Services
All services are offered free of charge
(Click Each Service Tab To Learn More)
Caregiver Resources
Caregiver Resources
According to AARP and National Alliance for Caregivers, 7 million, or 29% of the US adult population provides care to someone who is aged, disabled, or ill. At DCSL we strive to provide resources for caregivers through the following supports:
Monthly Caregiver Support Group – Provides support and for individuals caring for loved ones
Respite Care – Provides a needed break for caregivers, this service is available to individuals providing care to loved ones at home.
Lending Library – Allows family caregivers to access resources and books on aging and caregiving.
Community Referrals – Helps family caregivers to connect with additional, local support agencies
The Family Caregiver Support Service for Durham residents, provides caregivers with assistance in obtaining information, making decisions and solving problems related to their responsibilities in caring for older adults.
Through this service, caregivers can access information on resources and services available within their community. They can receive counseling and participate in a monthly caregiver support group driven by the interests and concerns of participants.
We also offer free, in-home respite care services that allows caregivers to have a scheduled time of rest or relief knowing that their loved one is safe and cared for.
Caregiver education is offered in collaboration with Durham Cooperative Extension to provide caregivers with Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a six-week educational program designed to provide the tools needed to decrease stress as they care for loved ones. This series helps caregivers learn to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate feelings, balance life, increase ability to make tough decisions, and locate helpful resources.
Dementia Care Services & Programs
Dementia Care Services and Programs
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DCSL provides quality care management services to homebound, frail older adults who have dementia. This program is 100% supported by ACL Grant. Our program provides:
Care Plan Assessment
Development and implementation of individualized care plan
Care Plan Monitoring, which includes in-person follow up visits and telephone calls
Complete Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Facilitator certification
Provide dementia training to the community including:
brain health and symptoms/warnings of dementia
health and dementia training
I/DD community training
Lastly, our dementia program offers free weekend respite care to Caregivers of those living with Dementia.
Weekend Respite Care- 100% Supported by ACL Grant
DCSL is now able to offer free respite care at DCSL on the weekend at no cost to the participant. Eligibility requirements are: · Individual must be living in Durham with dementia or a cognitive impairment. · Does not require any nursing services, such as medication administration or monitoring of any complex medical condition(s). · Caregivers will need to agree to answering a short survey at the beginning of the service and every month they receive services. Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sundays: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Congregate Nutrition Program
Congregate Nutrition Program
The DCSL Congregate Nutrition Program provides an atmosphere of socialization and fellowship that is supplemented with nutritious meals at no cost to senior members. These well-balanced meals are available at all 3 DCSL locations, Monday through Friday from 11:30 pm to 12:30 pm. Currently, our Congregate Meal Service provides meals to approximately 60 individuals daily. There are eligibility requirements to participate in this program. To be eligible for the program, you must:
Be 60 years of age or older
OR be a person under the age of 60 with a disability (with proof of disability status)
Complete a registration application
If you do not meet these requirements, we offer special eligibility for others. To meet our special eligibility requirements you must:
Volunteer at a Congregate Meal site. Any person who volunteers and is under the age of 60 who assists with the operation at our Congregate Meal sites is eligible if they work 20 hours per quarter.
Accompany your spouse that meets the eligibility requirements. An underage spouse is eligible to attend the Congregate Meal Service if the older adult spouse meets the requirements for Congregate Meals.
Accompany someone with a disability to the Congregate Meal Service. A person who attends the Congregate Meal Service with a person who is disabled can receive a meal.
“The meal at the Congregate Meals Service gives us such delight! They are warm and nutritious. It also helps keep your body healthy.”
~ Ethelene, DCSL
Health Promotion Classes
Health Promotions Classes
Our Health Promotion Services seeks to give seniors the tools needed to take charge of their health by supporting positive health behaviors and by providing the information and resources needed to stay healthy, active, and independent.
In addition to the various exercise classes offered, we provide evidence based programs that have been shown to improve health and well-being.
The Living Healthy-Chronic Disease Self Management Program
This program is designed to help participants address their health issues by identifying the barriers that impede the successful management of their issues and developing action plans that will lead to better symptom management and improved health. The workshops take place once a week for six weeks. Each session is 2 1/2 hours long and is facilitated by two trained leaders.
Subjects covered throughout the workshop include:
Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation
Appropriate use of medications
Communicating effectively with friends, family, and health care providers
Appropriate exercise
Nutrition -making informed treatment decisions
The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program
This group exercise program originally developed by the Arthritis Foundation involves weekly classes for persons living with arthritis. Carefully trained instructors assemble exercise and movement routines for each class from a list of some 90 different exercises to be performed while participants are seated or standing as appropriate. Classes also include endurance and/or balance building activities, relaxation techniques, and health education segments.
A Matter of Balance Program
This program emphasizes practical strategies that boost participants’ strength and balance through specialized exercises and other activities. It is designed to help reduce the incidence of falls and the fear of falling. The workshops take place over a four week period and consist of eight 2-hour sessions.
In addition to the evidence based programs, we provide Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS).
Bingocize
This program strategically combines the game of bingo, exercise, and health education. Trained lay leaders may select between three separate 10-week units that focus on exercise-only, exercise and falls prevention, or exercise and nutrition.
