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Be prepared this hurricane season, and make sure your seniors are hurricane ready too!
United HomeCare® (UHC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) home and community-based charitable organization providing care to the most vulnerable populations in South Florida, has initiated Phase I of Emergency Disaster Planning including call downs, scheduling, providing meals and supplies, to ensure their 3300 clients and 800 employees are prepared this hurricane season.
“The timing was excellent as over the last couple of days United HomeCare delivered and distributed over 2400 hurricane meals for older adults living in Miami-Dade’s most underserved communities in North and South Dade.” said Martinez.
Through a generous donation received from Florida Power & Light/NextEra Energy and the Florida Council on Aging, over the course of this month, 800 seniors received three-days of shelf stable meals containing breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
United HomeCare partnered with Florida Memorial University, Commissioner Rene Garcia, H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Every Day), Hialeah Housing Authority, Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Bridge to Hope, and the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative to distribute the meals to older adults ages 60+ living in Miami Gardens and surrounding communities, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Coconut Grove, Cutler Ridge, Goulds, Homestead, and all throughout the North and South corriders, so they are hurricane ready just in time for the start of hurricane season. In addition, UHC conducted community outreach to seniors in each community offering access-to-care helping them to access home and community-based and long-term care programs so they can receive the care they need at home. “Many seniors were not aware these programs existed, so this was a blessing for seniors and their families, knowing that there is help out there,” said Alina Palenzuela, UHC’s Communications and Outreach Manager.
“Boris Anoceto, Director of Case Management and Ileana Ferrera, Vice President in charge of Disaster and Emergency Preparedness are ready to go to assist our seniors when the need arises,” said Carlos Martinez, UHC President and CEO. “Addressing the needs of underserved populations is one of UHC’s most important strategic intiatives, and I can speak for the rest of the board members in saying that we are very proud of what United HomeCare’s team is doing together with our local and statewide partners,” said José Keichi Fuentes, UHC Chairman of the Board.
