Thanks given, awards presented at AAA7 Annual Appreciation Brunch
Lead Summary
By
Jennifer Dovyak-Lewis-
Many individuals and groups were recently recognized for their contributions to the community and programs and services through the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) at the AAA7’s Annual Appreciation Brunch that was held at the Southern Ohio Medical Center Friends Center in Portsmouth. The AAA7 serves 10 counties in southern Ohio, including Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.
The Agency was very pleased to have Ohio Department of Aging Director Beverly Laubert and staff as guests at the event, as well as Gallia County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Marianne Campbell, who was the featured guest speaker.
Campbell, who has been a volunteer at the Chamber for 16 years since her retirement from Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, has had a remarkable career in broadcasting and public relations, serving on several state and national broadcasting boards during her lifetime, including being the first woman elected to the Board of the National Association of Broadcasters. She spoke to the group about volunteerism.
Special awards that were presented by the Area Agency on Aging District 7 at the event to individuals or groups included:
• William A. Jenkins Award (Outstanding Contributor to Our Southern Ohio Aging Network): This year’s Area Agency on Aging District 7 William A. Jenkins Award was presented to Charles Harper of Lawrence County, a past Board Member and President of the Board of Trustees of the Area Agency on Aging District 7. The AAA7 presents the award annually to an outstanding contributor to the southern Ohio aging network. The award is named in memory of Jenkins, a native of Gallia County who helped build the aging network in southern Ohio through the Area Agency on Aging District 7.
Harper is retired from the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services, where he worked for 30 years holding a number of positions throughout that time. He retired in 2002 after having served as Social Services Administrator for 13 years. Harper also worked 15 years at the Ironton-Lawrence CAO Head Start Program as Project Manager.
An Ironton native, Harper has also served as chair of the Lawrence County Salvation Army Services Unit, chair of the Lawrence County United Health Foundation and was also a founding member of the Appalachian Family and Children First Council, where he served as chair several times. He served 15 years on the Area Agency on Aging District 7 Board of Trustees as a member, vice president and president.
In her presentation to Harper, Pamela Matura, Executive Director at the AAA7, acknowledged his years of service to not only the AAA7, but his many years of service to his community with his involvement in so many initiatives and groups that make our communities and district better.
Community Involvement Award: The Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) presented the “Community Involvement Award to the Brown County Seniors Alive Group.
The Brown County Seniors Alive group began in 1997 and is a volunteer coalition with representatives that include consumers and agencies or organizations who work with older adults. This includes 32 people from different county entities who help promote health and wellness for seniors in Brown County. Some of the entities include hospice, home care, the Alzheimer’s Association, nutrition professionals, nursing facilities, the Senior Center and the Area Agency on Aging District 7, just to name a few. The coalition’s goal is to enhance the quality of life by maintaining and prolonging the independence of older adults in Brown County.
The group meets monthly to share resources and network. The planning of activities for seniors in Brown County is always a focus – some include chair volleyball, exercise classes, diabetes education and support, physician seminars and Brown County Senior Citizens Day at the Brown County Fair.
Sue Lang, Director of the Brown County Senior Citizens Center, who heads up the group, shares that Brown County Seniors Alive is a wonderful group of people to work with – they all have the same goal of keeping people healthy and living independently.
The AAA7 applauds groups like Brown County Seniors Alive that help support the concept of positive aging by providing options to help keep seniors active and engaged.
• Wellness Champions: The Area Agency on Aging District 7 recognized three “Wellness Champions” from Lawrence County for their work with a local falls prevention event. Honored were Laura Brown, Mary Cogan and Stephanie Barnett.
Ten Million Steps to Prevent Falls is a statewide event to raise awareness of older adult falls and promote strategies to prevent them. The Ohio Department of Aging’s STEADY U Ohio initiative designed the event to be statewide and each year calls on community organizations, businesses and groups to hold local events to help add to the total number of steps for Ohio. Each local event logs the number of steps they achieve and the number is added to the statewide total. Last year, Ohio logged more than 56 million steps.
