Martina Clarke needed a little help. The 73-year-old Santee resident’s independence was suddenly in peril when a rare neurological disorder robbed her use of her right arm, making it nearly impossible to open a jar, pull a casserole out of the oven, or tend to her garden. Everything changed when she became one of the more than 8,000 San Diego County seniors served by ElderHelp of San Diego, a lifeline for older adults who want nothing more than to age with dignity in the homes and neighborhoods they love.

“It’s not just about having someone come over and helping you cook or plant something in the garden,” explains Martina. “It’s about normalcy. It’s about being respected, being seen, being understood. It’s about the pleasure of still being able to cook, of being able to garden. Of being self-reliant.”

With the assistance of the San Diego Unity Fund, a San Diego Foundation initiative established to help make up for the loss of millions of dollars in federal government funding, ElderHelp and dozens of other nonprofits can continue serving neighbors like Martina. The Unity Fund has been praised for keeping vulnerable residents fed, housed, healthy, and – for ElderHelp clients like Martina – independent.

Helping Vulnerable Older Adults

ElderHelp

As San Diego’s population ages and housing and healthcare pressures intensify, ElderHelp has become a critical partner of local government, healthcare systems, and philanthropy in keeping seniors safe, nourished, and connected. Recent investments, from individual donors to institutional partners, are helping the organization scale its services so that thousands more older adults can age in place with safety, independence, and hope.

Founded in 1973 after a social work needs assessment exposed deep isolation, poverty, and health challenges among local seniors, the organization began as a grassroots effort headquartered in a church basement and has grown into a vital countywide resource for older adults and their families. Among the lifesaving programs ElderHelp provides are:

  • Nutrition Services, which supports more than 400 clients per year through three pantry locations, along with grocery store transportation and shopping assistance.
  • Care Coordination, in which professional staff provide ongoing, individualized care coordination through more than 2,500 points of contact each year.
  • Seniors A Go Go, which provides more than 8,400 rides to medical appointments, social activities, and various errands.
  • Housing Services and HomeShare, which assists some 1,000 seniors to find and maintain safe, affordable housing.
  • R U OK Calls, which offer check-in phone calls to ensure the safety and wellbeing of isolated seniors.

As we prepare for the future, we don’t always consider every aspect of what growing old means. Will we need help sorting the mail? Will we need help carrying groceries into our homes? Will we need help learning about the latest technology? “Our volunteers step in to fill those gaps that are left when family moves, neighbors aren’t very close, and our clients are left feeling alone,” says Anya Delacruz, ElderHelp’s Associate Executive Director.

Martina can attest to the difference it makes. She’s been paired with Brooke, a 30-something volunteer, who drops by for several hours on alternate Saturdays to cook beside her, go to the store, and share plenty of laughter. “She’s very generous with her time and very sensitive to not doing things for me that I can do for myself,” Martina says. “I so hit the jackpot and I feel so blessed to have been paired with her.”

Standing Together

ElderHelp was one of four nonprofits benefiting from a round of Unity Fund distributions in November aimed at keeping seniors and families housed.

“San Diego Foundation has been an invaluable partner during a time of increased demand for our services,” says Delacruz. “Over the last three years, requests for services have increased by 378%, and because much of our revenue comes through government contracts, support from partners like San Diego Foundation makes a huge difference. It allows us to continue operating and stay focused on what matters most – our clients.”

Delacruz noted the funding equaled nearly 10% of the nonprofit’s revenue in recent years.

To learn more about the San Diego Unity Fund and its impact on nonprofits and communities across the region, visit SDFoundation.org/Unity.

Learn More About San Diego Unity Fund