Foundation Grant Helps Elderly Maintain Independence
Umbrella offers reliable, affordable help around the house
Many elderly or disabled homeowners reach a point where their homes become “too much to handle,” both physically and financially. To help these individuals stay in their own homes and maintain their independence, Umbrella of the Capital District provides high quality, low-cost handyman/homemaker services.
Thanks to a grant from The Schenectady Foundation, more Schenectady residents will be able to maintain their independence. The grant will help Umbrella expand its services beyond its current base of 260 Schenectady County households. About 30 percent of those households live below the poverty level, and another 27 percent have low to moderate incomes.
One of the most innovative aspects of Umbrella is its workforce. Umbrella (www.theumbrella.org) recruits and trains retired men and women from the local community who wish to remain active and continue using their skills to supplement their income. Umbrella’s handypersons – who are all screened and trained -- are paid an hourly fee of $10/hour for any services they provide. In addition to routine repairs and odd jobs, Umbrella members receive annual gutter cleaning, an annual home inspection emphasizing preventive measures, annual smoke alarm battery replacement, security calls during major storms and 24-hour emergency response services to repair problems such as a burst pipe, broken window or nonfunctioning furnace. The cost of an Umbrella membership is based on a sliding fee scale depending on the homeowner’s income.
Keeping costs low to homeowners has left Umbrella’s two full-time staff members with few resources to expand the program to the growing number of needy elderly and disabled residents in our community. A $20,000 grant from The Schenectady Foundation will help support operating costs and enable Umbrella to hire a service/outreach manager who will increase public awareness and membership to the program. Increasing memberships is the key to ensuring the sustainability of the organization.
“Helping elderly and disabled residents maintain their independence and stay safely in their homes is valuable not only on a human level, but at a community level as well,” said Elaine Santore, executive director of Umbrella of the Capital District. “When more residents are enabled to maintain their independence, the community bears fewer long-term care and nursing home costs.”
To learn more about aging and issues concerning the elderly here are some resources on the world wide web:
A grant from The Schenectady Foundation will help Umbrella of the Capital District make sure that more homeowners, such as Helen DiCarlo (left) and her husband, get the assistance they need to maintain their homes. Umbrella recruits handymen like Bill Grosier (center) to help with yard work and household repairs. Far right is Elaine Santore, executive director of Umbrella of the Capital District.