Our Outreach team spoke with Chief Operating Officer of The Senior Source, Renae Perry, to learn more about what they do, their partnership with The Magdalen House and what it means for them as well as us to be able to offer resources for one another’s communities.
The Senior Source has been around for six decades serving and advocating for the older adults of Dallas. What started as a small organization focused on serving older adults primarily in a couple of senior centers in 1961, is now the go-to resource for Dallas-area seniors to navigate aging. Their resources mainly focus on the financial and emotional well-being of older adults. As Chief Operating Officer, Renae Perry puts it, The Senior Source “is simply sharing information so that people can make the most informed decision for themselves,” because so often sources out there are unbiased. Perry remarks on the vulnerability of older adults, especially to scams and frauds as well as the isolation that’s been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Senior Source “is simply sharing information so that people can make the most informed decision for themselves,” because so often sources out there are unbiased.
But when it comes to challenges that they don’t specialize in, The Senior Source will turn to community partners to address these concerns. “We have an expertise on aging and supporting older adults as they age, but we want to lean on the expertise of other organizations that have other focus areas where they can help older adults,” shares Perry about the importance of collaboration. Alcoholism, according to Perry, “does come up from time to time,” and references the correlation between the isolation measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in alcoholism within the general population.
“We have an expertise on aging and supporting older adults as they age, but we want to lean on the expertise of other organizations that have other focus areas where they can help older adults.”
This correlation that Perry mentions is evident in the latest NCHS data brief released in November of 2022. One of the key findings reported that the “rates of alcohol-induced deaths for females increased over the entire period, with the largest annual increase (27%) occurring between 2019 and 2020.” The Magdalen House is excited to collaborate with The Senior Source and have them as a resource for our older clients in recovery who have unique needs.
The Magdalen House (TMH): We are so excited to highlight The Senior Source in our Community Partner Spotlight. You are such a well-known and respected organization. Can you talk about how the agency came about and its growth since then?
The Senior Source (TSS): We are excited to be spotlighted and be a part of this conversation. The Senior Source was founded in 1961; we have been around for 62 years now in the Dallas community. It started as a very small organization focused on serving older adults primarily in a couple of senior centers and has just expanded to be a social service organization supporting older adults.
It started as a very small organization focused on serving older adults primarily in a couple of senior centers and has just expanded to be a social service organization supporting older adults.
TMH: What are some of the biggest challenges facing our seniors and how does The Senior Source help them overcome these challenges?
TSS: Financial and emotional wellbeing. In terms of financial wellbeing, some of the needs that we see relate to frauds and scams. Older adults are particularly vulnerable because they are specifically targeted by predators; they are victims of fraud and scams perpetrated by strangers or even family and friends. We assist older adults with their budgets and ensure they have the benefits to maximize their limited income. We offer prevention, protection, and prosecution services. For employment assistance for older adults, we assist with computer skills and technology. Social isolation is a big problem for our seniors, so we go into long-term care facilities and bring volunteers in to address the loneliness and isolation.
TMH: At The Magdalen House, we serve alcoholic women of all ages, and we’re so proud to partner with The Senior Source because we do have older clients who have different needs, and frankly, there are not a lot of agencies specifically geared towards community members in this age group. So, it’s great to have The Senior Source as a resource and partner. For you, as a nonprofit executive, why is collaboration so important?
TSS: Collaboration is vital. We could not do the work that we do without great partnerships. Older adults are not a homogenous group; they have unique characteristics and needs. And for older adults who may have alcohol use issues or substance abuse issues, it’s great to partner with organizations who can meet those specific needs while we support their financial well-being and social isolation. The more comprehensive services that can be provided in the care for older adults, the better because we are not the expert on topics that are not aging-specific- we want to lean on the expertise of other organizations that have other focus areas where they can help older adults.
…for older adults who may have alcohol use issues or substance abuse issues, it’s great to partner with organizations who can meet those specific needs while we support their financial well-being and social isolation. The more comprehensive services that can be provided in the care for older adults, the better because we are not the expert on topics that are not aging-specific- we want to lean on the expertise of other organizations that have other focus areas where they can help older adults.
TMH: Do you see many clients struggling with substance abuse?
TSS: It does come up from time to time. I think especially for older adults who have gone through the last three years of COVID as well as the stresses and isolation that it has brought on. I’ve read some data on just the general population and the increase in alcohol abuse. We’re glad to share referrals and connect people with good resources in the community.
TMH: How can people get involved with The Senior Source, whether they want to volunteer or need services for themselves or a family member?
TSS: Older adults can access us in a variety of ways. They can call our main number, which is 214-823-5700. They can go to our website,theseniorsource.org, to learn more. We have volunteer opportunities for all ages and do advocacy work to support issues that affect older adults. There’s more information on our website about how to be an advocate, how to volunteer and how to get involved.
We have staff who are certified ombudsman who will make regular unannounced visits to address concerns and complaints in facilities and work to improve conditions for those residents. We also have parties and play bingo with residents because we find more than half of nursing home residents never get visitors. Having visitors makes a huge difference to our older adults and brings joy and much-needed social interaction.
