We are continuing the celebration of 40 years of service to our community and extending our column topic from last month by providing you with additional historical facts about the Area Agency on Aging District 7 and exciting projects and ventures for the future.

As a recap, our Agency is celebrating 40 years of service in 2012.

We are proud to serve our seniors and those with disabilities in our 10-county area that includes Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton Counties.

In our most recent Annual Report that was finalized for 2010, we determined that 24,350 older adults and those with disabilities were served across all of our care management programs.

Back in 1972, the yearly number of individuals served was around 500. We certainly have grown a lot in these past 40 years and we’re happy we have been able to provide a home and community-based service option that allows older Ohioans and those with disabilities to remain safely and independently in their own home.

Last month, we talked about our beginnings, program growth in the 70s, and the addition of the PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver program in 1990.

This month, we’d like to continue with a mention of the other services that have been added over the years, in addition to our thoughts and visions for the future.

Other services that have been added over the years include Care Coordination, a case-management program for those who are not eligible for PASSPORT; Service Coordination, available for older adults or disabled individuals who reside in selected apartment complexes in the area; the Home Repair Program, that provides emergency home repair assistance for those older adults or disabled individuals in need; the National Family Caregiver Support Program, designed to assist the role of the caregiver with information, referral and support, as well as a special focus on grandparents who are raising their grandchildren; and the Assisted Living Waiver Program, that assists individuals living in assisted living communities throughout the district.

Recently, the AAA7 has been engaged and involved in a number of activities and initiatives designed to support the rapidly increasing older adult population.

We are working with our local hospitals on post-discharge assistance and transition to home; enhancing our Aging and Disability Resource Center which is designed to serve as a resource for the community with questions involving in-home and long-term care options; and identifying opportunities and activities that allow us to continue supporting our mission of “Assisting individuals to maintain independence and personal choice by providing resource options and services.”

We continue to advocate for seniors and those with disabilities with our state and federal legislators, and enjoy participating in community events and activities in order to share the resources available through our Agency.

Our Agency is dedicated to educating our community about the services we provide.

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the valuable resources that are available to them. By making a simple phone call to our Agency at 1-800-582-7277, you can learn more about the resources that are available in your community that support a safe and independent living environment for you or someone you know.

We have trained nurses and social workers ready to answer your questions and help you determine what options and resources are available to meet your needs.

It’s been a good 40 years of providing services to the community, and we are looking forward to many more years of commitment and dedication to our consumers and their families.

Please call us if we can assist you, and join us this year in celebrating the many resource options that are available for older adults and disabled individuals in our community.

 

Pamela K. Matura is executive director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7. The non-profit agency serves senior citizens in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties.