Secure@Home team members with the 2014 Kovod Award.
L to R: Beverly Rubman (Lawrenceville, NJ), Chaplain; Beth Hammer (Kendall Park, NJ), LCSW Geriatric Care Manager; Andrea Gaynor (Princeton, NJ), LCSW Geriatric Care Manager; Beth Englezos (Plainsboro, NJ), Program Manager; Melissa Sodowick (Washington Crossing, PA), MSW Geriatric Care Manager

Princeton, NJ  (July 2, 2014) – Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County is pleased to announce that its Secure@Home program, which helps older adults age safely, comfortably and independently in their own homes, has won the 2014 Kovod Award, sponsored by the Association of Jewish Family Agencies.  The award was won in the category of Sustained Success: Programs with Staying Power.

Founded in 2007, Secure@Home home is a non-profit, non-sectarian membership program that promotes “aging in place” by offering an umbrella of services including geriatric care management by licensed social workers, assessment, care planning, 24/7 emergency availability, monthly hellos, wellness programs, volunteer help, medication management, chaplaincy services and information and referral.  Specifically, Secure@Home’s care managers assess for health issues, home safety and various needs for assistance, including transportation, home modification, home care, coordinating continuing care from a hospital or rehabilitation facility to home, and/or advocacy.

Over the past seven years, Secure@Home has provided direct services to a total of 419 seniors (ages 54 – 101) in 283 households in greater Mercer County, NJ.  “Client satisfaction surveys consistently report that our program offers peace of mind for both older adults and their families and rates our 24/7 availability as our most important service,” says Executive Director Linda Meisel.

The Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies is a membership organization for Jewish human service agencies in the United States and Canada.  The award recognizes Secure@Home as a program which has withstood the test of time and one that has a proven track record.  AJFCA guidelines state that the agency “should demonstrate consistent effectiveness of the program, sustained community engagement with the program and/or the continued relevance of the program to the target population.“

For more information, contact Beth Englezos at bethe@jfcsonline.org or 609-987-8121.

Click here for more information about Secure@Home.