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Supporting those who support seniors
Frank Newton
December 9, 2008 10:05 AM
The economy is making life difficult for many seniors -- and also for the organizations devoted to helping them. Fortunately, there are some bright spots. Six months ago, I wrote about a unique service in Santa Barbara called the Center for Successful Aging, which, at no cost, provides counseling to address the emotional problems that beset many individuals age 50-plus. What is distinctive is that the counselors are age 50-plus themselves. Thus, the service model is referred to as "peer counseling."
In its three years of operation, housed at the Jewish Federation, CSA has proven its worth by growing in several important ways. It began with 16 counselors and now has more than 30. The number of clients receiving counseling has ballooned from 20 per week to about 150 per week. Moreover, service has expanded from one-on-one counseling to include group counseling sessions. CSA runs weekly support groups at more than half a dozen senior residential facilities around town.
Dr. Beverly Schydlowsky, licensed clinical social worker and director of CSA, has also instituted a community education service. She regularly speaks to civic and church groups about the often overlooked emotional needs of older adults and their family members.
"It's amazing," Dr. Schydlowsky observes, "that when policymakers and the public talk about the needs of seniors, they usually just talk about housing, transportation and health issues. Yes, these are important, but no one goes on to mention the emotional problems associated with aging, which are just as important."
While CSA has been expanding its services, something else significant has been going on in our society this year -- namely, the economic meltdown. This has increased the need and demand for CSA's counseling services because money problems are a major source of emotional stress for most people. Certainly, the recent market downturn has walloped many baby boomers and recent retirees who thought they had solid nest eggs and now wonder if they can ever retire. And the elderly who live on a fixed income are really struggling, including those in retirement communities who wonder if they can still afford the rent.
This economic crisis has also walloped organizations -- in particular, nonprofit groups like CSA. So at the very time that the need for counseling seniors is increasing, the money to support such counseling is drying up. CSA has, of course, increased its fundraising efforts -- but so have all the other nonprofit groups in town. Thus, CSA is facing a grim situation where there are less dollars in the pot for community services and more organizations competing for a spoonful from that smaller pot.
I'm happy to report that two generous individuals have stepped up during this holiday time to assist CSA. One donated $5,000 in the form of a matching grant, challenging CSA to find additional $5,000 donations. The other donor simply wrote out a check for $20,000. Wishing to remain anonymous, she explained that her satisfaction comes from knowing that these funds will help many individuals and families throughout the Santa Barbara area.
I tell this story because CSA is typical of the other nonprofit groups in our town that are dedicated to helping others but are now tightening their belts and struggling for support. The generosity shown to CSA is an example of the generous spirit that is needed to pull all of us through these tough times. The natural impulse is to think first of our own survival, yet now is the very time when we most need to look beyond ourselves to the greater good. Such caring, generosity and mutual support are truly at the core of what's best about the holiday season.
If you are interested in providing support to the Center for Successful Aging, call 899-2915. And if you have any stories about how the economy or holidays have affected you, please e-mail me at franktalk@cox.net.
Santa Barbara-based Frank Newton has worked with seniors in various capacities over the years, including as executive director of the Southwest Society on Aging in Dallas. His column appears every other week. E-mail him at franktalk@cox.net.
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