One of the most important resources our older adults and those with disabilities have with regard to home and community-based long-term care options and resources is as close as a phone call to the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7).

No longer should individuals feel as though they must learn about or make these decisions on their own … the AAA7 exists to assist the community with long-term care questions and help find alternatives and solutions that are available and best suited for each individual.

Through the AAA7’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), callers can be offered a no-cost, in-home consultation from a certified agency nurse or social worker to discuss what programs are available to meet the needs that exist.

These needs could include personal care and homemaking; respite care; adult day care; assisted living; caregiver support; case management; home repair; transportation; home-delivered meals; community-center meal programs; legal assistance; and linkage to community services.

To better understand needs and how individuals can best be helped, staff works with individuals and their families on options, resources, and information regarding community and home-based long-term care. Thanks to a number of regional partnerships and collaborations with other community service agencies, callers and consumers are provided with a number of options that best support their needs.

AAA7 staff is here to help navigate callers through the many options that are available and introduce resources that are most helpful for their situation.

What is most important for the community to know is that whenever the AAA7 receives a call, consumers, their families, and those who provide consumers with service and support, will be assisted with finding, applying to, and/or utilizing the services they need regardless of age, disability or ability to pay.

Anyone who needs help or assistance with long-term care choices and decisions can simply call our agency. Through the Aging and Disability Resource Center, an individual can be linked to a number of helpful resources in our communities that are available to assist them.

To contact the AAA7’s Aging and Disability Resource Center, simply call the Agency toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY 1-888-270-1550) and ask for the Resource Center. Here, individuals can speak directly with a nurse or social worker who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available in their community to best serve their needs.

The AAA7 serves the following counties in Ohio: Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.

Pamela K. Matura is executive director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. F32-URG PO Box 500, Rio Grande, OH 45674.