Statements
Mission
FiftyForward supports, champions, and enhances life for those 50 and older.
FiftyForward is the leading resource for adults 50+ in Middle Tennessee who seek to live longer, more fulfilling lives. Through seven locations and a variety of programs in Davidson and Williamson counties, FiftyForward is the premier provider of innovative and engaging programs and services for older adults and their families. Our work is made possible by a powerful leadership team of FiftyForward staff, volunteers, and community partners.
Background
Since the agency was established in 1956, FiftyForward (then called Senior Citizens, Inc.) has been devoted to supporting healthy aging. The original charter stated that the agency's purpose was "to establish a community center for the purpose of providing, fostering, encouraging, promoting and developing activity, recreation, education, personal counseling, vocational counseling and health services amongst older persons." From the original center and three-days-a-week operation, the program grew into the first multi-purpose center in the area. In 1965, FiftyForward was awarded the Foster Grandparents Program. Soon, a Mobile Meals program, now FiftyForward Fresh, and FiftyForward Adult Day Services were added. New centers were added to the original FiftyForward Knowles center, and FiftyForward Americorps Seniors (formerly RSVP) started in 1982. Homebound care management began in 1986, and in 1989, FiftyForward became the first agency to deliver meals on weekends and on holidays. The 1990s saw the addition of FiftyForward Friends Learning in Pairs (FLIP), FiftyForward Victory Over Crime, and other FiftyForward Supportive Care Services. The number of full-time centers has grown to a total of seven in two counties, including one. the FiftyForward J. L. Turner Center, located in the Bellevue Family YMCA through a unique partnership with the Y -- the first facility of its kind in the nation. An ambitious capital/endowment campaign in 2000-2002 raised $14.4 million for the construction of the Patricia Hart Building, which now houses the FiftyForward Knowles center, FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services, FiftyForward Fresh, and the FiftyForward administrative offices; the FiftyForward Martin Center in Brentwood; and FiftyForward's share of the FiftyForward J. L. Turner Center/Bellevue Family YMCA joint facility. Today, FiftyForward annually impacts the lives of more than 20,000 older adults, their families, and children in Middle Tennessee.
Impact
Active older adults counter isolation and maintain or improve physical, mental and emotional health by participating in educational, recreational and health/wellness programming at FiftyForward's seven lifelong learning centers. FiftyForward Supportive Care Services help older adults live independently and access resources to meet their basic needs and enhance their quality of life. FiftyForward Supportive Care Services include FiftyForward Living At Home, FiftyForward Fresh (Meals on Wheels), FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services, FiftyForward Living at Home Care Management, FiftyForward Care Team, and FiftyForward Conservatorship. Active adults give their time, interests and skills to benefit others through volunteer efforts in centers and in the community through the FiftyForward Americorps Seniors program and the FiftyForward Foster Grandparent Program (FGP). Additionally, community volunteers give their time to volunteer to benefit the overall operation of the organization and to assist staff in providing support to older adults served by the agency. The organization is recognized as the premier provider in Middle Tennessee for a continuum of care and services for older adults and their caregivers. FiftyForward led the efforts to help provide state funding for nationally accredited centers across the state of Tennessee resulting in a budget amendment of $50,000 per accredited center in 2019 to further the work of programs and services for older adults across the state. In 2017, the National Institutes of Health selected FiftyForward to be one of four national partners in the All of Us Research program designed to gather and evaluate health care trends from select populations across the United States. FiftyForward was selected to garner information from the under-represented senior population for this effort. The agency continues to work with the local business community and universities to look for new and innovative ways to reach older adults and provide access to care, lifelong learning opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and support for family members and caregivers.
Needs
FiftyForward constantly works to improve programs and services and the technology with which these services are delivered. Technical expertise and hands-on volunteers who can guide process decisions and evaluation are needed. FiftyForward welcomes masters-level interns looking for in-depth projects that might provide insight and guidance for the agency and provide course credit for the student.
CEO Statement
FiftyForward has provided programs and services to older adults for more than 65 years. Our mission states that we enhance and champion the lives of adults over the age of 50, and we do this with amazing and comprehensive programs. With seven lifelong learning centers, our programs are unique to the communities they serve allowing for partnerships, community involvement, and participation and growth. The agency also supports older adults who might not be able to join programs through our centers but may need support. Over the years, these support programs have grown as the need has increased to include not only FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services and FiftyForward Fresh but also our Care Management and Conservatorship programs. The FiftyForward continuum of care works to address the needs of older adults, and through our strategic planning process, we will continue to look at programs and services that best address the most important needs of older adults in Middle Tennessee.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Senior Centers/Services |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Adult Day Care |
| Tertiary Category: | Food, Agriculture & Nutrition - Meals on Wheels |
Areas Served
FiftyForward members and program participants come from all over Middle Tennessee.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Williamson |
