LIFE ElderCare is a nonprofit that has served frail seniors in Fremont, Newark, and Union City since 1975. It provides services like home-delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments, companionship visits, and fall prevention exercises to help seniors live independently in their homes. The services are offered free of cost based on need, not income. Over 100 volunteers provide the direct services under the coordination of 12 paid staff members. In the last fiscal year, over 100,000 meals were delivered and hundreds of seniors participated in the programs with the help of over 500 volunteers. The organization aims to help seniors age in place and contribute to the well-being of the aging community.

1. LIFE
ElderCare
A committed community
working together to provide
the basics of life -
food, friendship and
enhanced mobility to
frail, Tri-City seniors.
A heartfelt sharing of time
to enable all, regardless of
age, a healthy, independent
life.

2. Who are we:
LIFE ElderCare is a
501(c)(3), nonprofit
organization that has been
providing direct services to Tri-
City seniors since 1975.
We currently have 12 (full and
part-time) staff.
We are located in the City of
Fremont Human Services
Department at 3300 Capitol
Avenue.
Our services are home-
based, delivered directly to a
senior at their home.

3. Who do we
serve:
Our services are available to
residents of Fremont, Newark
and Union City, California.
Who are aged 60 or older,
(or younger than 60 with
disabilities).
Who are experiencing
difficulty maintaining their
independence due to short-
term or chronic medical
problems, and/or adverse life
events.

4. What do we offer:
Meals On Wheels
One hot, nutritious, home delivered meal per day.*
VIP Rides Transportation support, for those who have no other
means, to get to medical visits and shop for groceries.
Friendly Visitors
Companionship for those who are lonely and isolated.
Fall Prevention
A supervised home exercise program to improve strength and
balance and help prevent falls.
* Meals On Wheels participants also receive regular health and wellness assessments, health
education and assistance with blood pressure monitoring.

5. Cost and
Enrollment:
There are no With the exception of Meals
income On Wheels (which asks for a
donation to cover the cost of
requirements or the meal), our services are
restrictions. offered at no cost to the
senior.
Eligibility is based Each program needs to be
on need, not applied to separately by
income. contacting the Coordinator.
The application process can
be done in person, over the
phone, or through a home
visit.

6. Who uses our
The oldest old (age 85 and older)
are the fastest growing services:
segment of the elderly
population.
The frail elderly who have no
From 1960 to 1994, this friends or family to help them.
group increased 274 percent
compared with an increase Average age
of 45 percent for the total 85, predominantly female.
population.
Lives alone.
Overall, the oldest old are
projected to be the fastest Has multiple, chronic medical
growing part of the elderly conditions that make it hard
population into the next to live independently in their
century. own home.

7. How are the services provided:
A paid staff member of LIFE ElderCare handles enrollment in each
of the programs, and the coordination of services.
Direct services (delivering meals, providing companionship, and
offering ride assistance) are provided by trained community
volunteers who have gone through a background check and who
have a clear driving record for the past five years.
LVN and RN students from Unitek College provide assistance with
home exercise and fall prevention training. Cal State East Bay, 4th
year nursing students, as part of their community health
class, provide coordinated care through home visits to Meals On
Wheels clients.

8. Who are the
volunteers:
Most of our volunteers are
mature, retired people over
age 60, or independent
professionals and business
owners who have free time
during the week to volunteer.
We also have young mothers
who volunteer with their
children and people who are
in-between jobs and looking to
gain new skills and contacts.
A significant percentage of
our volunteers have been Each volunteer is closely
with us for more than five monitored and evaluated by
years. the program coordinator and
by the program participants.

9. Why do they
volunteer:
The opportunity to “give
back” to share what they
have with others.
To meet new people, make
friends and to feel
appreciated.
Susan and Marilyn have
To feel part of a broader
been delivering meals to
frail, homebound seniors for
community that they are
the past 20 yearsthrough our helping to shape and enrich.
Meals On Wheels program.
To build an “aging friendly”
environment that will support
them in their time of need.

10. How are we
funded:
City and/or County Grants
Private Foundations
Business Donations
Individual Donors
Major Funders: City of Fremont, Alameda
County Area Agency on Aging, Alameda
County Meals on Meals, Measure B Gap
Fund, RGW Construction, The California
Wellness Foundation, East Bay Foundation
on Aging and True North Foundation.

11. What are our goals:
Help frail, vulnerable seniors maintain their
independence, and to age in place, for as long as safely
possible.
Provide assistance that is easy to access, affordable
and personalized.
Contribute to the health and well being of the aging
population in the Tri-City community.
Foster inter-generational friendship and promote a strong
sense of community among our ethnically diverse
population.

12. What is our impact:
During the fiscal year 2010-2011:
• Over 100,000 hot nutritious meals were delivered.
• We provided 2,200 escorted rides to those without transportation.
• 198 seniors had weekly companionship.
• 367 seniors were enrolled in a home exercise program.
• Over 500 volunteers committed 2-4 hours of their time per
month,
a $1,100,000 community investment in healthy aging.
• 358 nursing students received hand-on training in geriatric
home care.

13. How is LIFE ElderCare different:
We are a community-based and community-supported
elder care agency.
Services are provided by volunteers and trained
nursing students.
Services are based on need, not income.
No financial or long-term commitmentis required.
Participation is self-directed and voluntary.
Seniors chose which services they want and use the services
for as long as they need help. They can opt-out of a program
and come back whenever they need assistance again.

14. What is the
alternative:
Without community
services, the elderly move in
with their family or live in
nursing homes or assisted living
facilities.
Nursing home and assisted
living rates rose significantly
Because of rising costs, along from 2009 to 2010.
with an overwhelming desire Private room nursing rates
to remain independent, more rose 4.6% to $229 per day or
and more Tri-City seniors are $83,585 per year, (in the San
choosing LIFE ElderCare. Francisco East Bay $104,025).
Assisted living rose 5.2% to
$3,293 per month or $39,516
per year (in the San Francisco
East Bay, $45,000 per year).

15. How can you
get involved:
Sign up for services.
Become a volunteer.
Become a donor.
Spread the word about our
organization.
Follow us online and share
with your friends.

16. Meals On Wheels
510-574-2092
“Because of Friendly Visitors
510-574-2097
LIFE ElderCare, our
Fall Prevention
community itself 510-574-2088
has become the
VIP Rides
long-term care 510-574-2096
system -- thanks to
our leaders and
lifeeldercare.org
supportive
twitter.com/lifeeldercare
neighbors.”
youtube.com/lifeeldercare
facebook.com/lifeeldercare