One of the 10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls events in the district, locally in Ironton, has gained support and enthusiasm from the local community and acknowledgement and recognition at the state level for achieving the exact picture of what the event was designed to do.
Brown, Cogan and Barnett have worked together to increase participation at the event over the past three years. Brown started the event with her vision in 2016 and garnered help from her friends Cogan and Barnett to make the event bigger and better each year. The event features a walking path to record steps, health fair, community representation, and in 2017, local high schools helped add to the walk total during their lunch hour. Officials at the state level recognized the hard work and success of the local event in Ironton.
John Ratliff, Chief of Communications from the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), has shared, “We have held Ironton’s event up to other communities as an example of exactly the kind of event we had in mind when we created 10 Million Steps.” In fact, in 2017, Lawrence County had recorded the most steps in the entire state. And over the three years holding the event, the City of Ironton has contributed more than 4.2 million steps, making it one of ODA’s biggest and most successful partners.
As a result of the success, ODA reached out to Brown and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 to pilot a new outreach program to engage elementary school children in the conversation of older adult falls prevention in February 2018. The campaign was called “Don’t Fall for Me, Valentine.” Students at local schools learned about falls risks and colored falls prevention-themed Valentine cards that were delivered to area seniors. Ironton was one of only two locations selected by the Ohio Department of Aging for this campaign, largely because of Brown’s leadership and support of the STEADY U initiative.
The vision of Brown and help from Cogan and Barnett has made the 10 Million Steps event bigger and better every year. The ladies are set for their fourth year and looking forward to the event Sept. 21 in Ironton at the Farmer’s Market. All are invited.
• Partnership Award: This year’s Partnership Award was presented to hospital and provider partners who assist the AAA7 with the Agency’s Hospital2Home program.
As the name indicates, the AAA7’s Hospital2Home program helps older adults in the AAA7’s 10-county district transition from the hospital to their homes. The program gives eligible patients vouchers for services like personal care and home-delivered meals. To determine those who could benefit from the program, hospital discharge planners and/or social workers identify recently admitted patients who are age 60 or older, not currently on Medicaid, and have a high risk of being readmitted to the hospital. Currently, the AAA7 is working with six hospitals in the district with the Hospital2Home program including Adams County Regional Medical Center, Adena Pike Medical Center, Chillicothe VA Medical Center, Highland District Hospital, Huntington VA Medical Center and Southern Ohio Medical Center.
Provider partners who have worked with the Hospital2Home program to provide the services in the home include: Abbott Home Care Plus, LLC; Adams Brown Economic Opportunities, Inc.; Adams County Senior Citizens Council, Inc.; Alternative Home Care; B&B’s Catering; Brown County Senior Citizens Council; CAO of Scioto County, Inc.; Comfort Home Care; Community Action Committee of Pike County; Community Home Health Care; Dave and Brenda’s Catering; Family Senior Care, Inc.; Frontier Community Services; Gallia County Council on Aging; Hallmark Health Care; Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc.; Holzer Extra Care; Home Helpers; Jackson County Board on Aging, Inc.; Kendall Home Care, Inc.; Ohio Valley Home Health, Inc.; ResCare Health Care; Simply EZ of Columbus, Ltd.; and Vinton County Senior Citizens, Inc.
In Hospital2Home’s first year, over a three-month period, 89 percent of patients were not readmitted to the hospital and 80 percent reported that the services they received as a result of the Hospital2Home program helped their recovery process.
• Special Recognition by the Ohio Senior Health Insurance and Information Program: The Ohio Senior Health Insurance and Information Program (OSHIIP) made a surprise announcement and presented the Area Agency on Aging District 7 and AAA7 Benefits Specialist Kristy Bowman with their Partnership of the Year Award.
OSHIIP and the AAA7 partner on Medicare Check-Up events during open enrollment each year and work together on outreach and education for low income assistance for Medicare Part D and Medicare Savings Programs. In addition, Bowman was recognized for the daily outreach, education and one-on-one counseling she provides.
