Grant supports home visitation program for senior citizens in Genesee

Editor’s Note: This article was updated to say the grant is only for home visitation in Genesee County, and doesn’t include Orleans as part of the grant. The home visitation program run by Catholic Charities includes Orleans, but the grant doesn’t provide money for seeing seniors in Orleans.

Press Release, Catholic Charities

BATAVIA – Catholic Charities has received a $65,000 grant from the Muriel H. Marshall Fund for the Aging of Rochester Area Community Foundation. The funding will continue to support the Home Visitation Program, which provides weekly visits to homebound Genesee County residents 60 and older who live independently or with family.

Catholic Charities has been receiving funding since 2010, when it first launched its Home Visitation Program. The purpose of the program is to bring a sense of connectivity and friendship to program members. Volunteers engage in friendly conversation, partake in hobbies and special interests such as reading, crafts, baking or card games. Visits also may include phone calls. This grant is for a one-year period.

“Due to physical restrictions or one’s shrinking social circles, seniors are more likely to become socially isolated and experience loneliness and depression,” said Linda Chadderdon, program manager for Catholic Charities’ Home Visitation program. “Thanks to the continued support from the Muriel H. Marshall Fund for the Aging, we are giving seniors throughout Genesee County a chance to feel connected again through weekly visits, conversation, and friendship.”

Over the past 12 years, more than 10,000 in-person visits and more than 7,500 phone visits have been made through the Home Visitation Program.

Rochester Area Community Foundation engages philanthropists and community partners to improve its eight-county region by promoting philanthropy that helps to create and equitable community and strengthen the region’s vitality.

Since 1972, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $590 million in grants and scholarships to. For more information, visit racf.org.

For more information about Catholic Charities’ Home Visitation Program and if interested in participating or becoming a volunteer, please call 585-343-0614, ext. 3804.