At Mature Resources, we offer a variety of services to support our community. From counseling and mentorship programs to educational workshops and outreach initiatives, we are dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of those we serve.
Our Impact
The Meals on Wheels and More
program delivered 80,628
hot meals and 10,922 frozen meals
The Agency registered
1,771 new consumers
this fiscal year
26,565 meals were
provided at
Centers for Active
Living
278 Health and Wellness Programs delivered
This Month's News
The Roommate Remedy
Shared housing with a roommate could be a solution to the rising cost of living and loneliness for many older adults.
Besides weathering the climbing prices of everyday necessities from groceries to gas, some older people are exploring ways to cut costs on fixed expenses like owning or renting a home…including sharing housing.
And while financial benefits or relief may be the driving force behind older adults considering it as an option, The social aspects of shared living can be equally appealing, including the possibility of intergenerational contact.
“The relative affordability of shared living is one of the main motivators for doing it, but not everyone lives with roommates for financial reasons; many older adults are looking for companionship and friendship after a separation, divorce, or the death of a partner.”
Social benefits
There’s much research on the link between social isolation/loneliness and health risks. For older adults living alone in a home with empty rooms, shared living may provide an opportunity to rebuild or broaden their social network. Samara Scheckler, a senior research associate at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, says shared housing can help solve multiple challenges.
“So maybe it’s solving isolation issues, maybe it’s bringing caregivers into their space, maybe it’s minimizing financial impacts and making their life more affordable,” said Scheckler. “But it’s also a way to kind of bring the community in.”
Tips and resources
If you’re considering living with a roommate, using a legitimate home-sharing program (instead of using Facebook, Craigslist, or similar options) may be the best and safest way to find a match, since scammers have discovered homesharing as well. The FTC offers these tips.
No matter what option you use, don’t outsource your safety and comfort.
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Look for someone who you can get along with and someone whose values match your own.
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Ask for and check references.
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Do a credit check and background check if possible in your state.
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Understand federal, state, and local laws, tax rules, and your responsibilities to a roommate.
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Create ground rules and healthy boundaries.
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Create a written, legal lease.
Shared living can provide financial relief, and it may be an opportunity for some older adults to remain independent longer and avoid social isolation. But it’s not for everyone; home sharing is not always easy, and it requires flexibility, and it requires, you know, it requires kindness.”
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet has many health benefits. They provide many nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of the body (such as potassium, dietary fiber, folic acid, and vitamins A and C) and are likely to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases.
Another added bonus is that fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories, so they can help keep your weight in check.
Here in Central Pennsylvania, the best produce is available during the peak season, which runs from June through late August. This is when the annual Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) kicks into gear for older adults in Clearfield County. All eligible seniors receive one set of five checks ($5 each for a total value of $25) to be spent at participating farmers’ markets. The entire $5 check must be spent; change will not be given.
The checks are valid through November 30 to purchase produce that is grown in Pennsylvania or purchased directly from a Pennsylvania farmer. Produce grown in our commonwealth includes apples, beans, berries, carrots, grapes, melons, spinach, and tomatoes.