Rebecca Hayward of OSHIIP commented, “Kristy’s dedication to the OSHIIP mission and program is commendable. She goes above and beyond to make sure Medicare beneficiaries in the AAA7 district get all the benefits and resources they deserve through Medicare, Medicaid and the Part D Extra Help program.”
In 2017, the AAA7 was able to save individuals a combined total of $760,800 through special programs or drug plan comparisons.
• Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Associates: Ombudsman Associates were recognized for their volunteer work with visiting nursing homes on a regular basis to help lessen the isolation and loneliness many residents experience, and to provide an essential voice for residents, providing advocacy and assistance for those who have concerns about their care.
Volunteers recognized included: Wendy Bartholomew, Sharon Bell, Carol Carter, Sharon Hallam, Jeanette Hayburn, Sue Henson, Frances Marcum, Dena Morris, Edie Mullen, Deborah Neal, Donna Riley, Mary Ann Sainopulous, Bobbie Sampson and Sharon Stout.
The following AAA7 Ombudsman Associates received recognition from the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudman: 100-plus hours achieved were Sharon Hallam, Sharon Stout, Sharon Bell and Dena Morris. Jeannette Hayburn was recognized for five years of services as an Ombudsman Associate.
• Wellness Coach Volunteers: Wellness Coach Volunteers help others in their hometown or county discover ways to live with their chronic diseases and become empowered to take better care of themselves through classes and workshops that discuss caregiving, chronic disease, chronic pain, diabetes and falls management.
Volunteers recognized included: Angie Adams, Sharon Bell, Cher Bellar, Judy Bright, Libby Brisker, Teresa Carr, Etta Charlebois, Daniel Charlebois, Penny Crabtree, Don Davis, Lillian Elkins, Greg Ervin, Brittany Farley, Patty Fleming, Elizabeth Florea, Cindy Goodman, Mary Grote, Jacqueline Jones, Teresa Jones, Melissa Kimmel, Shelley Lyon, Doreenia Meddock, Terri Pearson, Patricia Pekar, April Porter, Dawn Richards, Ashley Salyers, Marti Sauer, Patty Snyder, Mary Stout and Donna Williams.
• Art Show and Essay/Poetry Contest Volunteers: The AAA7 appreciates the assistance of RSVP of the Ohio Valley, who helps provide volunteers to host gallery hours at the AAA7 Annual Senior Citizens Art Show that is held each spring.
Volunteers recognized included: Joan Arrowood, Shelia Arrowood, Jane Bragg, Dennis Crabtree, Penny Crabtree, Martha Detty-Foster, Diana Evans, Doris Evans, Hazel Fields, Joyce Haag, Teresa Hampton, Bonnie Harris, Carolee Lewis, Mary Maxson, Rushie McAllister, Annabelle Miller, Edie Mullen, Patricia Parsons, Lavon Shields, Irena Skaggs, Eileen Such and Cathy Wood.
Also recognized were winners at this year’s Art Show, including: Julia Rice of Jackson County – Victor Potts Best of Show Award in the Amateur Category; Eileen Lafferty of Adams County – Victor Potts Best of Show Award in the Professional Category; Patricia Parsons of Gallia County - Mary Peck Friend of Animals Award; Brenda K. Miller of Jackson County – People’s Choice Award; Diana J. Randolph of Gallia County for Best Overall Essay; and Charles A. Murray of Gallia County for Best Overall Poem.
Outstanding Seniors (As Selected by Each County Senior Center)
Adams County – Carolyn Work; Highland County – Gerri Pierson; Jackson County – Ancil Cross; Lawrence County (Ironton Senior Center) – John Crance and Gary Creger; Lawrence County (Sybene-Chesapeake Senior Center) – Senior Day Committee which includes Janice Bills, Bob and Betty Kiogima, Donna McClure, Carl Murdock, Billy and Mary Nance, Donna Plybon and Lorene Plybon; Pike County - Donnie and Betty Stroud; and Ross County – Geraldine Francis and Roger Moore.
