This Year's Project: Enhancing Public Transportation
About Our Organization
Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging's mission is to develop a support system of coordinated and comprehensive services for older individuals that promotes a safe, healthy, and independent lifestyle. Blue Rivers serves Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, and Thayer counties.
At Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging, we assist, protect and advocate for elderly Nebraskans so they may choose the community-based living option that best meets their needs. Founded in 1974, we continue to be a vital local resource for seniors age 60 and over & others needing assistance in our service area.
Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging offers the following services:
- Housekeeping/Handyman Services
- Respite Care
- Public Transportation
- Care Management
- Personal Emergency Response System
- Meals - Home Delivered or To Go
- Information, Assistance & Outreach
- Legal Services
- ADRC
- Advocates Health Promotion & Education
- Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver
Current Project: Enhancing Public Transportation
As part of our mission, Blue Rivers provides Public Transportation rides in Gage, Jefferson, Nemaha, Otoe, and Thayer Counties with trips to Lincoln and Omaha. We are a public transit system with a special emphasis on meeting the needs of elderly and disabled persons. With funds raised we plan to purchase a wheelchair equipped standard van to enhance our non-emergency medical transports in Gage County, as the demand in these type of trips has dramatically increased. Enhancements like this project continue Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging's mission of keeping residents safe, independent and healthy as they age well in their own homes.
Blue Rivers Transit provides transportation to:
- Dentists
- Dining
- Doctors
- Groceries
- Pharmacy
- Salons
- School
- Senior Centers
- Shopping
- Visiting
- Work
How can you help?
- Make a tax-deductible donation (make checks payable to Big Give Gage or Gage County Foundation and write Blue Rivers AAA in the memo)
Let Us Do the Driving!
Meal Delivery Service
Project Details
During the pandemic, it was made even more apparent that meal delivery to our vulnerable people was vital in keeping them healthy and independent in their own homes. We were the front line workers attempting to assure that everyone aged 60 and older received a hot, nutritious, home delivered meal and also offered weekend meals to those most in need of those services. Your generous support will help us sustain this meal delivery service for our rural population where it is of upmost importance. Seeing the smiling faces of the people as they receive their meals is so rewarding!
How can you make a difference?
- Become a home delivered meal volunteer
- Make a tax-deductible donation (make checks payable to Big Give Gage or Gage County Foundation)
Last year we raised $2274.25 to help offset costs associated with our meal delivery program! We can't wait to show you what we are planning for the Big Give in 2022!
Nutrition Delivery Van
Project Details
During this time of social distancing, and with the suspension of congregate meals at our senior centers, the home delivered meal program has been set into overdrive. We are attempting to assure that everyone aged 60 and older receives a hot, nutritious, home delivered meal.
Your generous support will help us replace an aging nutrition delivery van, which will be used to deliver meals to the towns of Wymore, Diller and Odell. We have delivered 6,820 meals, from July 2019 to June 2020, just to these three locations!
How can you make a difference?
- Become a home delivered meal volunteer
- Make a tax-deductible donation (make checks payable to Big Give Gage or Gage County Foundation)
With your donation we can continue providing home delivered meals to our vulnerable seniors.
Last year we raised $1375 to help offset costs associated with the purchasing of a meal delivery van! We can't wait to show you what we are planning for the Big Give in 2021!
Additional Housekeeping and Handyman Service Hours
Project Details
Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging teams up contracted Housekeeper/Handyman with those who meet the program guidelines. All Housekeeper/Handyman staff are screened and background checked before receiving assignments. $10,000 will provide for 1000 additional hours of housekeeping/handyman services to the Elderly in our community. Here are some of the tasks these services provide to help our Elderly stay in their community homes:
Housekeeper
1. General housework
- Dusting
- Vacuuming
- Clean the floors
- Laundry (client pays for laundromat expense)
- Clean bathroom - can include sink, tub/shower, and stool
- Clean kitchen - can include sink, range top, refrigerator, and counter
- Trash
- Spring and Fall cleaning
2. Light Meal Preparation
3. Errands and Shopping Assistance
- General shopping - can include grocery store, drug store, etc.
- Bill paying
- Other necessary errands to help client stay at home
Handyman
- Mow lawns
- Scoop Sidewalks
- Clean gutters
- Clean windows in Spring (if not provided by housekeeper program)
- Minor foundation work (dirt fill, minor patch)
- Trim trees, hedges, or bushes - but only if hazard and rubbing on home
- Minor repairs (no home improvement)
- Patch roof (no complete roof jobs)
- Repair porch steps and/or porches
- Light plumbing* like faucets, washers, sink traps, toilets, etc.
- Light electrical* like switches, outlets, fuses, replacing broken light fixtures, etc.
- Safety Modifications
- Grab bars*
- Handrails*
- Wheelchair ramps*
*Regulatory codes may dictate who can perform these tasks
In 2019 we raised over $800 to help offset costs associated with basic house maintenance, cleaning and repairs for local older individuals. We were able to provide over 12000 hours of housekeeping & handyman services in 2018-2019, and we can't wait to show you what we are planning for the Big Give in 2020!