Community Connection created to offer plethora of resources for area seniors
As October marks both the International Day of Older Persons and Active Aging Week, the Patrick Heath Public Library and Hill Country Family Services have teamed up with Trio Rehabilitation Services on “Community Connection,” an initiative designed to bring together a variety of social services to our senior population in Kendall County.
“These expanded services are a culmination of the work we’ve done over the past several years with the Silver Library initiative and the collaborative community effort on mental health services, spearheaded by Hill Country Family Services,” Kelly Skovbjerg, library director, said.
The program involves partnering with HCFS to bring a mental health counselor into the library’s infrastructure on a regular basis. This counselor works with the library’s Outreach Coordinator Leah Mayo on weekly homebound visits for seniors wanting book delivery and assistance with technical devices.
The weekly check-in also provides an opportunity to identify older residents who may be struggling with mental or family issues, food insecurity or transportation issues. “We are working on building a larger support network under- neath the entire community but have begun with a focus on our senior population to better address increasing isolation and loneliness,” Skovbjerg said.
As part of the program, free weekly counseling sessions are provided in the library or care setting.
“As we have worked to develop the Kendall County Behavioral Health Initiative, one area we identified as a gap was the ability for people of any income to tap mental health counseling in our area,” Staci Almager, executive director of Hill Country Family Services, said.
“This new initiative provides a structured touchpoint into the lives of our seniors who, or one reason or another, may be homebound. Weekly visits and access to library books and resources are a key part of their quality-of-life standards,” Almager said.
Almager noted that after visiting with one homebound senior, the counselor received a call from the senior’s son, who lives out of state. “He is incredibly grateful to know that his parent has a supportive community in place, and it gives him better peace of mind when he is away,” she added.
Currently, 30 senior citizens are called weekly and provided deliveries and care as needed.
Recognizing the vital work of the library in this effort, Trio Rehabilitation and Wellness Solutions has stepped in as a partner in the program.
Trio, which offers quarterly informational sessions for seniors in the community, has provided the effort with new branding and tote bags for the weekly delivery and will be working with the library more closely on a library kiosk at their business just off River Road and backing up to the Old No. 9 trail.
Trio’s next informational session, set for December 6, covers Dysphagia. Anyone interested in attending can call 830-331-8604 to reserve a space.
“Boerne is our community, and we see daily the specific needs for our aging population here, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually,” Jennica Colvin, owner of Trio, said. “Community Connection is one way that we can all work to provide our seniors with a higher quality of life and identify sooner those who are struggling to helpfully bring them the services they need.”
The library continues to partner with The Center at Kronksosky on lifelong learning programs for its members or anyone else who wants to participate. The Center also provides daily lunches and Meals on Wheels to qualifying seniors, as nutrition is of paramount importance to the overall well-being of an aging population.
If you know of a senior who could benefit from homebound delivery, counseling, daily meals or activity, call the library at 830-249-3053.
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