Nonprofit helps seniors stay healthy, active, and independent

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics in 2020, 1 in 6 people were 65 or older. A century earlier, that number was 1 in 20.

The steady rise in population of older adults, a trend that is projected to continue, means a steady increase in demand for services for seniors. Many seniors have no one to rely on during this stage of their lives.

That’s where an organization like Mat-Su Senior Services steps in to fill the service gap. Since 1980, the nonprofit group that operates the Palmer Senior Center has offered a variety of activities and services to older adults.

Cassandra Pillittier, administrative assistant and media contact for Mat-Su Senior Services, said the organization takes pride in its 46 years of service to the senior community. Whether it be through housing, a ride to medical appointments, a hot meal, assistance with chores, or just some good company, Mat-Su Seniors connects a vulnerable population to essential services that fulfill their social, physical, and emotional needs.

“It is imperative that we recognize with age and an unsteady economy that seniors are in dire need,” Pillittier said. “We must inspire each other into action and continue to dedicate necessary time and resources to a vulnerable population.”

Like most nonprofits, Mat-Su Senior Services relies on grants, donations, and volunteers to keep the lights on and services flowing. A grant for $190,000 in 2024 from the Mat-Su Health Foundation make that effort easier.

“Funding is vital in providing transportation, housing, respite and social activities for seniors,” Pillittier said. “It allows them to feel more confident in the aging process.”

As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Health Foundation has been investing its share of hospital profits in community health and wellness since its inception in 2007. In that time, more than $136 million has been awarded to nonprofit organizations and scholarship recipients in all corners of the Mat-Su.

“The Health Foundation and other organizations like it are integral to this community,” Pillittier said. “They assess needs and play an active role in fulfilling those needs.”

At present, Mat-Su Senior Services assists 170 older adults. But Pillittier said numbers don’t tell the whole story.

“We are dealing with human beings that are in a time of their life where they have the greatest need. It is important that we continue to offer our services so that we can help seniors maintain their independence and dignity while bolstering their overall well-being and quality of life,” she said. “We allow them to age gracefully, on their own terms, while reminding them that they are not forgotten and that they are cared for.”

Tim Pettit, Mat-Su Senior Services CEO, said that work, and the funding that supports it, is essential.

“We truly appreciate Mat-Su Health Foundation supporting us through their very generous grants,” Pettit said. “That is one of the most critical grants we receive, as it helps tremendously to allow us to continue providing all of the programs we do for seniors.”

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www.matsuseniors.com