Did you know that Hamilton County's fastest-growing population is the seniors? By 2030, this segment is predicted to represent 35 to 40 percent of the county's residents.
The Shepherd's Center of Hamilton County was founded in 1985 when a group of Hamilton County residents identified a need in the community to make resources available for seniors 55 and older. Unwavering in their commitment to seniors, the staff and volunteers work tirelessly to provide residents with access to assistance.
Lauren Guynn, executive director, explains the organization's mission is to help as many seniors as possible to live independently by providing the services they need to age gracefully.
"Everyone should have the opportunity to age in a community where they grew up or chose to live,” she says.
Seniors and caregivers look to the organization for five essential services. Community caring helps older adults age safely through volunteer support. Counseling programs provide free services with licensed therapists. Guardianship promotes the dignity of incapacitated adults through legal advocacy. Reaching Resources connects seniors with aging resources in Hamilton County. Together Today aims to prevent isolation and create a community of adults aged 55-plus.
Guynn says the Shepherd’s Center is able to expand on benefits by partnering with other agencies, such as Meals on Wheels and Good Samaritan.
"On average, we assisted each senior 30 times with social interaction, meals and counseling," explains Lisa Albano, director of programs and operations. "That's 22,955 interactive touch points with our senior Hamilton County residents."
The dedicated staff and volunteers are passionately leading the organization to expand its services by reaching out and supporting caregivers. Known as the "sandwich generation," caregivers frequently have responsibilities for caring for younger kids and families while assisting aging parents and family members. The burden of caring for two generations can lead to isolation, stress, depression and anxiety.
"More than 60 percent of caregivers experience depression at a higher rate than the people they are supporting," Guynn explains. "The Shepherd's Center is committed to being a place for caregivers to find support."
For anyone facing the challenges of aging or caregiving, they can reach out to The Shepherd's Center at ShepherdsCenterOfHamiltonCounty.org or by phone at 317.674.8777. As a smaller organization, the nonprofit is always seeking new volunteers, even if for just one hour a month.
"Our mission is to help seniors age in place and support caregivers with self-care."