Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SPAN Center outlines services for older adults in Hanover County, requests ongoing partnership
Summary
The SPAN Center (formerly Senior Connections), an Area Agency on Aging, briefed the Board on services including Friendship Cafes, home-delivered meals and in-home respite; staff encouraged outreach and noted program data for Hanover County.
Angie Phelan, chief program officer for the SPAN Center (formerly Senior Connections), presented services and local data to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors on March 12, describing home- and community-based programs for older adults, caregivers and persons with disabilities.
Phelan said the SPAN Center serves multiple localities (Hanover, Powhatan, Goochland, Henrico, Richmond, Chesterfield, New Kent and Charles City) and relies on federal, state and local funding in addition to grants and donations. For the last fiscal year the agency reported outreach to 6,647 persons through events and contacts, nearly 18,000 meals served through Friendship Cafes, and more than 6,500 hours of in-home and respite services.
Phelan noted the Friendship Cafe in Mechanicsville (hosted at Mechanicsville Methodist Church) and said the agency is reviewing locations and attendance patterns with a view to potential consolidation or rotating sites to better serve western Hanover residents. She also described programs including care transitions, volunteer-driven activities and emergency services assistance (for rent or utility emergencies), and provided a phone number ((804) 343-3000) and website (spancenter.org) for more information.
Supervisors asked questions about expanding Friendship Cafes to better serve the county’s geographic spread; Supervisor Dibble suggested rotating locations to reach western residents, and Supervisor Pritchard noted an Ashland cafe site. Phelan said staff are reviewing attendance and feasibility and would follow up on suggestions.
Why it matters: Home-delivered meals, transportation and in-home respite are central supports for older residents and their caregivers. The SPAN Center’s local data informs the board’s assessment of service needs and potential future funding or partnerships.
Next steps: The SPAN Center will continue outreach and coordination with county departments; board members suggested staff consider rotating Friendship Cafe sites or other ways to reach residents who face long drives to existing locations.