The Area Agency on Aging District 7 was pleased to host another successful Appreciation Brunch to extend its thankfulness and appreciation to all the individuals and groups who make the district so special.
Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis in ten counties in Southern Ohio including Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.
Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an in-home assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.
The Agency was very pleased to have Ohio Department of Aging Director Beverly Laubert and staff as guests at the event, as well as Gallia County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Marianne Campbell, who was the featured guest speaker.
Campbell, who has been a volunteer at the Chamber for 16 years since her retirement from Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, has had a remarkable career in broadcasting and public relations, serving on several state and national broadcasting boards during her lifetime, including being the first woman elected to the Board of the National Association of Broadcasters. She spoke to the group about volunteerism.
Special awards that were presented by the Area Agency on Aging District 7 at the event to individuals or groups included:
• William A. Jenkins Award (Outstanding Contributor to Our Southern Ohio Aging Network): This year’s Area Agency on Aging District 7 William A. Jenkins Award was presented to Charles Harper of Lawrence County, a past Board Member and President of the Board of Trustees of the Area Agency on Aging District 7. The AAA7 presents the award annually to an outstanding contributor to the southern Ohio aging network. The award is named in memory of Jenkins, a native of Gallia County who helped build the aging network in southern Ohio through the Area Agency on Aging District 7.
Harper is retired from the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services, where he worked for 30 years holding a number of positions throughout that time. He retired in 2002 after having served as Social Services Administrator for 13 years. Harper also worked 15 years at the Ironton-Lawrence CAO Head Start Program as Project Manager.
An Ironton native, Harper has also served as chair of the Lawrence County Salvation Army Services Unit, chair of the Lawrence County United Health Foundation and was also a founding member of the Appalachian Family and Children First Council, where he served as chair several times. He served 15 years on the Area Agency on Aging District 7 Board of Trustees as a member, vice president and president.
In her presentation to Harper, Pamela Matura, Executive Director at the AAA7, acknowledged his years of service to not only the AAA7, but his many years of service to his community with his involvement in so many initiatives and groups that make our communities and district better.
Community Involvement Award: The Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) presented the “Community Involvement Award to the Brown County Seniors Alive Group.
The Brown County Seniors Alive group began in 1997 and is a volunteer coalition with representatives that include consumers and agencies or organizations who work with older adults. This includes 32 people from different county entities who help promote health and wellness for seniors in Brown County. Some of the entities include hospice, home care, the Alzheimer’s Association, nutrition professionals, nursing facilities, the Senior Center and the Area Agency on Aging District 7, just to name a few. The coalition’s goal is to enhance the quality of life by maintaining and prolonging the independence of older adults in Brown County.
The group meets monthly to share resources and network. The planning of activities for seniors in Brown County is always a focus – some include chair volleyball, exercise classes, diabetes education and support, physician seminars and Brown County Senior Citizens Day at the Brown County Fair.
Sue Lang, Director of the Brown County Senior Citizens Center, who heads up the group, shares that Brown County Seniors Alive is a wonderful group of people to work with – they all have the same goal of keeping people healthy and living independently.
The AAA7 applauds groups like Brown County Seniors Alive that help support the concept of positive aging by providing options to help keep seniors active and engaged.
• Wellness Champions: The Area Agency on Aging District 7 recognized three “Wellness Champions” from Lawrence County for their work with a local falls prevention event. Honored were Laura Brown, Mary Cogan and Stephanie Barnett.
Ten Million Steps to Prevent Falls is a statewide event to raise awareness of older adult falls and promote strategies to prevent them. The Ohio Department of Aging’s STEADY U Ohio initiative designed the event to be statewide and each year calls on community organizations, businesses and groups to hold local events to help add to the total number of steps for Ohio. Each local event logs the number of steps they achieve and the number is added to the statewide total. Last year, Ohio logged more than 56 million steps.
One of the 10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls events in the district, locally in Ironton, has gained support and enthusiasm from the local community and acknowledgement and recognition at the state level for achieving the exact picture of what the event was designed to do.
