BUFFALO - Catholic Charities of Buffalo is partnering with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to help older adults in Erie County improve their financial outlook by connecting seniors to credit and debt counseling, employment, housing and other money management tools.

Through support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, which awarded a $10,000 grant to provide the assistance, adults ages 55 and older will have access to resources offered by NCOA to help lift themselves out of poverty and take financial control of their lives. NCOA is a leader and partner which strives to help people aged 60 and older meet the challenges of aging.

The options include:
● A comprehensive assessment of their financial situation using NCOA's free online tool, EconomicCheckUp®, which helps older adults find work, cut spending, reduce debt and use their home equity.
● A series of financial education workshops called Savvy Saving Seniors®, which cover information about budgeting, avoiding scams and fraud and using pre-paid debit cards. The workshops will be led by Bank of America employees volunteering their time to serve their communities.
● Connecting older adults to resources in their community which can boost their income and resolve money challenges.
"Our programs geared toward older adults have a strong focus on mental, social and physical health and this expands that focus, offering a unique opportunity to provide this population the tools to take charge of their financial health," said Jim Nowak, assistant director of Catholic Charities Clinical and Aging Services Department. "These resources will help create another level of independence and long-term stability for seniors in our community, and these are things we continually strive for."                     

Catholic Charities Older Adult Services provides seniors 60 years of age and older with options and solutions to be self-sufficient, socialize and thrive while remaining in their homes. Individuals in Erie, Genesee, Niagara and Orleans counties are served through a variety of programs including A Gathering Place, Comprehensive Care, Foster Grandparent Program, Home Visitation, Friendly Phones and Project HOPE.

In 2014, more than 500 older adults and caregivers received Catholic Charities services specifically designed to meet older adult needs.

For more information about Older Adult Services, please call (716) 896-6388. To learn more about Catholic Charities or any other services it provides, visit www.ccwny.org.      

The NCOA is a respected national leader and trusted partner to help people aged 60+ meet the challenges of aging. Its mission is to improve the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are struggling. Through innovative community programs and services, online help, and advocacy, NCOA is partnering with nonprofit organizations, government, and business to improve the health and economic security of 10 million older adults by 2020. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.

In 2014, Catholic Charities served more than 142,000 people in need in Western New York. For 92 years, Catholic Charities has been making a difference for people of every faith and ethnicity in Western New York. Catholic Charities empowers children, families and seniors to achieve meaningful, healthy and productive lives. In all situations, Catholic Charities delivers support to meet immediate needs, and then assesses clients for other needs to ensure long-term success. It is the most comprehensive human service provider serving Western New York. Catholic Charities is an excellent steward of the contributions it receives. For five years, Catholic Charities attained the highest-possible rating (four stars) from Charity Navigator for transparency and sound fiscal management, and the agency receives the highest ratings from the Council on Accreditation for quality service.