Valley Program for Aging Services

It can be difficult to navigate the benefits, services and support available to seniors trying to live active lives. That’s why organizations like the Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) exist. VPAS helps adults 60 years of age or older live independent lives and to support community living for seniors. Their offices, located in four different regions, are on hand to answer questions about senior living, connect people to resources and services in their community, and provide access to activities that will increase the quality of life.

All of the offices provide the same services from answering questions about the senior care process and assessing the needs of a senior citizen to finding the right services to meet those needs and providing easy ways to remain active in the community.

Close to home, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham office is led by Regional Director Beth Bland, who spoke at our Aging in Place Roundtable in July of 2013. She explained how VPAS serves the community – the office hosts three Senior Centers. These venues are gathering places for seniors to meet up with friends and participate in a variety of activities. A nutritious midday meal is provided as well, ensuring that seniors remain active and connected to the community while meeting their nutritional needs.

We also met Joyce Nussbaum, Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Coordinator at VPAS. She discussed the VPAS Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. The program is designed to empower adults to better manage their chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain and heart disease with the goal of giving the individual confidence and skills to allow them to actively manage their health care and reduce unnecessary visits to the Emergency Department or the physician.

Their Emergency Services and Chronice Disease Self-Management Education are two valuable services offered by the VPAS. Emergency Services provide one-time, immediate financial assistance and other resources, including referrals to other public and private agencies to older adults who have an emergency need for help; Chronic Disease Self-Management Education empowers adults to better manage their chronic conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain and heart disease.

For more articles like this, see: Long Distance Caregiving, Resources for Central Virginia, Aging in Place, Care for the Caregiver, News and Events.

Know someone who worries about their elderly parent in Charlottesville, Staunton, or Harrisonburg Virginia? Care is There Geriatric Care Management can help! Have them contact us for a free consultation: 434.326.5323 or info@careisthere.com.

For more information about our services, and to read testimonials from our clients, visit our website. Also, view this short video about our care management services.

Elizabeth Swider, Geriatric Care Manager, Certified Senior Advisor
President, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Support for independent living and long distance caregiving; assisted living enhancement