HPR 450 3.3

Grant Proposal

Name

Institution

Course

Date

Grant Proposal

My goal in writing this paper is to do thorough research, analyze data, and construct a fictitious grant proposal for low-income elderly citizens in Joliet, Illinois. The nursing diagnosis that I will address in my grant application, as shown by increased adult mortality rates, is as follows: Because of a lack of access to local medical services and resources, inadequate financial help for essential medicine, and a lack of illness awareness among the aged, the elderly in Joliet, Illinois suffer a significant risk of impairment and loss of productive years of life. Because of Joliet's growing senior population and the present budgetary problems brought on by the crisis, this nursing diagnostic was chosen (Snow, 2015). I've decided to volunteer with the Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet. Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that collaborates closely with the Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet. It is a diocesan group that works closely with him.

A Board of Directors governs Catholic Charities, much like any other organization. The organization, founded more than 50 years ago, is dedicated to assisting the less fortunate and vulnerable members of the Joliet community. Among the numerous services available are those targeted for the elderly, such as this one. Because of its over 250 employees and slightly more than 21-million-dollar budget, the organization can achieve its objective. It is situated in Illinois and serves the counties of Will, Grundy, DuPage, Kendall, Kankakee, Ford, and Iroquois and the surrounding areas (catholicchartiesjoliet.org, 2015).

The grant proposal and funding request were prepared with the goal of assisting Joliet's growing elderly population who live on fixed incomes (Snow, 2015). This group seems to be more susceptible to illness because of a lack of resources and financial stability. Concerns from local aging people in Joliet include long wait times for medical care, the inability of the elderly to purchase necessary medications, and local nurses reporting an increase in the number of diabetic and high blood pressure patients compared to the rest of Illinois (city data, 2017). According to Hawkins (2017), access to a physician is critical for the elderly to maintain their health and independence. However, because of the high cost of car upkeep and/or the physical constraints of many Joliet elders, this may not be financially feasible. The issue that must be addressed is ensuring that the elderly get enough nutrition and safe transportation to and from medical appointments to help improve their overall health and needs.

The budget for this grant application is $5000. To make my idea financially viable, I'd want to charge a flat cost of $25 per participant each year, which would be collected every year. Furthermore, we would like to urge local companies and groups to hold yearly charity runs and golf tournaments to generate money for this vulnerable demographic and to assist us in collecting donations and maintaining the administration of this program (Snow, 2015). To raise awareness of this initiative within the senior community, many emails and brochures will be distributed to all area medical offices that serve the city of Joliet's aging population.

One of the outcome goals is to increase by 25% the percentage of senior people living on fixed incomes in Joliet getting sufficient nutrition as a result of their participation in the Mobile food pantry made possible by this plan by January 2018(Joliet, 2017). This would happen over six months. This group will get a mobile food pantry stocked with nonperishable food products and fresh fruits and vegetables every other week or as needed.

The following six months' budget will be $3500. Catholic Charities will supply volunteer delivery drivers, and money raised via sponsored charity runs and golf tournaments will be used to buy a mobile van for the organization. The funds collected via the grant application will be used to purchase food for the needy. The strategy will be assessed for the first time in October to see if any adjustments are required and then again in January to establish whether the program increased the number of seniors getting enough nourishment.

As a supplementary goal, it would be beneficial to provide transportation to necessary medical and doctor visits to fulfill the healthcare requirements of this vulnerable population(Joliet, 2017). By the end of January 2018, participating physicians' offices will have seen a 30% rise in the number of at-risk elderly patients attending scheduled visits. Some of the volunteers who will drive and help the elderly to medical appointments and pharmacies around Joliet will go and assist them.

Volunteers will be recruited via the charitable organization Catholic Charities. The cars will be volunteer-owned and must be authorized by the board of directors of Catholic Charities. $1500 would be required to cover the cost of gasoline for volunteers who would be driving the individual involved (Joliet, 2017). This outcome goal will be assessed twice in October 2017 to determine if any requirements need to be addressed or changed, and again at the end of January 2018 to see whether the percentage has improved from the last assessment.

To conclude, meeting the needs of the elderly on fixed incomes in Joliet is essential. I believe that the activities mentioned in my developed plan can significantly impact the lives of this vulnerable group (Snow, 2015). When a person's financial situation is precarious, he or she is less likely to fulfill necessities such as nourishment and transportation. If these conditions are met, their physical and mental health may be treated and significantly improved.

References

Hawkins, C. (n.d.). Helpful Resources for Seniors Surviving on Social Security. Retrieved from http://www.seniorliving.org/retirement/resources-surviving-social-security/

Joliet, Illinois. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.city data.com/city/Joliet-Illinois.html

Snow, M. (2015). History. Retrieved from https://catholiccharitiesjoliet.org/history/