THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997           TAG: 9702050457
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY DEBRA GORDON, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   31 lines

AGENCY THAT HELPS THE ELDERLY COPE CHANGES ITS NAME

You're looking for a nutrition program for your homebound mother. Or you need transportation to the doctor's office because you're disabled. Or you need a companion aide to cook and clean for you.

Who you gonna call? Some organization with the tongue-twisting name of Southeastern Virginia Areawide Model Program Inc.? How about something shorter and clearer, like Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia?

On Monday, officials at SEVAMP renamed the 25-year-old agency, which serves more than 54,000 older people throughout South Hampton Roads.

``We need to be more easily available to the new customer,'' said Kathleen S. Blanchard, SEVAMP's assistant director for programs. The agency will maintain the SEVAMP name as its legal moniker, but will do business in the community under the new name: Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia.

The agency is a conduit for local, state and federal funds allocated to the region to provide services to the elderly and their families. Services include personal care, adult day care, employment, volunteer programs, health screening and promotion, elder abuse prevention and medical case management. Most services are provided on a free or sliding-fee basis. MEMO: Need assistance? Call Senior Services at 461-9481 in Norfolk or

934-1661 in Suffolk.

KEYWORDS: NAME CHANGE SEVAMP SENIOR SERVICE OF SOUTHEASTERN

VIRGINIA