It began in January 2008 with 38 older adults taking advantage of its services. Less than two years later 2,700 are members of the Life Enrichment Center run by Fayette Senior Services (FSS).

FSS will hold the second of two stakeholders meetings Oct. 1 at its facility in Fayetteville. The event Thursday will also include additional information not available at the first meeting, such as the changes in funding that FSS expects to experience.

Essentially everyone who knows an older adult is a stakeholder with FSS, said Executive Director Debbie Britt. So the stakeholder partnership meeting on Oct. 1 will continue the conversation that began last week, informing residents about the current status of FFS and helping establish a framework for the organization’s future role in the lives of Fayette County’s senior population.

The rapid growth at the center mirrors that of Fayette County which, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission, has the third fastest growing senior population in the 10-county metro area.

The growing number of older adults utilizing the various services provided by FSS come from across Fayette County. The largest percentage of members, 39 percent, come from unincorporated Fayette and Woolsey, followed by 31 percent from Peachtree City, 24 percent from Fayetteville, 4 percent from Tyrone and 2 percent from Brooks.

 “The services we provide are an important piece in the equation that defines quality of life in Fayette County. Our stakeholders are not just limited to older adults. Our stakeholders are the citizens of Fayette County who care and understand that the well-being of one person affects the whole family and can affect an entire community,” said Britt prior to the first meeting. “These meetings are designed to provide meaningful information so we can ensure that our community is forward thinking when it comes to the concerns of older adults.”

FSS provides a wealth of services geared to accentuate the lives of its members. Among the offerings at the Life Enrichment Center are The Ultimate Cafe, educational courses and activities, leisure and recreation, fitness programs and a variety of social services.

The Ultimate Cafe is a one-of-a-kind venue featuring a chef-prepared menu that includes more than 750 pounds of homegrown produce provided each year by Fayette Master Gardeners. Serving healthier, good-tasting food changed the dynamic so often associated with seniors centers, Britt said. And the proof is in the pudding, as the cafe served 19,616 meals between July 2008 and June 2009.

“The cafe is the model for the future in senior services,” said Britt.

And when it comes to food for the mind, FSS has partnered with Clayton State University and has seen 257 members attend a variety of continuing education courses at the Life Enrichment Center.

FSS also helps hundreds of seniors with specialized needs by providing them with transportation, information and assistance, in-home homemaker/personal care, case management, adult day care referral service and home maintenance/repair, said Britt.

In yet another service area FSS delivers 40,000 Meals on Wheels to more than 250 homebound seniors residing in Fayette County, Britt said, adding that the service helps older adults remain independent in their own homes.

Another facet of the program is in the provision of social contact between those being served and the 175 volunteer drivers who deliver the meals. The volunteer labor is valued at $169,487, Britt said.

Unlike other senior services organizations that are a totally funded part of a local government, FSS is a completely stand-alone non-profit and is run on a business model. With a 2008-2009 budget of just over $1 million, nearly half its funding comes from non-government sources. FSS receives approximately 37 percent of its funding from federal and state sources, 11 percent from Fayette County, 2 percent from Fayetteville and 1 percent from Peachtree City. And it receives 26 percent of operational dollars from its programs and membership, 11 percent from grants, 6 percent from donations, 5 percent from fundraising efforts and 1 percent from investments and interest.

The staff and board of directors Oct. 1 will also present information and facts about the essential services provided to older adults throughout Fayette County. Like other businesses, FSS is continuing to evaluate its priorities and make adjustments during the recession. Britt said FSS has reduced staffing by 14 percent and overall expenses by 20 percent.

The Oct. 1 meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Life Enrichment Center located at 4 Center Drive in Fayetteville. For more information call 770-461-0813 or email Debbie Britt at dbritt@fayss.org or visit www.FayetteSeniors.org.

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