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September 2020

Sep 28
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Census sign encouraging people to complete the 2020 census.

Columbus Counts 2020 Census Grant Enhances Grab-and-Go and Drive-Thru Services at LifeCare Alliance!

By Carrie's Cafe, Featured News
In early 2020, LifeCare Alliance received a grant from the City of Columbus—Columbus Counts 2020 to help raise awareness among our clients about the importance of filling out the Census. To use this funding, we had to radically pivot when COVID-19 struck. Since our congregate dining centers closed on March 16, 2020, and are still not open, we had to think of a different way to reach the Hard-to-Count (HTC) populations that we normally serve through in-person dining and large events.

As a result of some of the new COVID-19 protocols, it took us some time to relaunch our congregate meal program and assess how to do it safely for all parties involved. Leah Bunck, MSW, Director of Congregate Dining at LifeCare Alliance, discussed the challenges of relaunching the program: “Many of our clients do not drive, which means we had to figure out the best way to bring the meals and programming to them. Partnering with senior apartment buildings throughout Franklin County has worked very well.”

In addition, converting our signature dining center, Carrie’s Cafe, into a drive-thru has worked as a great alternative for clients that can drive. Once we realized that we could do a “Grab-and-Go” model at senior residences as well as a restaurant-style drive-thru to continue to provide meals to our seniors who had previously attended our dining center events, we knew we could still make the Census education campaign a success.

Read More

Sep 18
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Project OpenHand-Columbus Logo

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

By Featured News, POHC

Today is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD), a yearly observance launched by The AIDS Institute that focuses on the challenges the aging population faces in regards to HIV/AIDS and to highlight prevention, testing, care, and treatment.

Older adults in the U.S. are more likely to have late stage HIV infection at the time of diagnosis, which means they start treatment late and possibly suffer more immune-system damage. According to the CDC, an estimated 47% of individuals in the U.S. diagnosed with HIV were aged 50 and older in 2015. Project OpenHand-Columbus (POHC) serves a critical need by providing nutritious food for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The program began in San Francisco, was founded in Columbus in 1994, and merged with LifeCare Alliance in 2004.

LifeCare Alliance would like to bring our recent supporters of POHC to light on this day. This past year, we received assistance for POHC clients from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Janssen Therapeutics, and emergency funding from the MAC Viva Glam Fund and The Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation. We would not be able to serve those living with HIV/AIDS without the help of the above mentioned organizations and businesses. Thank you for nourishing the human spirit!

-By Stephanie Rowe Bencic, LifeCare Alliance

Learn more

Visit Project OpenHand-Columbus’s page to learn more about POHC’s efforts to fight HIV/AIDS through nutrition!

Sep 03
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Funders Make 2020 CODA Virtual Camp Possible

By Central Ohio Diabetes Association, Featured News
According to the 2020 National Diabetes Statistics Report from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, nearly 1.6 million Americans have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) — up from 1.25 million people, or nearly 30%, from 2017.

Because of alarming statistics like these, the Central Ohio Diabetes Association (CODA) exists to help people navigate the unfamiliar waters of managing diabetes. This comes in the form of a quintessential childhood experience — summer camp.

“Lilly does not feel alone anymore,” explains mom Rebecca, who knows how important the camp experience is for her daughter with type 1 diabetes. “I cannot thank you enough for not stepping, but dive bombing into the uncomfortable unknown to make this year’s camp possible. It will help us get through this year.” Read More

Sep 01
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Columbus CEO: LifeCare Alliance expands westward with Diabetes Dayton merger

By Featured News, LifeCare Alliance in the News

Photo and story published Aug. 31, 2020, by Columbus CEO Magazine:

LifeCare Alliance is perhaps best known for being the Midwest’s leading provider of Meals-on-Wheels. Diabetes management, however, has become an increasing part of its caseload and care for seniors.

In August, the organization merged with Diabetes Dayton, a nonprofit that provides programs and services to help people suffering from the chronic condition.

“Diabetes Dayton, because of their size, they couldn’t take everybody that needed help,” said LifeCare Alliance President & CEO Charles W. Gehring. “At LifeCare Alliance, we take everybody. Together we’ll be bigger and stronger.”

Click here to read the full story.