SHEPHERDS CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
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Mission Statement
The Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia (SCNOVA) is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to promoting and supporting purposeful, independent living for mature adults through various safety net services such as free medical and companion transportation, friendly callers and friendly visitors, handy helpers for small maintenance about the home and yard, lifelong learning and social and cultural enrichment opportunities.
About This Cause
Established in 1998 as a non-denominational, not-for-profit organization, the mission of the Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia (SCNOVA) is to promote and support purposeful, independent living for adults age 50+ through free transportation assistance, minor home repairs, volunteer opportunities, lifelong learning, and cultural enrichment opportunities. The overarching vision of SCNOVA is to provide a safety net of services and programs that promote independence and allow seniors in our community to “age in place”. We offer free volunteer transportation for medical and non-medical appointments, grocery stores, banks, churches, friends, and other activities of choice. Many of our transportation participants are low-income, disabled, at-risk seniors who would otherwise not have access to needed services or who would be faced with having to compromise some other necessities, like food or prescriptions, to accommodate the cost of transportation. The SCNOVA organization has a 26-year history based on equity in healthcare access for older adults who reside in Reston, Herndon, Vienna, Oakton, Great Falls, Dunn Loring and parts of Fairfax. Indeed, our operating goals are the same as those identified in the 2022 Fairfax Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) as the number two quality of life concern for all survey respondents (and ranked as either number one or two across demographic groups) which is “Access to healthcare for all” (CHNA, page 19). The older adult population historically faces challenges with social determinants of health notably with access to healthcare because of age, infirmity, frailty, fixed-income or low-income constraints, and disability. Our volunteers are trained to ask and offer solutions to combat loneliness and isolation. Heath advocacy, care giver support groups, active wellness, tai chi, and other programs such as the Friendly Caller/ Friendly Visitor program help create connections and an upward trend in drivers of health. You could say the SCNOVA volunteers are drivers of health! SCNOVA also promotes community awareness efforts to reach diverse populations in our service area. By deliberately considering inclusion and social inequities, we promote healthy, independent living for our clients with a recognition of, and sensitivity to circumstances that have led to inequities in the past. Our service aligns well with the needs for Healthcare Access for chronic as well as preventative and routine health care, Economic Stability for those who would have to choose between transportation costs and food, prescriptions, utilities or other daily needs of living, and Mental Health as older adults can be connected to a social support network as lack of connections can be associated with isolation and poor health outcomes and further, isolation and loneliness have been shown to independently increase the likelihood of depression or anxiety. This free program serves older adults who reside in Vienna, Oakton, Reston, Herndon, Dunn Loring and parts of Fairfax. The requested rides can have a destination outside of this area and clients can request up to three rides a week. In this manner, a variety of needs can be met. Transportation needs for older adults have been growing yearly. The 2021 Eldercare Locator Data Report cited that 22% of the 372,146 calls that year were for transportation needs alone. The next highest-ranked inquiry was 12% for In-Home Services. Indeed, as our population continues to age, live longer, and live with chronic co-morbidities, the need for transportation will continue to be a high-priority need for healthy and inclusive communities. As noted in CHNA, “The risk of chronic conditions increases with age – about 85% of older adults are living with at least one chronic condition and 60% are living with at least two,” (CHNA, page 17). In 2023, SCNOVA volunteer drivers provided over 2,200 one-way rides and drove 12,000 miles in support of homebound older adults in need. Seventy-three percent (73%) of these rides were for medical needs, many are Inova or Inova-affiliated practices. The remaining rides were for grocery store, food, banks, and important community connections. In 2022, volunteer drivers provided over 2,100 rides. Since 1999, SCNOVA has conservatively provided older adults with over 22,000 rides in the communities we serve. The SCNOVA Transportation program supports older adults living at home and who wish to remain independent as well as those who cannot afford other alternatives. Indeed, when asked, 99% of SCNOVA clients strongly agree that the transportation services is one of the reasons they are able to remain in their homes. Another significant response shows that 97% of clients strongly agree that knowing the program is available to them makes them feel better, more secure and connected to their community. It is significant for older adults to have the option to continue to live in the community in which they have resided and invested for possibly decades. In addition to individuals, communities that address equity in healthcare access and economic insecurity also benefit from healthy, socially connected constituents. Indeed, the Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Epidemic of Loneliness states that “higher levels of social connectedness suggest better community outcomes, ranging from population health to community safety, resilience, prosperity, and representative government,” (page 36). It also cites studies that find “that community-level social capital is positively associated with a reduced burden of disease and risk for all-cause mortality,” (page 39). Lastly, “communities with higher levels of social capital are also more likely to see decreased hospital readmission rates” (page 39).