Area Agency on Aging outlines Older Americans Month activities, program volumes and waiting lists

Olivia, a representative of the Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging, briefed the commissioners on Older Americans Month activities and recent service statistics for county senior programs.

The presentation matters because the numbers and program details indicate service demand, staffing pressures and benefit access for older residents across Northumberland County.

Olivia said the federal Older Americans Month observance (established in 1963) has a 2025 theme of “Flip the Script on Aging.” She described planned center‑level events: a coal‑region sock hop, a Mount Carmel picnic at the marina, a joint Herndon–Sunbury celebration at the Herndon Center, and a Milton Center bingo event on May 15. The agency posts a calendar of events on its Facebook page.

The agency has expanded intergenerational programming with local vocational‑technical students; Olivia said culinary students and chefs have prepared meals at several centers since before the COVID era and that turnout was strong. She also described the farmers‑market voucher program: the agency will issue five $5 checks (total $25) to eligible older adults to spend on Pennsylvania‑grown produce at participating local markets. Applications are available on the agency Facebook page, on the county website, by email request (info@ncaging.org) or by phone (495‑2395).

On services, Olivia gave figures for the county fiscal year beginning July 1 through the most recent reporting month (March). Key figures she provided: 59 older adults received 9,552 personal care hours through the options program; roughly 40 people remain on a waiting list because contracted providers lack staff. The home‑delivered meals program serves 487 older adults and has delivered 77,959 meals since July 1; participants receive seven frozen meals per week prescribed by each participant’s primary care physician. The agency reported providing 2,447 personal emergency response system (PERS) units since July 1 and that 349 older adults currently have a PERS unit. The caregiver support reimbursement program has 82 participants, and the grandparent program has 45 older adults raising grandchildren.

Olivia reported 638 protective‑services reports since July 1; 82 of those reports were assessed as “no need,” 514 were investigated, and 42 reports were forwarded to another entity for investigation (agency staff noted they are assisting Schuylkill County with some investigations because of that county’s staffing shortages). She said the county operates five adult community centers; congregate meals served 304 older adults with 9,460 meals eaten at centers, and 488 older adults visited centers 8,330 times since last July.

Olivia closed with contact and outreach information and urged residents who need help to call the agency or consult its Facebook page and county website.

Commissioners thanked Olivia and noted the value of the agency’s services.