1974 – 2025 Our 51st Anniversary!
This year, at Aging & Family Services, we are celebrating 51 years of serving the elderly, disabled, and their families in our local area. In honor of this historic occasion, our 51st Anniversary is a time to remember all that has been accomplished through YOUR support of A&FS over these last 51 years and to look forward to all we will achieve as we continue to work TOGETHER!
Aging & Family Services of Mineral County began serving our community in 1974 as the Mineral County Committee on Aging. Over time, our agency has become a diverse organization administering many programs that provide nutrition, home-based care, basic living needs, and important referral and networking services to assist residents in locating resources that can serve their needs.
Our mission is broadening to address the total needs of local families, particularly as they relate to the physical and emotional well-being of older residents in Mineral County. Almost 8,000 senior citizens call Mineral County home.
At Aging and Family Services of Mineral County, we offer senior citizen programs to fit their individual needs. The purpose of Aging and Family Services is to provide the senior citizen with a full range of services structured to enhance the quality of their lives, maintain independence, and prevent premature nursing home placement.
Timeline
Nov 1973 Steering Committee for the Aging in Mineral County Meets initially
Nov 1973 Melvin Heiskell elected first Chairman of the Mineral County Committee on Aging
April 1974 Agencies first budget set at $7556
June 1974 Doris Nield hired as Executive Director
1974 Committee on Aging offices established at the city building
1977 Signed lease for the Lincoln School Building on Church Street
1981 Meal Programs begin and MCCOA
1984 MCCOA celebrates 10-year anniversary with Open House
1989 In-Home Programs begin with 21 workers and 25 clients
1989 Nutrition Program opens in Fort Ashby
1993 Agency began a computerized accounting system
1994 Celebrated 20 years and changed name to Aging & Family Services and introduced a new logo
1994 Seniors and staff began working on Santa letters for the first time
1995 Purchased Dr. Montgomery’s home and office on Main Street
1996 Administrative Office and In-Home Care staff moved to building on Main Street
1997 Doris Nield retires as Executive Director
1999 Began offering tours through our agency
2000 Moved nutrition program out of Wiley Ford Fire Hall
2001 Distributed Senior Farmers Market Coupons for first time
2002 Hosted first Senior Olympics at Potomac State College
2003 New Senior Center in Short Gap Opened
2004 On The Move Walking Program Started
2004 Purchased Home on Overton place to house Health/Wellness programs, trainings and other activities
2006 Constructed a walking track around our Frankfort Senior Center
2006 The State began funding an Alzheimer’s Respite Program
2006 Opened a clothing pantry
2007 State funded In-Home Care Lighthouse Program began
2008 Purchased 5.5 acres of land behind the new BB&T bank for future senior center
2008 Agency began Case Management services
2008 Received first Hot Cold Truck for Meals on Wheels program
2009 Participated in “March for Meals” Rally in Charleston for the first time
2010 Agency served its one millionth meal
2012 Hosted our first “Conquer the Dam” 5K race at Jennings Randolph Lake
2012 Partnered with the Mineral County Energy Express program to sponsor their Children’s Summer Food Program
2013 Started serving one evening meal per week at each Senior Center
2016 Sold the property on Overton Place
2017 Opened administrative offices at 875 S. Mineral Street (rt 220)
2019 Sold previous administrative building on Main Street
2020 Purchased former Keyser Pizza Hut location for future Keyser Senior Center
2021 Construction began on New Keyser Senior Center
2022 Opened new Keyser Senior Center in August
2024 Celebrated 50th anniversary
2024 Named Mineral County’s Non-Profit of the Year
Proud Past, Bright Future
Aging & Family Services has come a long way since 1974, when Doris Nield first brought services to seniors of Mineral County. Today, Aging & Family Services also offers a wide range of social services, including meals, in-home care, case management, and other various activities. And so, Aging & Family Services’ 49th anniversary– Proud Past, Bright Future – today is a great way to acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed to our long-lasting success.
