Beach Cities Community Care Service Program Expansion

Beach Cities Health District is a public health agency developed to serve the 115,000 residents of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. For 50 years, Beach Cities has provided an array of innovative health and wellness programs that promote healthy lifestyles, physical health and fitness, and emotional balance. These programs have been developed in response to the evolving needs of the communities and populations residing within them. The Beach Cities Health District's Community Care Services Program serves older and disabled residents in the three Beach Cities through a myriad of volunteer and professional services designed to improve client’s quality of life and maintain independence. These services include: care management, provision of information and linkages to health and community services, access to District's Senior and Disabled Health Fund (for qualified residents), support groups, and volunteer programs including peer counseling, friendly visits, and errand volunteers. In addition, special programs are offered that include workshops and seminars on a variety of aging-related topics, health and wellness seminars, and professional education forums.

In April 2005, Partners In Care Foundation (Partners) was commissioned by Beach Cities Health District to provide a comprehensive assessment of the Beach Cities Community Care Services Program for older adults. Increasing numbers of older adults and the growing popularity and need of Beach Cities services coupled with the desire to expand services to meet the needs of the community contributed to the request for Partners to make recommendation for program enhancements to improve efficiency, effectiveness and expansion.