Vicki Soulé and Frank Isele. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

It’s no secret that Indian River County has an ever-growing senior population, which prompted the 2018 forming of the Senior Collaborative of IRC, a group of service providers, funders and advocates. As the lead agency for Livable Indian River, it strives to make this a livable community for all ages.

At its second annual Members and Providers Awards Luncheon, Vicki Soulé, board president, introduced Dawn Redstone, who became executive director in April 2023.

Through its free Navigation Program, the collaborative links older residents, their families and caregivers to hundreds of for-profit and nonprofit resources: Housing; Transportation; Food and Meals; Community and Government Agencies; Financial Assistance, Counseling and Employment; Education, Social and Spiritual; Health and Medical; Arts and Entertainment; and Parks and Recreation.

With Livable Indian River, the county received an Age-Friendly designation from AARP in 2020 to begin a five-year process to address issues such as housing, transportation, health, outdoor spaces, communication, social participation, respect/inclusion and employment.

“I am thrilled to be able to tell you what a fantastic year it has been overall for the Senior Collaborative. You know, we’re still fairly young as a nonprofit, so we continue to grow and explore and do different things,” said Soulé.

Two years ago, she said, they were invited by the American Association of University Women to participate in the Senior Expo, and last year, the AAUW turned it over to them.

She said the Navigation Program, accessible by phone or the web, had hundreds calling in for assistance, and thousands more accessing the website to research the various services offered to seniors.

“We know from the phone calls that many of them are really feeling an urgency to resolve their problems, particularly housing,” said Soulé.

Referencing a soon-to-be-launched UpSlide program, based on one in Tallahassee, she explained that it promotes small social engagement gatherings to combat loneliness and isolation. A pilot program is likely to launch at a site in Wabasso where there is already a congregate meal program.

“So, we will be facilitating a two-hour get-together of friends there,” Soulé explained.

Liz Bruner, Senior Resource Association vice president of philanthropy, presented a video highlighting SRA programs, all offered at little to no cost thanks to community support.

Programs include Meals on Wheels, Emergency Meals on Wheels, Respite, Emergency Home Energy Assistance, an Emergency Alert Response System, and Public Guardianship.

Their Community Coach provides door-to-door transportation for eligible riders, and its low-cost GoLine has 14 routes throughout the county and to the Indian River State College campus in Fort Pierce.

Bruner said funding from the Indian River County Hospital District will enable them to wipe out their current Meals on Wheels wait list, which has created an even greater need for volunteers to deliver the meals. She said volunteers can plan their hours based on whatever best fits their schedules.

Board member Abby Walters spoke about the health impacts of isolation in older adults, including a greater likelihood of dementia and higher death rates.

Based on the Livable Indian River survey they administered, she said isolation and loneliness are areas they need to work on, citing UpSlide as one way to address the problem.

Soulé presented the first of several awards to Linda Barker, AAUW president, for their assistance during the Senior Expo transition.

“Linda Barker and her AAUW sister volunteers set a standard and helped us make the Senior Expo in March wonderfully successful,” said Soulé.

Fred Augenstein received an award for his help in promoting the collaborative, with Soulé calling him an “unsung hero.”

Tor Jones received an award for his work on their website and printed materials, and for taking crisis calls, even while on vacation.

And Marilyn Pascale, marketing director at Regency Park, an independent living senior community, received an award for hosting Senior Collaborative luncheons and meetings there.

For more information, visit SeniorServicesIRC.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis