Needs Statement

The elderly of Metro Detroit with ages of 60 years and over have limited access to Senior Daycare Services. Precisely, they experience a declining support resources. Therefore, the older citizens need assistance in social connection, transport, medical and housing services. According to research, the number of individuals aged 60 and over in Southeast Michigan is rising at an alarming rate compared to other age groups (African American Population Demographics, 2016). Metro Detroit has 97,458 senior African Americans that encompass males and females ages 60-85 (African American Population Demographics, 2016). Due to the rising number of the elderly, the resources and services becomes limited thus unable to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. In the past years, this community has been thriving due to the availability of resources and services, but due to the rising number, a large segment needs help.

Precisely, the project’s target audience are the baby boomers. They are the most affected by the declining support resources since their figures are rising higher compared to other groups. Moreover, they encompass individuals born in the years after the World War II. The Senior Daycare Services is an ideal project because it is designed specifically to provide help to older citizens. The availability of support resources would help the older citizens aged 60 years and above to live a better life.

The problem faced by the elderly African American population in Metro Detroit is urgent. Older adults pose a burden to their families; therefore, easy access to senior daycare would help relieve family members and caregivers. Moreover, family members would be able to handle personal business, work on their projects and relax. Similarly, since some older adults may be unable to handle their tasks, senior daycare would be helpful in providing assistance and supervision. In addition, the need is urgent since caregivers and families would like to perform their tasks with comfort knowing that their loved ones are taken care of while they are out. Therefore, the program will ease families concerns and reduce tension. Besides, older adults will survive the harsh conditions when they live in a secure place and engage in daily routine activities that help them interact, reduce sedentary lifestyles and intellectual boredom. Lastly, the project needs the grant to reduce unnecessary costs that will hinder older citizens from maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. High costs are a burden to the project (Stokes, 2012). The funds would be useful in providing support resources hence allowing older people easy access to senior daycare services.

The Senior Daycare in Metro Detroit is an appropriate organization to address the needs of the older African American population because of the following reasons. First, the organization offers a program that is a volunteer-driven and community based. The Senior Daycare understands the needs of the community and uses the help of volunteers to provide services. The project meets real needs and priorities of the target population as volunteers bring creative ideas, capacity and new energy. Second, the mission of the project is to provide senior daycare services for the elderly. The organization will ensure it achieves its mission. Besides, the organization prioritizes the need to improve and enhance the quality of life for older population in Detroit. Third, the project focuses on the social connection of the elderly. Higher levels of social activity have a positive impact on the health of senior citizens. Residents who experience meaningful social interactions and a higher quality of life are likely to stay in place for longer.

Goals and Objectives

Senior Daycare in Metro Detroit is an entitlement recipient of Senior Engagement Program grant funds after receiving the allocation from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. A grant proposal should be prescriptive to the interest of the funder (Ward, 2012). The goals of the Senior Daycare project include the following.

• Provide appropriate home and community-based services such as support for families or caregivers to enable seniors to stay in their homes for long with a high quality of life.
• Ensure the rights of seniors and prevent exploitation, neglect and abuse.
• Provide support through empowering the elderly and their families to make informed decisions and have easy access to the available home and community-based options.
• Promote socialization and peer interaction.
• Ensure older people stay active and healthy.

At the completion of the project, the older people will receive community-based services that include assistance and supervision during the day. Similarly, they will get education on the importance of physical activities or exercise and social interactions to promote a healthy lifestyle.

After establishing the goals, you need to think about objectives needed to achieve these goals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). The following objectives will benefit the elderly in Metro Detroit and are intended to meet the goal of appropriate home and community-based services, ensure the right of seniors, empowering the elderly to make informed decisions and stay active and healthy.

• To construct affordable homes and provide community-based care services and living options to eliminate or delay institutionalization.
• Expand access to legal assistance for seniors in the community.
• To help the older people and their families, and caregivers to be well-informed on existing senior daycare services.
• To promote a healthy lifestyle among the elderly with age 60 and over through education and training.

References

African American Population Demographics. (2016). Retrieved from https://suburbanstats.org/race/michigan/detroit/how-many-black-or-african-american-people-live-in-detroit-michigan

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Develop SMART objectives.  Retrieved January 8, 2017, from http://www.cdc.gov/phcommunities/resourcekit/evaluate/smart_objectives.html

Stokes, K. (2012). Writing clear statements of needs and goals for grant proposals. AMWA Journal: American Medical Writers Association Journal, 27(1), 25–28.

Ward, D. (2012). Writing grant proposals that win (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Do you need an Original High Quality Academic Custom Essay?