FARMINGTON — Would you rather pay $5,000 a month for care or be able to stay in your home and pay an average 1/20th of that amount?

Thanks to Davis County’s Senior Alternatives Program, hundreds of seniors are provided with support services, allowing them to stay in their homes, said Sally Kershisnik, director of the Senior Services division of the Health Department.

“We’ve eliminated a waiting list of 150” for inclusion in the Alternatives program, she said, speaking to the Davis County Commission about the agency’s four year plan, Tuesday.

A long list of activities completed within the past year include the recent Senior Gala, which drew nearly 300 people to Davis High School.

County Commission Chair Bret Millburn noted that this 2nd annual gala was so successful, Salt Lake County is implementing their own program, and enlisted Davis High School dance and music students to assist in that effort.

Some 1,200 seniors received influenza vaccinations given at the three senior activity centers, while other immunization education and clinics were offered for Hepatitis B vaccinations. Some 67 homebound seniors received vaccinations, as well.

A city-by-city influenza vaccination campaign was provided, addressing needs of senior citizens in each city.

The Senior Scoop monthly insert in the Davis County Clipper was continued, providing a wide range of information.

“We were able to place 71 percent compared to our goal of 23 percent” of seniors working through the senior employment program, Kershisnik said.

Senior employment fairs saw participation by more than 300 senior job-seekers, with more than 40 employers involved.

“Transportation continues to be an issue,” Kershisnik said. “We were able to purchase three 18-passenger vans” thanks to grant funding, she said.

And while transportation is available to take seniors to hospital and doctor visits, that can only be done currently within the county, due to logistics, she said, adding that a solution needs to be found for those seniors who must receive medical care at the Veterans Administration hospital in Salt Lake City.

“Volunteers almost exclusively provide the congregate and homebound meals program,” Kershisnik said. Hundreds are served at the three activity centers Mondays-Fridays, while hundreds more homebound seniors receive meals, as well.

“The meals-on-wheels is especially important to some of the homebound, frail seniors,” she said. Citing a survey of participants conducted last year, she noted that one senior wrote, “I’d starve,” if the program were cut back or discontinued.

Nutrition and diet help is provided for seniors, while efforts to improve meal offerings continue, she said.

Other programs offered include caregiver education offerings, in addition to a “caregivers night out,” providing them with some relaxing time away from their duties. An ombudsman program provides assistance for seniors living in assisting living facilities or nursing homes, and their families.

As a way to build relationships with long-term care facilities, quarterly summits have been held, often drawing about 40 attendees, Kershisnik said.

A Veterans’ Day remembrance observance was expanded to all three activity centers and was appreciated by many, she said.

“We’d like to implement a grandparents’ car seat program,” so that grandparents will have access to car seats when taking care of/transporting their small grandchildren, she said.

A fall prevention program is also planned, but costs will be minimized by using existing staff and developing an in-house curriculum, Kershisnik said.

“You have brought a lot of new things, excitement, creativity,” said Millburn. “We know these efforts are appreciated by a lot of our seniors.”

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com