NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc.

In June 1975 our organization was formed as a
501(c)(3) private not-for-profit organization;
Services-Over-Sixty, Inc. At that time we
provided Homemaker service, Home Delivered
Meals and Information and Referral through a
federally funded grant. Two years later we were
successful in obtaining the Title III Older
Americans Act Nutrition Grant. As a result, we
were the sole sponsor of the Highlands County
Nutrition Program and began providing
additional services of Congregate Meals,
Nutrition Education, Outreach and Recreation,
Nutrition Counseling, Escort and
Transportation.

In October 1980 Services-Over-Sixty, Inc. and
the Highlands County Nutrition Program merged
and subsequently formed an organization
known as NU-HOPE of Highlands County, Inc.
(Services-Over-Sixty, Inc. was dissolved).
Approximately 9 months later NU-HOPE of
Highlands County, Inc. was the recipient of a
Florida State General Revenue Grant known as
the Community Care for the Elderly program.
Through this grant new services were added;
Personal Care, Respite, Medical Transportation
and Adult Day Care service. Since 1980, this
organization has secured 9 additional federal,
state and local grants to serve the elderly.

In October 2005, the NU-HOPE of Highlands
County, Inc. board of directors voted
unanimously to change the name of the
organization to align with the mission of the
organization. NU-HOPE of Highlands County,
Inc. was changed to NU-HOPE Elder Care
Services, Inc.

From the inception of the organization, services
have been expanded through the receipt of
additional State and Federal Grants. Presently, we
are designated as the lead agency for elder care
services in Highlands County, Florida and
administer a total 11 federal, state, and local
grants that fund services for our frail and needy
elder residents. Our Programs include
Community Care for the Elderly (State), Home
Care for the Elderly (State), Alzheimer's Disease
Initiative (State), Older Americans Act (Titles III-B,
III-E, C-1 and C-2, (Federal)), Aging and Disabled
Adult Medicaid Home and Community based
(State and Federal), Assisted Living for the Elderly
Waiver Services (State and Federal), Home
Delivered Meals (State, Federal, United Way of
Central Florida), Emergency Home Energy
Assistance for the Elderly Program (Federal) and
our Private Pay program for Home Delivered
Meals, Homemaker and Companion Services.

We provide services such as Case Management,
Case Aide, Emergency Alert Response, Personal
Care, Respite, Homemaker, Chore,
Transportation, Home Delivered Meals,
Congregate Meals, Nutrition Education and
Counseling, Outreach and Public Education,
Basic and Special Subsidy assistant to our
consumers and their caregiver, and home energy
assistance payments. In addition, we also offer
affordable plans for Home Delivered Meals,
Homemaker and Companion services under the
agency's private pay program.

NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc. is funded in
part by grants and/or contracts with the West
Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc., the
State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs, State
of Florida Department of Children and Families
and Families and the United Way of Central
Florida. We also receive grant assistance support
from the Highlands County Board of County
Commissioners, donations from local businesses
and organizations, and individual contributions
from those who believe in our mission and rely on
our services.

According to the Florida Department of Elder
Affairs 2008 Projected County Profile statistics,
the number of Highlands County citizens over
age 65 is 32,219, or 32.2%. Of that group, 7% or
2,115 are described as having two or more
disabilities including self-care limitation and
15.3 % are described as probable Alzheimer's
cases. The elder population is expected to rise
faster than any other group in Highlands
County.

During 2006 and 2007 the overwhelming
majority (69.5%) of consumers who received
one or more of our services were near or below
poverty level. During the same period the
average age of our consumer was 79.5 years
old and needed assistant with 2 or more
activities of daily living.