Independent Living Community Services, Inc. (ILCS) is a Florida 501(c) (3) non-profit organization providing supportive services to promote independence among the elderly population in Miami-Dade and Broward counties since 2003. ILCS is under contract with Miami-Dade County Public Housing to serve as the management company and health & LTC social services supports provider for the Ward Towers Senior Housing Facility. Ward Towers Senior Center provides low income housing to 200 older adults and on-site community services to 100 – 150 daily . The facility hosts more than 1,000 registered participants that either reside on the housing campus premises or reside in the surrounding adult community. Services provided at The Ward Tower Senior Center include -- case management and social work support, daily nutritionally balanced congregate hot meals and nutrition education, physical activity and training classes to address cardiovascular strength, endurance and balance, computer literacy and other services to encourage health promotion and overall wellness. We also provide an array of home and community based services to functionally impaired clients that are homebound to assist them to remain living independently at home. Homebound services include home delivered meals, specialized diet menus and care coordination and deployment of other HCBC supports.
Ward Tower Senior Center is
located in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood, an area that is home to over half
a million African American and Afro-West Indian residents (as of 2000
Census). This geographic area is mainly comprised of residents with high risk
for chronic disease and falls based on ethnicity, age, and income. ILCS
provides an array of HCBC services in coordination with the local Area Agency
on Aging- the Alliance for Aging and is a key member of the Miami Coalition to
Prevent Un-necessary Hospitalization in the provision of care transition
services thru the PASS – the Post Acute Support Systems (PASS®). ILCS has
also built a strong health promotion and disease prevention component utilizing
evidence-based programs at Ward Tower Senior Center including: Matter of
Balance; Un Asunto de Equilibrio; Stanford’s Model of Chronic Disease
Self-Management Program (Living Healthy); Tomando Control de su Salud; through
our partnership with the Health Foundation of South Florida enabling ILCS to improve
the health and well-being of individuals with chronic diseases. ILSC has
also been participating in the US Administration on Aging Diabetes
Self-Management Initiative as a part of the Alliance on Aging Team Miami.
ILCS’ goal is to eventually implement diabetes self-management programs
utilizing registered dietitians and will seek accreditation and approval for
participation in the Medicare program. ILCS provides and coordinates its
HCBC services with the Area Agency on Aging – the Alliance for Aging
These activities have allowed
ILCS to continuously expand its mission to provide and coordinate services to
individuals who are frail, underprivileged, or who may have chronic diseases,
such that they have an enhanced quality of life and health through a choice of
cost effective community oriented resources and services.
Independent Living Community Services, Inc.
5201 Blue Lagoon Drive
Suite 260
Miami, FL 33126
@ Ward Tower Tel: 305-634-6999