March 8, 2022
The Community Foundation of New Jersey today announced that the Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation (SHCHF) has committed $303,300 toward family caregivers in Morris, Somerset, and neighboring counties. Family caregivers, who are unpaid spouses, partners, family members, friends, or neighbors, often face unseen struggles and are underappreciated for their work in assisting others with the activities of daily living and medical tasks.
The funding will be in the form of a grant distributed over three years to the Foundation for the Morristown Medical Center, specifically for their Caregiver Program. The Caregiver Program aims to improve hands-on caregiving skills, enhance caregiver’s knowledge and understanding of what to expect as their loved one continues to age, and provide counseling services and linkages to community resources.
“The SHCHF Board is committed to addressing care needs of the older adult population through programs enabling them to remain in their homes and the Caregiver Program is a reflection of that support,” stated Kathy Cummins, Board Chairperson.
The SHCHF grant will enable the Caregiver Program to expand its existing services and bring on a licensed clinical social worker to provide more caregiver consultations. The Powell Center for Healthy Aging currently has one full-time social worker. Adding a second full-time licensed clinical social worker will enable the growth of this program in the long-term. These caregiver consultations, which will take place both virtually and in-person, will better prepare caregivers to handle their loved ones’ needs. During hour-long sessions, the licensed clinical worker will work with the caregiver to identify, address, and support specific caregiver needs through assistance with long-term planning and referrals to community resources. The Caregiver Program will also expand existing senior support programs by providing a phone and email hotline available seven days a week to address the needs and concerns of caregivers and seniors.
“We consider family caregivers our ‘silent patients’ and recognize the need to partner with them to achieve better outcomes for their aging loved one while keeping them healthy and supported,” says Bonnie Gannon, director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Foundation for Morristown Medical Center. “The expanded Caregiver Program will augment the hospital’s senior support services and will allow us to create a truly comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging.”
Additionally, the Caregiver Program will expand the current offerings at the Morristown Medical Center’s David and Joan Powell Center for Healthy Aging. The Center seeks to provide information and support for older individuals’ health needs through a geriatric assessment center, healthy aging program to educate seniors, a caregiver training lab and education program, and wellness classes and events offered to seniors.
SHCHF is a component fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Those interested in learning more about this grant may contact Madeline Rivera, Program Officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, at mrivera@cfnj.org.
About the Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation
The Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation (SHCHF) is a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Created from funds raised by the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, a provider of home and community-based healthcare services, SHCHF’s founding coincided with the announcement that the Visiting Nurses Association of Somerset Hills joined with the Atlantic Health System family to form Atlantic Visiting Nurse. SHCHF seeks to fund projects and programs that promote healthier individuals and communities in Morris and Somerset counties. For more information visit www.cfnj.org/somersethills.
About the Community Foundation of New Jersey
The Community Foundation of New Jersey creates and scales custom solutions for purpose-driven individuals, families, and businesses. From creative projects that tackle critical societal or policy issues to scholarship funds, corporate philanthropy, legacy funds and donor advised funds, CFNJ manages nearly every kind of giving vehicle and tailors solutions to meet critical needs. CFNJ’s team of specialists understand the unique contours of communities and manage the scope of CFNJ investment and grantmaking capabilities with precision. With $800 million in assets, the Community Foundation grants tens of millions of dollars each year through its more than 1,100 funds. In 2021, CFNJ granted more than $100 million to nonprofits in New Jersey and beyond.