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Mahoning senior-services panel recommends contract awards
YOUNGSTown
As Mahoning County prepares for services to its older residents to begin July 1 under a new tax levy, the county’s five-member senior-services advisory committee recommended the award of 18-month contracts with providers to begin on that date.
Among the larger recommendations made in the committee’s Wednesday meeting were $187,500 for guardianship services to be provided by Compass Family and Community Services, and $300,000 for the Easter Seal Society to provide frozen home-delivered meals.
The panel also recommended $97,500 for complaint investigations by the long-term care ombudsman and $75,000 for farmers’ market coupons for purchase of fresh, locally grown produce, both to be handled by the Niles-based Area Agency on Aging 11.
The area agency’s board will make the final decision on the awards.
A host of services, including home-delivered meals, recreation, wellness programs and guardianship services, will be provided to county residents, 60 and older, under the new 1-mill, five-year real-estate tax levy county voters approved in March 2016.
The levy will generate about $4.1 million in annual revenue.
Generation of the money started with this year’s first-half tax collection.
The area agency will establish an office on the second floor of the Mahoning County Children Services Building, 222 W. Federal St., to administer senior citizens services here, and the agency expects to begin assessing individuals for service in June.
County residents seeking services may call the area agency at 330-505-2300 and ask for the community resources department.
Most services under the levy will be provided without charge to any county resident, 60 or older, needing the service, regardless of income or assets, but fees may be charged for some services, such as home modifications.
Jim DeCenso, an advisory committee member, said he was concerned the area agency could run out of money to provide services.
Anthony Cario, the area agency’s chief operating officer, replied that case managers would individually evaluate needs and arrange only needed services.
“This is case managed by a licensed professional who’s going to do it based on need, not based on want,” Cario explained.