Rising COVID-19 case numbers in the First State prompted CHEER Delaware to suspend some activities in Sussex County.
CHEER Delaware has restructured most of its programs to try and continue providing as many services as possible to Sussex County seniors in need.
“At this point in time, we have suspended all of our congregate group activities in our senior centers throughout the County in response to Gov. Carney's stay-at-home advisory, which took effect Monday, Dec. 14, 2020," said CHEER Delaware CEO Ken Bock. "We have increased the home delivered meals - Meals on Wheels programs - that we’re providing, in order to ensure that seniors still have a hot, nutritious, daily meal.”
Bock notes the agency is also working to make sure seniors receiving meals have prepared frozen or shelf-stable meals in reserve.
He says the nutrition program is CHEER’s largest program. Before the pandemic, it provided an estimated 1,700 meals per day. Bock says that number has increased significantly since March.
Bock adds CHEER’s in-home care program continues. Direct care workers are still assisting seniors in- home with personal care - but wearing masks and practicing social distancing protocols when possible.
While adult day care services are also suspended, Bock says they are finding ways to fill the gap.
“We were able to get grants to help purchase equipment - to help facilitate the use of Zoom in seniors homes," said Bock. "For example, we bought a lot of tablets, which we have been able to give out to our seniors for use in their homes. We have been able to get MiFi a mobile router that acts as a mobile WiFi hotspot."
Bock says CHEER also continues to focus on hot meal deliveries, noting the combination of Meals on Wheels and CHEER’s nutrition program is the agency’s largest program.
CHEER Delaware has assisted 4,500- to 4,600 seniors in Sussex County so far this year.
Sussex County seniors needing assistance can call CHEER Delaware at (302) 515-3040.
