LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 25 Thanksgiving meals will be delivered to approximately 1,000 homebound seniors in the greater Long Beach area thanks to Faith In Action/Volunteer Action for Aging, a program operated by Independence at Home (IAH), a division of SCAN Health Plan. For more than 17 years these organizations have gathered hundreds of volunteers to deliver warm Thanksgiving meals to seniors in need in Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, South Bay, South Los Angeles and surrounding cities.
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"Our warm holiday meals are delivered to people who have minimal resources and minimal opportunities for holiday celebrations with family and friends," said Denise Likar, director of Independence at Home. "Year after year the demand increases, and we work hard to reach as many people as possible. Last year we served 500 meals, this year our goal is 1,000."
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Many seniors rely on community-based organizations for their meals, and not just during the holidays. To help these agencies fulfill their mission at Thanksgiving and throughout the year, SCAN Health Plan has made contributions to provide needed support to dozens of senior nutrition programs across the state.
"Significant decreases in state and federal funding have created financial shortfalls for many community-based organizations," said David Schmidt, CEO of SCAN, a senior-focused not-for-profit health plan. "At SCAN we feel strongly about ensuring critically important resources remain open and available to seniors who rely on them, especially for something as basic as a warm meal."
Through its community giving program, in 2009 SCAN donated approximately $385,000 to 42 not-for-profit, community-based organizations in California. The majority of these contributions focused on senior nutrition, with dollars also going toward long-term care and caregiver programs. Nutrition-based programs receiving contributions from SCAN included Family Service Association in Riverside, Meals-on-Wheels of Greater San Diego, International Institute in Los Angeles, Project Angel Food in Los Angeles, and Community SeniorServ in Orange County.
"The growth of the older adult population is impacting communities and families all across America," said Schmidt. "There has never been a greater need to support healthy, active and independent aging."
For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of people with Medicare and today is the fourth-largest nonprofit Medicare Advantage Plan in the United States. The company currently serves 110,000 members in California and Arizona. Further information may be obtained at scanhealthplan.com.
SOURCE SCAN Health Plan
