Silver Key Senior Services

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2024?25 RSVP PROGRAM. YOUR 2024?25 STATUTORY MATCH IS 30% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 30.33%. THIS AWARD IS APPROVED TO ADD $2,500 IN ONE-TIME ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR TRAVEL RELATED TO TRAINING IN FY 24.

ESTABLISHED IN 1970, NOW CELEBRATING ITS 50TH YEAR OF SERVICE TO SENIORS IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION, SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES OFFERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, CREATING MEASURABLE IMPACT, WHILE CREATING COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND PROVIDING LASTING BENEFITS TO VOLUNTEERS THOROUGH THE SERVICE EXPERIENCE. THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE VOLUNTEER IMPACT PROGRAM (V.I.P.), SILVER KEY ACTIVELY ENGAGES MORE THAN 550 ADULT VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY, PROVIDING OVER 55,000 HOURS IN DONATED TIME ? THE EQUIVALENT OF 26 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS. SILVER KEY IS BOTH A SENIOR CORPS/SENIOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND AMERICORPS GRANT RECIPIENT, CURRENTLY IN GOOD STANDING WITH CNCS. SILVER KEY EFFECTIVELY MANAGES A VISTA MEMBER PLUS A UNIQUE THREE-YEAR NATIONAL PILOT PROGRAM FUNDED THROUGH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, PROVIDING TRAINED VOLUNTEER COMPANIONSHIP SERVICES TO SENIOR VETERANS IN NEED OF REMAINING INDEPENDENT, AT HOME. NO OTHER NONPROFIT IN EL PASO COUNTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) HOST; SILVER KEY IS READY, CAPABLE, ENTHUSIASTIC AND LOOKING FORWARD TO INCORPORATING THE SENIOR CORPS RSVP PROGRAM FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES INTO OUR V.I.P. PROGRAM WITH THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SILVER KEY?S VOLUNTEER INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTLY ALIGNS WITH MANY OF THE CNCS/RSVP?S FOCUS AREAS, PRIMARILY ENCOURAGING GREATER DIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES. THE TEN PERCENT (10%) MATCH WILL BE DERIVED FROM OVERHEAD EXPENSES INCURRED IN STAFFING AND OPERATING THE RSVP PROGRAM.

SILVER KEY IS HONORED TO PROVIDE THIS APPLICATION IN RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION TO APPLY FOR THE VA CHOOSE HOME SENIOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM (SDP), A THREE-YEAR PILOT WITH THE GOAL TO IMPROVE AND STREAMLINE THE VA CARE PROCESSES USED FOR ASSESSING AND ASSIGNING VETERANS TO NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE PROGRAMS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING AN INTEGRAL PARTNER TO THE VA IN THIS UNIQUE PILOT DESIGNED TO DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE VETERAN, CAREGIVER AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE BY PROVIDING VETERANS WITH THE CHOICE TO RECEIVE SERVICES AT HOME. WE CONCUR WITH THE SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD, RESULTING FROM THREE RECENT VA CHOOSE HOME COMMUNITY FORUMS (COLORADO SPRINGS, PITTSBURGH AND LAS VEGAS) AS REPORTED BY THE VHA OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CENTER FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE INNOVATION. THOUGH THE SDP, SILVER KEY ESTIMATES 100 CHOOSE HOME VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE VETERANS. ALL CHOOSE HOME SDP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE RIDES FOR VETERANS WHO NEED ACCESS TO LOCAL MILITARY BASES FOR MEDICAL AND BENEFITS APPOINTMENTS; RIDES FOR SHOPPING, SOCIAL MEAL LOCATIONS AND ROUND TRIPS TO FITZSIMMONS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IN AURORA, 75 MILES NORTH; DELIVERING MEALS TO VETERANS; AND PROVIDING COMPANIONSHIP AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE HOUSING AND OTHER ESSENTIAL LIVING NEEDS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS HEALTHY FUTURES. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, A NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, WILL REPORT HAVING INCREASED SOCIAL TIES AND INCREASED PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $417,000 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF $50,000 OF NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES. EL PASO COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGES OF VETERANS IN THE NATION WITH INCREASING NUMBERS OF SENIOR VETERANS NEEDING SERVICES ANNUALLY. OUR ORGANIZATION'S VISION - TO MAKE THE COLORADO SPRINGS AREA THE BEST IN THE NATION TO AGE - INCLUDES EMBRACING OUR VETERANS WHILE CONTINUALLY STRIVING TO ACTIVATE NUMEROUS INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS AS AGING AMERICANS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE VHA AND CNCS IN THIS NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.