Senior Services Study

“In the presence of an old person you shall rise, and you shall honor the presence of the elderly.”
Leviticus 19:32

On behalf of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, we are pleased to present this report of the Senior Services Study.

The urgency to address the needs of seniors was made dramatically clear by results of the 2005 Jewish Demographic Study of South Palm Beach County: 62% of our local Jewish population is over The age of 65. Over 50% of the Jews classified as low income are 75 and older and live alone. In short, the elderly characterize our community.

This report is the culmination of a study conducted between October 2007 and December 2008 in order to determine how best to utilize funds reserved to address the unmet needs of seniors in our community. As the report details, the needs of this population are vast and varied. The goal of the Study was to gain a thorough understanding of the landscape of local senior services that presently exist, how well the needs are being met by these services, and what actions can be taken to address the most critical unmet needs.

The Community Planning Department executed the Study, with the assistance of a Senior Services Advisory Committee. Research and information gathering activities were far-reaching. The report now serves as an excellent resource for any and all who are interested in the current status of senior services and seniors’ needs in South Palm Beach County.

The Senior Services Planning Committee will be considering recommended actions from this report and determining priorities and parameters for addressing the gaps in service in our community. It is our intent and greatest hope that this study will inform funding decisions that result in an improved quality of life for our local seniors.

Warmest Regards,

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