2210 Hancock Drive, Austin, TX 78756 • 512-450-0844
Guardianship Services • 5205 Airport Blvd, Ste 200, Austin, TX 78751
Serving older adults, people with disabilities, and those who care for them
Dear Friends,
Many of you might have heard that Family Eldercare is exploring a potential merger with Meals on Wheels and More. Late last year the Board of Directors of each organization signed a letter of intent to merge and we are currently in phase two of that process - analyzing how to successfully integrate our programs and operations. We are both focused on serving older adults, caregivers and persons with disabilities. We provide complementary services that support independent living and protect against neglect and abuse. It seems natural to explore the possibility of combining our efforts.
While a final decision has not yet been reached, we believe this would be a wonderful opportunity to provide a more complete package of services to our clients. Family Eldercare and Meals on Wheels and More are both in a strong financial position and both organizations bring expertise, talent and resources to the table. Combining forces would make it easier for clients receiving services from both organizations.
We are excited about the potential opportunities – we believe we would be stronger as a single organization and be able to provide more services to more older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in Central Texas. We appreciate your continued support as we serve the most vulnerable people in our community and we look forward to having more news about the discussions with Meals and Wheels and More later this spring.
Sincerest thanks for your support,
Angela Atwood, Co-Executive Director
Aldo Waker, Co-Executive Director
Family Eldercare was a participating collaborator on this grant awarded to Foundation Communities. Family Eldercare will receive reimbursement for In-Home Care and Caregiver Services provided to older adults and adults with disabilities who are living in affordable housing properties owned by Foundation Communities. In-Home Care services will help residents with basic tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and escorted transportation so that they can maintain a safe living environment, address their basic needs and remain living as independently as possible in the housing community.
Family Eldercare was awarded a generous grant of $175,000 from St. David’s Foundation to support core services that support older adults in living as independently as possible with dignity and a good quality of life. St. David’s has been an active supporter of Family Eldercare for many years and is a leader in addressing the needs of older adults in Central Texas. The Foundation grants money to non-profit organizations in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Caldwell counties that work to improve community health. “We recognize that so many of our older residents face a daunting array of challenges from maintaining proper nutrition, getting to and from doctor’s appointments and even obtaining needed dental care,” said Earl Maxwell, CEO of St. David’s Foundation.
Funding from St. David’s Foundation will support Family Eldercare’s In-Home Care and Caregiver Services, Guardianship, Bill Payer services, Consultation and Service Coordination and Lifetime Connections Without Walls. These programs address the basic personal care, household and money management needs of older adults in order to help them maintain maximum independence. They also provide protection against fraud, abuse and neglect and help family and informal caregivers identify and link to services they need to support older adults. Older adults also receive transportation to social activities and companionship from volunteers and caregivers in order to reduce loneliness and isolation. read more »
Family Eldercare has been awarded $17,000 from the Women’s Fund of Central Texas, one of only 9 grants awarded. Funding will support 20 women to receive training to improve their job skills and earning capacity. These women work as Care Attendants for Family Eldercare’s In-Home Care and Caregiver Services program and
provide direct care to older adults to help them live as independently as possible. Care Attendants will receive training to become certified as a Nurse Aid. This training is a Care Attendants first step to building a career in the growing health care industry. Participants who complete the training will be eligible for a salary increase as a result of their increased skills.
The grant will benefit three generations of women in Travis and Williamson Counties – women working as Care Attendants will earn higher wages while building a career path, their children will have an improved quality of life, and older adults and caregivers in the community will benefit from staff who have more skills and greater job satisfaction.
“Family Eldercare is thrilled to receive this award and recognition from the Women’s Fund of Central Texas. Our Care Attendants are critical to our work and provide direct care to older adults that helps maintain dignity, independence and a good quality of life. This grant provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of these committed women and to provide them with increased training, increased earning capacity and greater employment options. We are very grateful to the Women’s Fund for their support.” Angela Atwood, Co-Executive Director, Family Eldercare read more »
Family Eldercare awarded $1.3 Million in Federal Funds
Travis & Williamson Counties target for Community Innovations in Aging in Place Initiative
(Austin, TX) Family Eldercare announced its selection by the Federal Administration on Aging to receive a national grant in the amount of $1,376,064. This grant will fund a new community collaboration called “A Better Way to Live at Home: Education, Resources and Supports for Older Adults”. Family Eldercare is one of 13 awardees nationwide and will serve as the lead agency, partnering with several other area public and non-profit agencies including; The Housing Authority of the City of Austin, Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area, Austin Groups for the Elderly (AGE), Helping the Aging, Needy and Disabled (HAND), Meals on Wheels and More, New Connections, and the University of Texas-Austin. read more »
We are truly saddened to share that Martin Morales has passed away. Martin, who resided at Lyons Gardens, had been a part of the Family Eldercare family for almost 5 years. He was Family Eldercare’s featured client during this year’s Statesman Season for Caring Campaign. Martin lost his ability to communicate from Parkinson’s disease and the campaign sought to help him with his communication needs as well as other aides for his mobility and comfort. Thank you to the Austin American-Statesman and the Morales family for sharing Mr. Morales' story with the Austin Community. We appreciate all the amazing support Mr. Morales received during this year’s Season for Caring Campaign. Martin, a former restaurant owner and a family man was a wonderful person and a true treasure to the Austin community, we will all miss him.
