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Area Agency on Aging tells commissioners county funding helps extend services as demand grows
Summary
The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging reported steady congregate meal use, nearly 500 home-delivery clients in Crawford County and waiting lists for some in-home services, and asked the county to remember its role in drawing down federal Older Americans Act funds.
Kathy Brennan, executive director of the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, told the Crawford County Commission that the agency supports people 60 and older and their caregivers and depends on county funding to draw down federal dollars.
Brennan said the agency runs congregate meal sites in Girard and Pittsburg and that in February those two sites served roughly 60 people per day and “touched a hundred and 1 people” at the nutrition sites during the month. She said the agency delivers meals to about 490 people in Crawford County.
Brennan said the agency is funded by the Older Americans Act, state funds and county contributions and that “every dollar you give to us multiplies and we provide assistance in the home.” She said county funding helps the agency secure federal funds and provide in-home services including personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, small home modifications and equipment such as handrails and bathroom aids.
The agency reported active waiting lists for in‑home assistance and home-delivered meals; Brennan said the agency has 53 people currently receiving Senior Care Act or Older Americans Act services in the home. She said the agency has worked to eliminate caregiver service waiting lists and is asking caregivers to consider attending an event on May 2.
Brennan described additional programs available locally: a caregiver support group in Pittsburg led by KU dementia/Alzheimer services, SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling of Kansas) free Medicare counseling (noting help with Part D choices and fraud prevention), and a new state-managed program the speaker referred to as "Bridal," which provides $1,000 of funding for dementia caregivers for one year and which the agency hopes will become more flexible for items such as incontinence supplies and door alarms.
Brennan said most direct services are donation-based and offered on a sliding scale for state-funded components. She urged commissioners to consider county funds as a leverage point that enables larger federal draws and service delivery.
The agency invited commissioners to a listening session at Homer Cole at noon and to an open house May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon.
