The senior population is growing in every township, village and city in Geauga County. The total senior population is approaching 24,500, with approximately 10,000 seniors accessing services and programs through the Geauga Department on Aging (GDA). The GDA operates on an annual budget of $3.2 million, providing over 30 programs and services. The five Senior Centers are managed by a staff of 34 people and over 1,500 volunteers.
The Geauga Department on Aging offers Geauga’s seniors programming and services to encourage wellness, safety, and independence. This year their focus has been centered on health and wellness with Geauga’s seniors, including enhancing meals with healthful selections.
The GDA has been able to provide a host of services to local seniors through volunteering, advocacy, and/or financial support from the community for which they are very grateful.
For those who aren’t familiar with all the programming that GDA makes available to seniors, here is an impressive list including the number of folks they served in each of these areas in 2013. The responsible use of funds they receive combined with the amazing dedication of their volunteers has allowed them to enrich the lives of thousands of elderly residents. Your ongoing support is deeply appreciated!
Adult Day Services
The Adult Day Service Program provides enrichment activities to seniors who are in need of a caring, positive and structured environment during the day due to memory loss, cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s Disease. Services are available Monday through Friday and transportation is available.
Total Seniors Served: 65
Care Management
The Care Management Program helps seniors with complex concerns to solve problems, understand resources, and make connections to services. The program is centered on assisting seniors to stay independent or in the least restrictive setting possible. A licensed social worker provides assistance on an ongoing basis to seniors and their families or support systems.
Total Seniors Served: 237
The Chore and Home Safety
The Chore and Home Safety Program helps seniors to stay in their homes by assisting with home safety issues, fire prevention, and/or ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) adaptations. Contractors and GDA staff provide home safety services such as plumbing, heating/cooling, electrical, and carpentry work. Seasonal volunteer workers provide routine home maintenance such as window washing, leaf raking, hedge trimming, and limited yard maintenance.
Total Seniors Served: 954
Congregate Meals
The Congregate Meal Program provides seniors with a nutritionally balanced lunch up to five days a week at our Senior Center sites. These meals provide 1/3 of a senior’s daily nutritional needs. Diabetic and low sodium meals are available upon request.
Total Seniors Served: 745 / Meals Served: 19,078
Escort
The Escort Program provides safe, reliable transportation to and from out-of-county medical appointments. GDA Drivers maintain flexible schedules to meet seniors’ appointment needs.
Total Seniors Served: 260
Food and Beverage
The Food and Beverage Program provides freshly baked goods, seasonal fruit, coffee, tea and juice to seniors who attend the Senior Centers.
Total Seniors Served: 452
Home Delivered Meals
The Home Delivered Meals Program provides homebound seniors a nutritionally balanced lunch and a friendly volunteer for a face to face visit up to five days a week. While the meals provide 1/3 of a senior’s daily nutritional needs, the face to face visit provides socialization to seniors and peace of mind to caregivers.
Total Seniors Served: 374 / Meals Delivered: 46,906
Homemaker and Personal Care
The Homemaker and Personal Care program enables seniors to achieve optimal functioning with activity of daily living skills, as well as to maintain a clean, safe, and healthy environment. Services are provided by homecare contractors in the senior’s private residence.
Total Seniors Served: 256
Senior Center Programming
The GDA has 5 Senior Centers which offer Geauga County seniors programming that includes education, creative expressive activities, exercise and wellness, cognitive stimulation and trips. Senior Centers are located in Chardon, Middlefield, Chesterland, Chagrin Falls Park and Thompson.
Total Seniors Served: 2,210
Senior Connections
Senior Connections provides isolated or homebound seniors a simple, social, sanguine link to a volunteer via telephone and on occasion, home visits or cards in the mail. Volunteers call once a week, and with help from GDA staff, can provide connections to community resources.
Total Seniors Served: 64
Senior Farm Market
The Senior Farm Market Program (Nutritional) identifies seniors who are nutritionally at risk. These seniors are offered the opportunity to participate in the Senior Farm Market Program, which provides vouchers for fresh produce at local farm markets during the summer and fall.
Total Seniors Served: 243
Support Services
GDA staff provides support services to seniors via telephone or in person in effort to connect seniors to resources and services to meet their needs. Often, staff make calls on the senior’s behalf or even assist with completing applications for local resources.
Total Seniors Served: 4,082
Transportation
The Transportation Program provides safe, reliable transportation to and from our Senior Centers. Seniors can receive transportation at no cost two days a week to the Senior Center closest to their residence, as well as one day a week to a Senior Center of their choice.
Total Seniors Served: 217
Vouchers
The Transportation Voucher Program (Title XX) provides two different types of bus passes for seniors: one for doctor appointments and/or grocery stores within Geauga County, and another for additional transportation to Senior Center sites. Eligible seniors are those who are within low income guidelines. The renewable voucher is valid for ten one-way trips with Geauga Transit.
Total Seniors Served: 75
Other important services the department provides includes community outreach, counseling, legal assistance, donated medical equipment program, senior adult assessment, senior news, health & wellness, and a volunteer program.
If you have an interest in joining their friendly volunteer staff or learning more about other ways you can get involved to support the Geauga Department on Aging, please contact them at 440-279-2130, visit them at 12555 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, Ohio 44024, or connect through their website.
