Area Agency on Aging gets new name, new home

Staff report

NILES

The Area Agency on Aging 11 Inc. is changing its name to Direction Home of Eastern Ohio as part of its ongoing transition.

The name change will coincide with the company’s move from Niles to Austintown in the former ITT building, 1030 N. Meridian Road, effective this spring

The company will remain one of 12 state area agencies on aging that falls under the administration of the Ohio Department of Aging and federal programming, said agency officials.

The name, Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, is in line with the agency’s goal of providing choices to people to live in a place they want to call home. Area Agency on Aging 11 has expanded services, programming and staff over the past year.

“Due to our expansion beyond aging-only services, more than 25 percent of our business now deals with people under 60,” said Chief Executive Officer Joe Rossi. “We want to continue to grow our product line and incorporate more private contracts to supplement our state and federal base.”

Though the agency maintains its commitment and programs for aging services, it also offers services to people under 60 with a disability.

Some of these programs include Ohio Homecare Waiver, transition coordination for people being discharged from hospitals, care coordination with managed care organizations, healthy lifestyle programs, advocacy and senior rights through the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, and crisis intervention coordination with Mahoning County social-service agencies.

“After opening in 1975, the agency grew to 13 employees by 1984. Today we have 137 employees with 17 programs. As we continue our transition with a new location and new name, we hope to better serve our communities and increase our impact on the local economy,” Rossi said.

The majority of the agency’s employees are licensed social workers and nurses who provide case management and service coordination for in-home services.

The agency also administers the Mahoning County Senior Levy. The agency’s overall budget in 2018 was more than $25 million.

Besides Medicaid programs, the federal programs under the Older Americans Act and levy services provide services for people 60 and older with no income eligibility required. The company provides resources on aging and disabilities.

The contact numbers for services will remain the same: 330-505-2300, 800-686-7367 and the ombudsman line is 800-589-5826. Direction Home of Eastern Ohio will continue to serve Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.