Brown, Cogan and Barnett have worked together to increase participation at the event over the past three years. Brown started the event with her vision in 2016 and garnered help from her friends Cogan and Barnett to make the event bigger and better each year. The event features a walking path to record steps, health fair, community representation, and in 2017, local high schools helped add to the walk total during their lunch hour. Officials at the state level recognized the hard work and success of the local event in Ironton.
John Ratliff, Chief of Communications from the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), has shared, “We have held Ironton’s event up to other communities as an example of exactly the kind of event we had in mind when we created 10 Million Steps.” In fact, in 2017, Lawrence County had recorded the most steps in the entire state. And over the three years holding the event, the City of Ironton has contributed more than 4.2 million steps, making it one of ODA’s biggest and most successful partners.
As a result of the success, ODA reached out to Brown and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 to pilot a new outreach program to engage elementary school children in the conversation of older adult falls prevention in February 2018. The campaign was called “Don’t Fall for Me, Valentine.” Students at local schools learned about falls risks and colored falls prevention-themed Valentine cards that were delivered to area seniors. Ironton was one of only two locations selected by the Ohio Department of Aging for this campaign, largely because of Brown’s leadership and support of the STEADY U initiative.
The vision of Brown and help from Cogan and Barnett has made the 10 Million Steps event bigger and better every year. The ladies are set for their fourth year and looking forward to the event Sept. 21 in Ironton at the Farmer’s Market. All are invited.
• Partnership Award: This year’s Partnership Award was presented to hospital and provider partners who assist the AAA7 with the Agency’s Hospital2Home program.
As the name indicates, the AAA7’s Hospital2Home program helps older adults in the AAA7’s 10-county district transition from the hospital to their homes. The program gives eligible patients vouchers for services like personal care and home-delivered meals. To determine those who could benefit from the program, hospital discharge planners and/or social workers identify recently admitted patients who are age 60 or older, not currently on Medicaid, and have a high risk of being readmitted to the hospital. Currently, the AAA7 is working with six hospitals in the district with the Hospital2Home program including Adams County Regional Medical Center, Adena Pike Medical Center, Chillicothe VA Medical Center, Highland District Hospital, Huntington VA Medical Center and Southern Ohio Medical Center.
Provider partners who have worked with the Hospital2Home program to provide the services in the home include: Abbott Home Care Plus, LLC; Adams Brown Economic Opportunities, Inc.; Adams County Senior Citizens Council, Inc.; Alternative Home Care; B&B’s Catering; Brown County Senior Citizens Council; CAO of Scioto County, Inc.; Comfort Home Care; Community Action Committee of Pike County; Community Home Health Care; Dave and Brenda’s Catering; Family Senior Care, Inc.; Frontier Community Services; Gallia County Council on Aging; Hallmark Health Care; Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc.; Holzer Extra Care; Home Helpers; Jackson County Board on Aging, Inc.; Kendall Home Care, Inc.; Ohio Valley Home Health, Inc.; ResCare Health Care; Simply EZ of Columbus, Ltd.; and Vinton County Senior Citizens, Inc.
In Hospital2Home’s first year, over a three-month period, 89 percent of patients were not readmitted to the hospital and 80 percent reported that the services they received as a result of the Hospital2Home program helped their recovery process.
• Special Recognition by the Ohio Senior Health Insurance and Information Program: The Ohio Senior Health Insurance and Information Program (OSHIIP) made a surprise announcement and presented the Area Agency on Aging District 7 and AAA7 Benefits Specialist Kristy Bowman with their Partnership of the Year Award.
OSHIIP and the AAA7 partner on Medicare Check-Up events during open enrollment each year and work together on outreach and education for low income assistance for Medicare Part D and Medicare Savings Programs. In addition, Bowman was recognized for the daily outreach, education and one-on-one counseling she provides.
Rebecca Hayward of OSHIIP commented, “Kristy’s dedication to the OSHIIP mission and program is commendable. She goes above and beyond to make sure Medicare beneficiaries in the AAA7 district get all the benefits and resources they deserve through Medicare, Medicaid and the Part D Extra Help program.”
