munhall. South Allegheny Elementary School students will be decorating gift bags beforehand.
For more information about the program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com. For more information, contact 412-205-3345 or visit www.homeinstead.com/459 and www.facebook.com/hiscmunhall.
ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Home Instead Senior Care® of Greensburg is part of the Home Instead Senior Care network, the world's largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 900 independently owned and operated franchises throughout the country. The Greensburg location serves the areas of Westmoreland County; Jeannette, Belle Vernon, West Newton, Scottdale, Mt. Pleasant, New Stanton, Youngwood, Greensburg, Latrobe, Ligonier, Irwin, Murrysville, North Huntingdon, Harrison City, Trafford, Export and Delmont. The Home Instead Senior Care network provides basic support services – activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, incidental transportation and shopping – which enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. At Home Instead Senior Care, we provide superior quality service that enhances the lives of seniors in Greensburg.
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