United Way, its donors and volunteers want to help senior citizens in our community remain healthy and independent. Here's how!

This initiative is a multi-year response designed to identify and focus on a community-wide system to extend the ability of older adults (age 65+) to remain healthy, productive and independent as long as possible.

United Way of the Midlands' Community Care Fund already supports a number of local programs that provide service to older adults, things like home-delivered meals, senior center meals and activities, exercise programs and regular "check in" telephone calls to those living in their own homes.  Fall prevention, for example, is an important endeavor, because a fall often triggers a significant decline in an older person's overall health.

Our community recognizes that our older friends and relatives deserve the best assistance possible in their quest to remain independent and healthy.  

FALL PREVENTION --
Since falls are a leading cause of hospitalization for seniors, United Way and its partners are working to increase the availability of fall prevention and balance control exercise training. For instance, T'ai Chi classes at the Council Bluffs Senior Center, supported by United Way donors...and classes at the Safety & Health Council of Greater Omaha. People who practice the slow-moving martial art often report improved strength and balance.  Case in point -- a doctor advised Cindy to take a t'ai chi after she suffered a head injury.  It was hard at first, but Cindy soon noticed she was regaining a little more of her balance with each session. "Now, I’ve moved up to the intermediate class, where I’m learning to balance and even walk! I still have some difficulty, and a long journey ahead of me, but would not be where I am today, mentally and physically, if not for this wonderful class." 
 

TRANSPORTATION --
Getting to the grocery store and doctor appointments is an ordeal for many of our older neighbors.  Click here to see a directory of local programs that can help them get where they need to go in our six-county area! 

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United Way, Alegent and other community partners participated in a "decision accelerator" in March 2007, to help survey available senior services, to spot gaps in service, and to plan the "continuum of care" for our community's older adults. The group, including United Way's Older Adults Vision Council is now working to determine which areas demand attention and how members can make positive changes in local service.

Partners include Alegent, American Red Cross Heartland and Loess Hills Chapters, Council Bluffs Senior Center, Creighton University, Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Our Healthy Community Partnership, Safety & Health Council of Greater Omaha, Partnerships in Aging, The Salvation Army, Southwest 8 Senior Services, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Visiting Nurse Association serving Omaha and Council Bluffs.