In 2017, the AAA7 was able to save individuals a combined total of $760,800 through special programs or drug plan comparisons.
• Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Associates: Ombudsman Associates were recognized for their volunteer work with visiting nursing homes on a regular basis to help lessen the isolation and loneliness many residents experience, and to provide an essential voice for residents, providing advocacy and assistance for those who have concerns about their care.
Volunteers recognized included: Wendy Bartholomew, Sharon Bell, Carol Carter, Sharon Hallam, Jeanette Hayburn, Sue Henson, Frances Marcum, Dena Morris, Edie Mullen, Deborah Neal, Donna Riley, Mary Ann Sainopulous, Bobbie Sampson and Sharon Stout.
The following AAA7 Ombudsman Associates received recognition from the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudman: 100-plus hours achieved were Sharon Hallam, Sharon Stout, Sharon Bell and Dena Morris. Jeannette Hayburn was recognized for five years of services as an Ombudsman Associate.
• Wellness Coach Volunteers: Wellness Coach Volunteers help others in their hometown or county discover ways to live with their chronic diseases and become empowered to take better care of themselves through classes and workshops that discuss caregiving, chronic disease, chronic pain, diabetes and falls management.
Volunteers recognized included: Angie Adams, Sharon Bell, Cher Bellar, Judy Bright, Libby Brisker, Teresa Carr, Etta Charlebois, Daniel Charlebois, Penny Crabtree, Don Davis, Lillian Elkins, Greg Ervin, Brittany Farley, Patty Fleming, Elizabeth Florea, Cindy Goodman, Mary Grote, Jacqueline Jones, Teresa Jones, Melissa Kimmel, Shelley Lyon, Doreenia Meddock, Terri Pearson, Patricia Pekar, April Porter, Dawn Richards, Ashley Salyers, Marti Sauer, Patty Snyder, Mary Stout and Donna Williams.
• Art Show and Essay/Poetry Contest Volunteers: The AAA7 appreciates the assistance of RSVP of the Ohio Valley, who helps provide volunteers to host gallery hours at the AAA7 Annual Senior Citizens Art Show that is held each spring.
Volunteers recognized included: Joan Arrowood, Shelia Arrowood, Jane Bragg, Dennis Crabtree, Penny Crabtree, Martha Detty-Foster, Diana Evans, Doris Evans, Hazel Fields, Joyce Haag, Teresa Hampton, Bonnie Harris, Carolee Lewis, Mary Maxson, Rushie McAllister, Annabelle Miller, Edie Mullen, Patricia Parsons, Lavon Shields, Irena Skaggs, Eileen Such and Cathy Wood.
Also recognized were winners at this year’s Art Show, including: Julia Rice of Jackson County – Victor Potts Best of Show Award in the Amateur Category; Eileen Lafferty of Adams County – Victor Potts Best of Show Award in the Professional Category; Patricia Parsons of Gallia County - Mary Peck Friend of Animals Award; Brenda K. Miller of Jackson County – People’s Choice Award; Diana J. Randolph of Gallia County for Best Overall Essay; and Charles A. Murray of Gallia County for Best Overall Poem.
Outstanding Seniors (As Selected by Each County Senior Center)
Adams County – Carolyn Work; Highland County – Gerri Pierson; Jackson County – Ancil Cross; Lawrence County (Ironton Senior Center) – John Crance and Gary Creger; Lawrence County (Sybene-Chesapeake Senior Center) – Senior Day Committee which includes Janice Bills, Bob and Betty Kiogima, Donna McClure, Carl Murdock, Billy and Mary Nance, Donna Plybon and Lorene Plybon; Pike County - Donnie and Betty Stroud; and Ross County – Geraldine Francis and Roger Moore.
The Area Agency on Aging District 7 was pleased to host another successful Appreciation Brunch to extend its thankfulness and appreciation to all the individuals and groups who make the district so special.
Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis in ten counties in Southern Ohio including Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.
Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an in-home assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.