Caring for Chickasaw elders is an essential part of the Chickasaw Nation. As the foundation of the tribe, Chickasaw elders continue to play a key role in the future of tribal tradition and culture.
New elder programs and services were implemented during the 2009 fiscal year.
The Wisdom Walkers elder fitness program was established, creating new and exciting ways to stay fit. The program includes Chickercise (exercise classes), Nintendo Wii tournaments, golf tournaments and other physical activities for Chickasaw elders. Wisdom Walkers was developed to assist in lowering blood sugar levels, losing weight, increasing balance and increasing the overall physical fitness of elders.
The division on aging implemented a daily salad bar at the senior centers, providing salad options with each lunch. For a healthy morning meal, a breakfast plan was created serving more than 19,000 breakfasts to Chickasaw elders.
The Chickasha Sipokni Hataloowa Chi (Chickasaw elders choir) was established for elders to meet each month to sing and learn new Chickasaw/Choctaw hymns. The choir performs at various tribal events and Chickasaw elder funerals.
The supplemental lawn mowing program was implemented providing additional lawn mowing services for Chickasaw elders. The new program assisted 570 Chickasaw elders with more than 3,000 mowings during the summer of 2009.
Another addition to the division on aging is the creation of a scholarship fund. The $1,000 Division on Aging Scholarship is awarded to one full‑time Chickasaw student pursuing a degree in the field of geriatrics. The scholarship is administered by the Chickasaw Foundation.
As an annual division on aging trip, 15 Chickasaw World War II veterans were escorted to Washington, D.C. Elders visited the World War II National Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian.
The trip also included a visit to the United States Capitol building hosted by Chickasaw Congressman Tom Cole.
In 2009, the assisted living supplement program expanded to include at-large Chickasaw elders, with the program totaling more than $235,000. The program provides up to $2,500 a month for Chickasaw elders to live in a state-licensed assisted living facility.
Through the home maintenance program, small home repairs are completed for Chickasaw elders. More than 450 home repairs, alterations and handicap rail installations were completed for Chickasaw homes in 2009.
Nearly doubling in assistance requests from 2008, the elderly specialist program responded to 812 requests in 2009. The program provides staff to assist elders with locating resources, completing applications and gathering required documents to obtain services.
Chickasaw Nation community health representatives play an important role in the lives of elders. Each month, community health representatives visit the Chickasaw Nation senior centers to monitor elder blood pressure and blood sugar and provide health education pamphlets. The representatives also deliver elder medications, commodities and Farmers’ Market produce and transport elders to doctor appointments as needed.
Other accomplishments:
- Through the horticulture department, 7,640 vegetable seedlings were distributed to the 11 Chickasaw Nation Senior Nutrition centers. The horticulture department also distributed vegetables to 870 Chickasaw elders.
- Through the elderly assistance and tribal emergency assistance programs, nearly 3,300 Chickasaw elders received utility assistance in fiscal year 2009.
- The chore program provided cleaning services, long-term care facility visitation and companionship for an average of 232 Chickasaw elders each month.
- The burial supplement program pays up to $2,500 towards funeral expenses for Chickasaw elders. More than 100 Chickasaw families received assistance through this program.
- The elder veteran jacket program is a nation-wide program for eligible Chickasaw elders to receive a jacket for their military service. The program provided 83 jackets in 2009.
