Published in the July 8-21, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Staff Report

The nonprofit organization Sourcewise assists senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Santa Clara County in navigating the often confusing network of support services by helping adults, their families and caregivers find the social service resources they need. In the South Valley region, Sourcewise representatives offer several direct service programs including health insurance counseling and advocacy, senior employment, Meals on Wheels, care management, and information and awareness.

Morgan Hill Life recently discussed with Sourcewise director of public relations Aneliza Del Pinal how her service agency is becoming more involved in Morgan Hill to build a lifetime partnership with local seniors so that they can enjoy a high quality of life.

Sourcewise is working on opening a satellite office in Morgan Hill. How did that come about and when will it open?

We listened to our senior population who learned how they would benefit from our presence in South County. They cited one of their major obstacles was transportation availability. Simply, consumers could not reach our office in San Jose.

Our state required area plan is reconstructed every four years, and this year is the beginning of that cycle. We are designing a comprehensive plan to reach South County residents — analyzing demographics, pouring over our needs assessment, and hosting community discussions have helped us understand the specific needs of our South County senior population.

Our satellite office in Morgan Hill will open Sept. 1, 2015. Director Rosie Jimenez will lead the direction of our service delivery from Morgan Hill.

One of our upcoming efforts will be to provide a series of educational courses in Morgan Hill to help Medicare/Medi-Cal participants understand their health insurance options.

What is the history of Sourcewise and how is it funded?

Since 1973, Sourcewise has provided quality support services to the Santa Clara County senior community. We are proud of our high standards and quality in service for this special community of seniors.

We receive funding from state and federal allocations through the Older Americans Act, enacted in 1965, in response to the need for community based programs and services for the aging population and their caregivers. We also receive funding from private donations.

What ts the process in which your grantees are selected?

Our grantees are very important partners in the community. In fiscal year 2014-2015, Sourcewise awarded nearly $4 million towards adult day clubs, health and nutrition, home care, care management, caregiver resources, education, and training, and transportation.

Grantees are selected through a rigorous vetting process. They apply through a request for proposal process. These applications are then reviewed by Sourcewise, members of our advisory council and our board of directors who look at specific criteria, including years of experience, ability to provide quality services, and ability to reach the target demographic.

Why is Sourcewise important to the senior population?

The senior population in Santa Clara County is projected to double by 2030. This equates to 27.6 percent of this population. As baby boomers retire, our role will be to support those individuals to learn about the options available to them. We know that a great portion of caregivers are tasked with multiple demands caring for their own parents while also caring for their young children. These are the individuals whose contributions to society are enormous, and we want to ensure they receive our support as well.

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