| Our mission | The CASS mission is to provide enhanced stability and safety for seniors who desire to remain independent by addressing their needs and providing accessible and relevant services. |
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| COVID-19 Impact |
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Cincinnati Area Senior Services
| Ways to help now |
Meals on Wheels Delivery
We’re organizing volunteers to help with our Meals on Wheels deliveries as well as grocery shopping and delivery for specific households with seniors. If you’d like to volunteer, we ask that you submit your name, contact information and the area of Greater Cincinnati where you’d like to serve, such as the neighborhood. Please send us… See full description
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| Ways to help |
Guardian for Senior CitizensBe a compassionate advocate for an elderly person living in a group or nursing home by serving as a court-appointed Guardian in our Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP). (Must be at least 21)Meals on Wheels Food and SuppliesCASS maintains a food pantry with food, paper products and personal care items to help seniors in need. CASS is looking for groups and/or companies to hold a food drive to help CASS fill the pantry shelves. |
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| How you help | With the help from our volunteers, CASS continues to be Greater Cincinnati’s leader in providing support services to seniors in the community. |
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| About us | Cincinnati Area Senior Services had its beginnings 50 years ago when Lucile Costello, a social worker, was convinced that with the right kind of help, the elderly could remain living in their own homes and active in their communities. Each year CASS serves approximately 5000 seniors with focus and commitment. |
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CASS Hero Spotlight: Peggy Burke
Peggy, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, has been with CASS for about 11 years and started her career as a volunteer to deliver meals to our homebound clients. She then worked at our congregate sites coordinating the meals delivery volunteers and then our own drivers when we moved to utilizing our employee drivers to make the deliveries. She now manages our Meals-on-Wheels Dept and enjoys her role.
You can tell that she loves what she does from listening to her on the phone with our clients. The care and compassion shines through and she always tries to check on them, listen to them and make them laugh whenever she can. She has developed such strong relationships with our clients and they know that they will be taken care of and get whatever they need that is within our realm. When Peggy hears that someone that is inquiring about our services has no food, she immediately remedies that and will take a meal out to them, all while trying to get them food on a regular basis.
When asked about the seniors she speaks with and how they feel about the current situation, especially the ones that are now homebound due to the virus and weren’t before, she said they really have that positive attitude and they make her laugh. She recalls one of our seniors that calls every week with his menu and always tries to disguise his voice so that we don’t know who he is so he can try to fool her. They both laugh so hard at this and it is refreshing to have that type of a relationship with someone that knows that you are there for them.
Thank you for being a true hero to our seniors, Peggy. We appreciate you so much!
Note: If you know of a senior that has become homebound and needs food, have them call us at 513-721-4330 and talk to our Meals Dept. They will try to help in whatever way they can.
We would like to thank William from All Dogs Come From Heaven Rescue for bringing us some pet food for our seniors’ pets. They are an amazing organization and we are so very grateful for the pet food donations. We appreciate you so much. 💙
CASS Hero Spotlight: Dawn Parrish
While having a conversation with Dawn, who typically works at our Over-the-Rhine Senior Center and has been with CASS for almost 4 years, one can see and feel the passion that she has for our seniors. She is currently delivering meals to those that are now homebound and also takes some of the seniors to the grocery store and other places to get the things that they need.
L: “Why do you love working with seniors?”
Dawn: “I have no living grandparents and working in the senior center gives me the opportunity to interact with people that I care about, and are like grandparents, on a daily basis. I get to know them and they get to know me and everything I do is to make sure they have what they need. We have people that drop into the center that have no food to eat and it touches your heart so much. Being able to provide for them is what it is all about.”
L: “What are the seniors that are used to being together at the center feeling about being isolated?”
Dawn: “They really miss each other and are wondering when they will be able to go back. They call each other to find out how everyone is doing. Some of them are really cautious about going out so they don’t. Some are keeping busy in other ways. I have seen some of our seniors riding bikes, speed-walking and one gentleman was roller skating in the cul-de-sac with his granddaughter. That was awesome to see! They wave at us, thank us for what we do and give us blessings. It is amazing to be able to help.”
Thank you Dawn for your dedication to our seniors. We all appreciate you so much. 💙
Thank you Dawn
Kudos to you Dawn. Thank you to CASS for helping our Seniors in need!!
Dawn is an asset to the center and the agency. She genuinely cares about all the seniors. Im sure it helps the seniors to stay connected seeing her each week. Congratulations Dawn!
Thank you Dawn for taking care of our seniors!!!
Congratulations Dawn & I miss seeing your happy face too!
Congratulations sis you do wonderful work 💘 you
Thank you...You always was a good person love you always and keep being a blessing auntie
Way to go Dawn!
Thank you for all you do Dawn!
Congratulations
Congratulations 🎊
Congratulations, Dawn
Thank you
That my auntie love u keep being a blessing doing gods work you alway been a good person
Congratulations...thank you for all you do.
👩🎓 Graduate spotlight: Melissa Comarata
Melissa started employment with CASS in 2010 as a Home Delivered Meal's Driver (Lead Staff). She was later promoted to File Clerk, and then Home Delivered Meals Administrative Assistant. She was promoted again to Receivables Clerk & Billing Specialist, and later Accounting Clerk, which added the additional responsibility of Payroll & Payables.
Melissa decided in 2018 to further develop her knowledge in Accounting and enrolled in the University of Cincinnati's Accounting Technology Undergraduate Certificate program. Melissa graduated from the program on June 10, 2020. Congratulations to Melissa for her hard work, dedication, and continually challenging herself while developing her Accounting knowledge!
Congratulatins
Congratulations Melissa! Great job!
Congratulations!!
Way to go Melissa!!
Congrats Melissa!
Congratulations 💪👏
Congrats Melissa!!
Congratulations!!
Way to go. Congrats
Congratulations Melissa! Way to go! #CASSSTRONG!
Summer Tips for seniors
Summertime is here plus the stay at home restrictions are no longer in place for many activities but that does not mean the Coronavirus is gone. Here are some safety tips to follow.
• Watch the forecast. When the local weather forecast predicts hot and steamy weather, make some indoor plans for those days.
• Keep your home cool. Use your air conditioning throughout the summer if you have it. If A/C isn’t an option for you, cover windows in direct sunlight during the daytime to keep the house cooler, and open them at night to let in some fresh air. Use ceiling fans or floor fans, too
• Dress appropriately. Avoid dark, thicker clothing in the summer and instead choose lighter colors and natural, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of liquids including water and juices, but limit caffeinated and alcoholic drinks, as these act as diuretics and actually cause you to lose fluids.
• Avoid sun exposure during peak hours. The hottest hours of the day are generally between 10am and 3pm, so try to stay out of direct sunlight during those times.
• Limit strenuous outdoor activity. If you exercise outdoors, save it for the cooler morning or evening hours.
Safety tips for COVID 19: Reminder as you begin to go to the community to protect yourself from the Coronavirus:
• Wear a face mask especially cover your mouth and nose in public
• Avoid close contact
• Wash your hands often
• Disinfect surfaces daily