Okeechobee County seniors are happy with the services provided by the county ...
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OKEECHOBEE -- Okeechobee County seniors are happy with the services provided by the county, according to the 2023 Senior Services client survey presented at the Dec. 12 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission. However, the survey also found many seniors struggle with food insecurity.
At the Dec. 12 meeting of the Okeechobee County commission, Senior Services Director Debra Austin said she is extremely proud of her staff.
Food insecurity is a recurring problem for the county’s low-income seniors, she said. For those on the meals program, more than half depend on the meal provided by the county for at least 75% of their nutrition for the day.
Monday through Friday, Senior Services provides meals at the Young at Heart Senior Center and delivers meals to homebound seniors. Austin said some volunteers have been paying out of their own pockets to provide some clients with food bags for the weekend. She said they are sometimes able to obtain additional food for the clients from Treasure Coast Food Bank.
Community Services Director Denise Whitehead said the senior center now has a container garden. Clients enjoy gardening at the center and take home produce they grow.
The In-Home Services surveys are designed to measure client satisfaction with their in-home providers, contracted Nurse Registries. The results this year indicate:
Meals: The Home Delivered Meal Surveys provide insight into the quality of the meals and the service provided. Completed surveys provided the following information:
Other data collected, which highlights the struggles that many of seniors are facing today, includes:
Congregate dining: Clients attending the Young at Heart Center of Okeechobee were asked to complete surveys based on the nutrition of meals served, activities at the center, and staff.
“Each day, Senior Services strives to meet the needs of our clients and these surveys show that overall, our clients not only benefit from our services but are also pleased with the services we provide,” said Austin. “We will continue to serve our clients, their families and caregivers to the best of our ability as we assist them in remaining in their homes during their aging years.”