From the days that Doris worked a four-day work week in the two small rooms donated by the city of Keyser, through the expansion to the former Lincoln School Building on Church Street, until today, the focus of our agency has remained consistent: to help improve the quality of life for the area’s seniors and their families.
Over the years, clients, programs, and staff have changed, but the purpose and direction of Aging & Family Services have remained the same.
Since the late 1980’s one of the primary needs of the area has been in-home care.
Because there’s No Place Like Home
Aging & Family Services believes, without question, that the home is the desired setting for the elderly and disabled to receive care. Preserving independence and improving functional abilities are central to our In-Home Care programs. Our programs offer an array of health and social support services to clients in their own homes. Such coordinated services may prevent, delay, or be a substitute for temporary long-term institutional care.
The in-home care staff of Aging & Family Services is dedicated to keeping clients healthy, comfortable, and independent. This is a difficult position that takes a special individual to handle.
This year, almost 150,000 hours of in-home care were provided to the elderly and the disabled in our communities. We have exceeded 2 million hours of care provided since 1989.
Administrative Staff
Providing diverse services to the elderly population in this county, including nutrition, home care, and housekeeping, basic living needs, referral and networking, transportation, and recreational activities takes a strong, dedicated staff. Aging & Family Services of Mineral County has one of the most dedicated groups of employees around.
Nutrition Program and Meals on Wheels
Since adequate nutrition is critical to health, functioning, and quality of life, the Meals Program is an important component of home and community-based services for older people. The Elderly Nutrition Program provides congregate meals at centers throughout the county, and Meals on Wheels delivers to those who are homebound. In practice, the Nutrition program’s hundreds of daily participants are receiving 40 to 50 percent of the required nutrients from each meal provided by the program. The Meals on Wheels program is also designed to help the frail elderly maintain independence and avoid social isolation.
Other Services
There are many services available for local seniors, in addition to the well-known nutrition and in-home care programs.
Transportation program, a limited program that allows the transport of seniors to and from local community resources. New challenges are facing our agency in the Non-Emergency Medicaid transportation department.
Housekeeping – Provides help to seniors who may not be ready for in-home care. Services include basic home management, housecleaning, laundry, and more.
Senior Advocacy – Providing a link between older persons and necessary community resources
Insurance/Benefits Counseling – Provides seniors with information about insurance and benefits.
Preventative Health – Providing preventive health programs, including ongoing exercise programs, plus blood pressure screenings and hearing and vision testing.
Caregiver Information & Assistance – Provide on an individual basis, information to caregivers about opportunities and services available; assess the problems and capacities of the individuals; link the individuals to the opportunities and services available; and, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the individuals receive the services needed, and are aware of the opportunities available, by establishing adequate follow-up procedures.
Caregiver Training – Provision of training for caregivers to assist them in the performance of in-home services for dependent seniors
In-Home Respite – Temporary, substitute support or living arrangements delivered in the home to provide relief or rest for caregivers.
Our Future
To continue having an impact, Aging & Family Services will need to be aware of and plan for future trends. There are four critical areas for Aging & Family Services as we look to the future: attracting baby boomers, fostering diversity, linking the generations, redefining the image of senior centers, and partnering for resource and community development.
- Attracting Baby Boomers
To attract a new generation, the baby boomers, senior centers need to make a shift. Most senior center staff are aware of the challenge: of appealing to a group that, while not particularly “joiners,” want to tone and stretch—mind and body—and surf the ‘net.’ There is a gap between baby boomers’ interests and preferences and current senior center offerings. How Aging & Family Services use this information may be a critical factor in the long-term outlook for senior centers.
- Linking the Generations
Life experience predisposes older persons to intergenerational activities, and seniors are generally for mixing generations.
- Redefining the Image of Senior Centers
Senior Center staff around the state agree that the image of senior centers keeps many away. The common perception is that centers are for dependent “old people” doing unappealing activities. More than bricks and mortar are needed to build a more inviting, appealing image.
- Partnering for Resource and Community Development
Senior centers are already diversifying funding and seeking new community partnerships to survive. The key to success in the future will be for centers to seek diverse funding and create new partnerships.