Salt Lake County Aging Services - Providing Options and Opportunities for Salt Lake County's Older Population for Over 35 Years

Do you or someone you know need help? Call 468-2480. Do you or someone you know want to help? 
Call 468-2527.

The mission of Aging Services is to “Foster independence for Salt Lake County's older generations” by providing a comprehensive, coordinated system of services that promotes overall independence while avoiding undue dependency upon programs and services. This is done by providing assistance to the existing support network for the elderly population – family, friends, neighbors and other volunteers, churches and other community organizations. Aging Services also maintains a comprehensive caregiver support program that supports, fosters and promotes caregivers and their needs throughout the community.

There is no such thing as a typical older person. Their situations and their lives are very diverse. While many seniors are healthy and active, remaining in the workforce, volunteering in their community or enjoying their friends and families, others are frail and struggle to remain in their own homes. Regardless of one's condition, Aging Services provides information and assistance to older adults and their caregivers to assess their situation, determine their needs and, if need be, connect them with partner organizations to help meet those needs.

Serving Seniors – A Two-Pronged Approach

Aging Services provides programs that both promote and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of active seniors while at the same time providing support and assistance to frailer people to help them remain in the community living independent lives with dignity for as long as possible.

1. Community-Based Services

The central focus of these programs is to support and maintain the relatively healthy and active senior population. These services help delay the need for more intensive types of assistance. These include for example:

• Individual assessments 
• A hot nutritious noon meal at a Senior Center 
• Classes and other activities that nurture and encourage personal growth and health 
• Workshops that promote the overall health and wellbeing of seniors 
• Volunteer and employment opportunities 
• Legal services

2. In-Home Services

These programs provide more concentrated support and assistance to seniors who need additional help to continue living in their homes as independently as possible, for as long as possible. These include but are not limited to:

• Meals on wheels
• An array of services to help frail adults continue to live at home:
       o Case management 
       o Homemakers 
       o Home health aides 
       o Personal care assistance
• Services to frail older adults to help them maintain their independence
• Opportunities for caregivers to take time away from caring for a loved one
• Support, coaching and training for caregivers of the frail elderly
• Transportation to medical and other critical appointments
• Chore services

In addition, Aging Services advocates on behalf of and investigates complaints involving residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Volunteer Opportunities

Older adults who volunteer in their communities enjoy a higher quality and healthier life than their counterparts who don't volunteer. Aging Services has a wide variety of opportunities for individuals – both young and old – who wish to share their talents, skills and experience with others in the community. Among other things people can:

• Drive and meet new people
• Assist the frail elderly
• Make the community a better place
• Help seniors get the meals they need
• Teach a class at a senior center
• Be a mentor to children struggling in academics
• Teach healthy behaviors
• Teach job-seeking skills
• Help seniors with insurance benefits
• Provide companionship
• Help children with special needs
• Provide respite care

For some seniors these programs provide life-saving services, for others opportunities to continue or begin to live healthy, interactive lives in their communities. With the senior population projected to more than double over the next 20 years, demand for Aging Services' programs will only increase.