For more information on DCLS’s programs, please contact Health Promotions and Programs Coordinator, Noah Penny:
919-688-8247 ext 114
npenny@dcslnc.org
Information and Assistance
Information and Assistance
This service helps adults age 60 and over to find referrals, information and solutions for problems they face at the right time. Assistance is provided by nationally certified Information and options specialists and is completely confidential.
Seniors are connected with community resources for several critical areas, including:
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Housing referral/Home Repair
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Emergency/Crisis Assistance
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Legal Services
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Transportation Options
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Job training and Employment assistance,
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Health Questions including STD, and HIV+ counseling
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Medical equipment
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Mental Health options,
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Issues surrounding elder abuse, neglect and exploitation
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Safety and Fraud prevention assistance.
Trained staff is available to conduct presentations on topics of interest to older adults, their families and caregivers.
For more information or assistance, contact Niya Carrington in our Support Services Department at 919-688-8247 ext. 104 or ncarrington@dcslnc.org.
Options Counseling Program
Options Counseling Program
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Options Counseling provides guidance to individuals as they make informed choices about long-term services and supports. This service helps people think through the pros and cons of the various options while taking into consideration their situation, values, resources and preferences. The Options Counselor can also assist with making an Action Plan for the individual to implement.
Options Counseling is available to individuals who are 60 years of age or older or someone acting on behalf of a person age 60 or older.
Options Counseling may be helpful to individuals who:
· Do not know how to access long-term services and supports
· Request transition assistance from one living setting to another
· Lack awareness of existing community resources and supports
· Want to plan for future long-term services and supports needs
Contact
Options Counseling continues to expand in North Carolina. To find out if an Options Counselor is available at DCSL contact Joseph Barnes at jbarnes@dcslnc.org.
EATS (Pantry Services)
DCSL EATS Program
Mission: 
DCSL EATS serves residents of Durham County aged 55 and older who are without reliable access to a sufficient amount of affordable and nutritious foods. Our main goal is to ease access to food for Seniors (EATS).
Food Distribution:
DCSL 55+ Food Pantry: Open Monday-Friday by appointment. One bag is provided per month to each individual requesting supplies.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): Please inquire about location pickup and time. Enrollment is based on age and income. (Two locations: Main Center and JFK Towers).
DCSL Shop & Grab: Offered twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, unless otherwise stated.
Kitchenless Seniors EATS: For older adults experiencing homelessness. Bags offered Monday-Friday; no reservation required.
Requirements:
Individuals must be 55+ and live in Durham County.
All individuals are required to submit their name, current address, and number of individuals in the household each time they are served.
Some food programs may require that you complete an application before receiving services.
Photo identification may be requested if applicable.
Contact:
Niya Carrington, Support Services Coordinator:
(919) 688-8247 ext. 104
ncarrington@dcslnc.org
Joseph Barnes, Support Services Manager:
(919) 688-8247 ext. 103
jbarnes@dcslnc.org
Congregate Transportation Services
Congregate Transportation Services
Durham Center for Senior Life’s Transportation Service is the means of providing access to congregate meals and activities for persons 60 years of age and older. The service is provided to and from clients’ homes within in Durham County. DCSL offers safe, convenient, and reliable transportation that will enable riders to maintain their independence and dignity thereby preventing the substantial limitation of one or more major life activities caused by normal aging processes or qualified disabilities.
For more information contact:
Jacquline Johnson, Senior Center Director of Programs, at 919-688-8247 ext. 122 or jjohnson@dcslnc.org.
Department of Social Services: Onsite Support
Department of Social Services: Onsite Support
Every Thursday from 9am-1pm, DSS Social Worker, Melissa Espinal, will be available to Seniors seeking resources and support. She will be located in the office beside Senior Pharmassist.
Caregiver Support
Caregiver Support
Durham Center for Senior Life provides in-home aid services for our DCSL family caregiver respite program.
DCSL utilizes funding through the Older Americans Act in order to administer the Family Caregiver Support Program Respite Services. The purpose and intent of this scope of work is to provide efficient, safe, reliable in-home aid respite services for pre-approved clients of the Durham Center for Senior Life. This program is funded on a yearly basis (July 1 – June 30) with vendors required to meet and maintain service criteria to be eligible to provide respite services.
· This program is free to the public and operates on a first come first serve basis.
· The average program capacity is approximately 20 persons depending on funding.
· The average hours for yearly respite care are divided among the caseload and can vary.
· On average, between 89-125hrs are given per family to assist a relative as needed.
Donations are always accepted as we are always looking to provide more hours of relief for our caregivers
To learn more about our Caregiver Services, contact Support Services Manager, Joseph Barnes, by phone at (919) 688-8247 ext. 103 or by email at jbarnes@dcslnc.org
Notary Services
Notary Services
DCSL is proud to provide free notary services to seniors in Durham County. Notarization is the official fraud-deterrent process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic, and can be trusted. The State of North Carolina appoints notaries to serve the public as unbiased impartial witnesses to document signing.
Some commonly notarized documents include:
Wills
Trusts
Deeds
Contracts
Affidavits