This year's Holiday Giving Drive made the season brighter for more than 280 Family Eldercare clients! Groups, families and individuals sponsored clients and purchased items from thier wishlist. For most recipients, these gifts might be the only ones they receive this Holiday Season. Once the gifts were chosen and wrapped, the volunteers went out into the community, delivering more than just presents, bringing a special visit and a smile. Thank you to all who shared their Holiday cheer and thier time to make this season special for those in-need.
The law firm Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody raised nearly $44,000 for Family Eldercare through their annual fundraiser, Engaging Conversations on October 8th. The event, started by the firm in 2000, places guests around dinner tables hosted by some of the most accomplished and intriguing people in the country, providing a rare opportunity to engage in conversation with business and civic leaders, entertainers, authors, educators and other exceptional individuals. Each year, a different Central Texas charity is selected as the beneficiary of the fundraiser. This year, Family Eldercare was thrilled and honored to be chosen as the beneficiary of the 2009 Engaging Conversations event.
Pictured from left to right: Paul Saenz, John Crane, Julie Freeman, Michelle Bonilla, Michael Whellan, David Spiller, Margaret Carbajal, Chris Elliott, Carol Arnold, Peter Cesaro.
"Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody is proud to sponsor our annual Engaging Conversations event, as a way to give back to our community by assisting a local charity. In the 10 years that Graves Dougherty has sponsored this event, we have raised over $390,000 for local charities. We are proud to support Family Eldercare and all the work they have done in this community." Michael Whellan, President.
2009 Table Hosts
Mason Arnold Founder of Greenling, Austin-based, organic-food delivery service
Kirk Bohls Sports columnist at the Austin American-Statesman since 1994
Ann Ciccolella Austin arts activist; artistic director of Austin Shakespeare
Elizabeth Crook Award-winning novelist
Lew Little Co-founder and chief executive officer, Harden Healthcare read more »
SAVE THE DATES!
The Summer Fan Drive Gala - May 29th
Please join us for the Summer Fan Drive Gala celebrating the 20th Annual Summer Fan Drive on Saturday, May 29th, 6pm at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The elegant evening will include great food, a silent auction and live music by the critically acclaimed singer songwriter, Sara Hickman. Please email or call (512) 483-3579 for more information or sponsorship details.
Fan Fare Friday - June 25th
Don’t miss it! Each summer, 107.1 KGSR hosts a full day of free live music dedicated to raising fans and funds for Family Eldercare's Summer Fan Drive. This year, Fan Fare Friday will be on June 25th all day. Threadgill’s World Headquarters will again serve as the backdrop for the all day musical event. read more »
Do you have at least 15 minutes to volunteer? Would you like to help bring older adults together over the phone through games, trivia, discussions on topics of interest and current events? Click Here to visit our In-Home Care website and find out more about senior networking over the phone through Lifetime Connections Without Walls.
Help us serve our clients just by shopping at Randalls! While you are at Randalls, pick up a Good Neighbor application at the cash office and request to have your Remarkable Card linked to Family Eldercare (5493). Randalls will then donate a percentage of your purchases throughout the year to Family Eldercare so that we can help elders and adults with disabilities maintain their independence and dignity. If you have any questions, please contact Krystal at 512-483-3557.
To donate please contact kwilson@familyeldercare.org.
It doesn't matter if your dad thinks today is Monday or not. Pick your battles and take on something only if it poses a safety concern. read more »
Victims of elder abuse fall into a group of victims that are hidden from our society at large. Broadly defined there are three basic categories of elder abuse: domestic, institutional, and self-neglect or self-abuse.
The following breaks down the factors that increase the risk of elder abuse: read more »
