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Senior services report: 47,111 meals delivered in 2024; transit rides, APS referrals and program changes reviewed
Summary
Medina County senior services reported 47,111 meals delivered in 2024, 15,901 subsidized transit rides and 504 adult protective services referrals (84 opened). Staff described program coverage across the county, a proposed bathroom renovation at the senior center, removal of a dedicated bus stop, and upcoming training and events.
Senior services staff reported program statistics for 2024 and outlined several operational changes during the Feb. 7 Medina County commissioners meeting.
Laura, speaking for senior services, said the department delivered 47,111 meals in 2024 in their regular grant-funded programs — the highest in recent regular grant years, she said. Congregate meals totaled 8,189 (including a Wadsworth restaurant voucher program), and the department served 362 home-delivery recipients and 228 congregate-meal clients. Transit services included 15,901 subsidized rides; Laura said the cost to senior services for those rides was $196,906.71 and the transfer (provider) cost was $145,488.78. The department also recorded 545 canceled rides in 2024, which are paid per the contract and identified as a monitoring point.
On adult protective services, staff received 504 referrals and opened 84 cases — about 37% of referrals — with an active staffing level equivalent to “2 and a half” full-time positions, Laura said.
Laura said staff and county administration (including Matt Springer and Steven Bastian) met with Envelope Consulting on plans to renovate senior-center bathrooms in Medina and that the county is reviewing the consultant’s proposal and funding available. The department also removed a dedicated bus stop in front of the human services center after more than a year of inconsistent use and complaints about perceived preferential pick-ups; staff said the stop’s removal followed operational and equity concerns and that they will study other stop locations where fixed stops might be useful.
As part of increased security and customer service, staff will offer verbal de-escalation training provided by sheriff’s deputies; training sessions are scheduled for Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 and county staff invited other agencies to attend. Tax-assistance appointments for seniors were filled quickly: staff scheduled 230 appointments in about 12 work hours. Laura also listed upcoming senior events including a honey-and-bee program on Friday the 7th, a Midwinter Warm-up on Monday the 10th, a Valentine’s party on the 14th, and a tea party Feb. 27 in Brunswick. She also reminded the board of a county home fundraiser that evening.
The presentation emphasized countywide geographic reach: staff reported touching nearly every township, municipality and village in Medina County with at least one program, with small participation numbers noted for sparsely populated places.
