Program areas at COA
Community-based In-home Services:Council on Aging's (COA) home and community-based services make it possible for frail older adults and individuals with disabilities to remain independent in their homes and avoid unnecessary hospitalization and nursing home placement. Services also support family caregivers who are struggling to balance competing responsibilities including childrearing and careers. Council on Aging's core service area includes Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties.In-home care is preferred by more than 90 percent of older adults, according to surveys by AARP and other organizations. In addition, the cost for in-home care is a fraction of the cost of care in a nursing home. Because taxpayers fund most nursing home care (via Medicaid), in-home care alternatives are a valuable and compassionate way to save public funds.In-home care services include home-delivered meals; transportation to medical and other appointments; assistance with housekeeping and personal care (bathing and grooming); medical equipment and assistive devices; home modification; and more.
Each enrolled individual has a care manager professional who assesses, develops care plans, implements, monitors and coordinates a range of services and supports to help individuals remain safe, healthy and independent. The care manager's role is to ensure individuals receive the right services, in the rights amounts, at the right times. In FFY 2022, Council on Aging served more than 26,300 individuals in our multi-county region with home and community-based services. Individuals were served through more than a dozen programs, including Ohio Medicaid waiver programs and county tax levy programs, as well as programs designed to help individuals safely transition from hospitals and institutions, back to independent living environments. Collectively, these individuals received more than 1.3 million hours of in-home, supportive services.
Community-based and Senior Center Services:These include a range of services designed to help older adults remain healthy, active and connected to their communities. Additional services provide legal assistance to low-income older adults and protect the rights of those receiving long-term care services in nursing homes and other settings. Services are provided by senior centers and other community organizations that have contracts with Council on Aging. One of the most important services in this category is transportation. In FFY 2022, COA provided 147,685 trips for more than 4,000 individuals within our five-county region. Most trips are for medical appointments, but transportation for shopping, other errands and recreation is also provided. Funding for transportation falls far short of community need. Meals are another important service in this category. More than 9,000 individuals received approximately 1.6 million meals in congregate settings or delivered to their homes. Additional community-based services in FFY 2022 included caregiver support and wellness programs for 2,490 individuals (including people caring for individuals with Alzheimer's); legal assistance for 1,622 older adults; ombudsman representation for 10,749 individuals in nursing homes and receiving in-home care; and supportive services for 446 individuals.
Information, Referral and Assessment:As the Area Agency on Aging for five counties in southwestern Ohio, we are a central source of information and the place where many people make their first call when seeking help or resources. Our Aging and Disability Resource Center, or our call center, serves as a "front door" to services and unbiased information for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, professionals, civic and community leaders. We responded to more than 58,300 requests for information and referral in FFY 2022.Our call center is staffed with information and referral specialists and can be reached Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-252-0155 or online any time at www.help4seniors.org. The website features live chat functionality, comprehensive searchable housing and resource databases, and referral forms.