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.38 <br />Work Plan/Performance Measures <br />Summary <br />Summary <br />A large number of the independent-living elderly population in Orange County need some level of <br />assistance with non-medical care such as meal preparation, grocery shopping, and transportation. <br />Also, many of these seniors experience loneliness due to a lack of family and friends living close by. <br />Orange County Dept. on Aging Master Aging Plan shows that the vast majority of older adults prefer <br />to live in their own homes, maintaining as much independence as possible for as long as possible. In <br />situations where family support is available, caregivers frequently become overwhelmed with the <br />added responsibilities and benefit greatly from some outside support. Orange County, North <br />Carolina, has a senior (60+) population of almost r6,ooo (approximately r2°6 of the total <br />population). The program is designed to support seniors living independently, to help them feel less <br />isolated and to help them experience an improved quality of life when provided with non-medical <br />assistance. <br />Part 2: Action Plan <br />Clients will be referred to the program from a variety of sources including Orange County's <br />Depariinent on Aging, the Department of Social Services, local hospitals, family and self-referrals. <br />Friend-to-Friend volunteers will be matched with identified program clients. Friend-to-Friend <br />volunteers will visit each client in his/her home, one time each week, for one hour, for aone-year <br />period. Friend to Friend volunteers will act as companions and provide services such as telephone <br />reassurance, run errands, accompany the older adults to appointments, do yard work and meal <br />Page 45 <br />