For Allegheny County’s approximately 260,500 residents who are 65 and older — and their families — finding resources related to aging can seem like a daunting task.
East End Resources for Seniors in Pittsburgh
The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania bridges the gap, connecting older adults, who make up more than 21% of the county’s population, with local agencies and organizations that can help.
Jen Schuchart, Director of Meeting Basic Needs, says United Way focuses on social isolation for older adults, which ultimately addresses other factors such as food insecurity, safe housing and reliable transportation. Last year, the organization served 12,210 older adults.
“If somebody is experiencing the loss of a loved one [or] a change in their health condition — or maybe they’re moving away from a family home — those types of changes bring about a new reality,” she says. “Folks may no longer have their go-to companions, they don’t know how to navigate a complex healthcare system [or] they might need to build a new network.”
Providing Support Through Food and Housing
These changes, she adds, can also trigger behavioral and physiological changes, which can heighten the impact of existing systemic issues. For instance, 11% of Pennsylvanians ages 60 and older experienced food insecurity in 2021. People who have a disability were twice as likely. Programs such as Meals on Wheels provide not just food, but, through home delivery, a point of social connection — and the reassurance of checking in.
For older adults who want to age at home, Action Housing offers a home-repair program that can help offset costs of accessibility modifications, a need exacerbated by houses built long before the American Disabilities Act.
“People can retain that sense of autonomy,” says Schuchart. “They can retain their house, their neighbors, their family.”
Another common need is transportation. United Way’s Ride United program arranges rides to and from medical appointments, grocery stores and the city’s senior centers.
Wellness Resources for Seniors
Partners such as senior centers, Jewish Community Centers (in Squirrel Hill and the South Hills) and Macedonia FACE (the Hill District) provide other holistic support. Schuchart says group exercise classes — line dancing is a fan favorite — and activities such as crafting provide physical and cognitive benefits, in addition to social boons.
“What we love about the organizations that we support is also their ability to take feedback,” says Schuchart. “They’re not going to offer programming just for the sake of programming. They’re making sure that the older adults who are visiting every day have something of active interest for them.”
Story by Amy Whipple
Photography by Justin Merriman