Uinta Senior Citizens Inc. (USCI) is the only sanctioned Community Based In-Home Services and National Family Caregiver Services in Park, Lincoln and Uinta Counties.

We provide two full service senior centers in both Evanston and the Bridger Valley.

-We provide over 700 services a day to elderly citizens
-We increased our number of services by 2% last year
-We have the largest continuum of services of any senior provider in Wyoming
-We partner with 120 different community providers and agencies to provide the best services possible
-We expanded our services in the last year to include in house and home delivered breakfasts
-This coming year we will be expanding our health promotion and disease prevention programs, including our exercise facilities and access to health education.

 

Bridger Valley location

 

Services

In addition to meal services, weekly activities and transportation, we offer the following:

-Assistance in filling out forms such as elderly tax rebate, energy assistance applications, social security and medicare applications.
-Ttranslation services to those whose first language is something other than English
-Referral to other service providers and entities
-Senior Companions from USCI can help seniors shop, pay bills, or go to the Doctor
-Free medical loan closet in both Evanston and Bridger Valley for any senior who is in need of a wheelchair, bath bench, shower chair, bedside commode, electric scooter, cane, walker or many other items

 

The importance of Senior Centers in our community

For older persons at risk of losing their self-sufficiency, senior centers are an entry point to an array of services that will assist them as they “age in place.” Senior centers offer a wide range of health, education, recreation, volunteer and other social interaction opportunities for their participants that enhance dignity, support independence, and encourage community involvement. Centers are also a resource for the entire community, providing services and information on aging, and assisting family and friends who care for older persons. Senior centers can optimally provide a social environment conducive to the development of a social support system reducing loneliness and depression.

A recent survey produced a variety of research outcomes suggesting the important role senior centers play in the lives of older adults when it comes to their physical and mental well-being.

• About 90% of seniors reported their health to be the same or better than the previous year;
• Almost half feel less lonely (46%), laugh more frequently (49%), have reduced their levels of stress (48%), feel more satisfied with life (43%), and have increased or started exercising regularly (40%);
• About one-quarter have more energy (22%), worry less about the future (23%), and feel more independent (28%);

A significant body of research indicates that social support is a key determinant of successful aging. Senior centers also offer opportunities for social interaction, friendship, and ego integrity and feelings of self-worth, which successfully counters social isolation and loneliness that can threaten the mental and physical health of senior adults. Again using the information from the comprehensive survey of senior centers, it is evident that senior centers create opportunities for social networks and empowerment.

• Over 90% indicated that they have developed very close friendships at their senior center and the majority do engage in social activities outside of the center with friends made at the center;
• About 85% reported that the friends they have made at the senior center provide them with a sense of emotional security and someone they can depend on when needed;
• Approximately 85% said they provide some type of assistance to senior center friends and 22% do so pretty or very often;
• Over 50% reported receiving some type of assistance such as transportation, personal gifts, emotional support, and companionship;
• Senior center friends call each other on the average of 2.7 times each week just to check on each other