Allegany County committee approves multiple aging-services contracts, applies for elder-abuse mini grant

The Allegany County Human Services Committee voted Thursday to approve a package of contracts and site leases supporting local aging services, and to seek a community mini grant for elder-abuse outreach.

Anita Masson, director of the Office for the Aging, told the committee the department will standardize meal vouchers across Go & Dine vendors and is seeking permission to enter into service agreements and leases for 2025. “If you want to look at last year at this time…we had 433 hours of insurance counseling last year. This year, we had 994 hours of insurance counseling with the same number of staff doing insurance counseling,” Masson said, reporting that insurance‑counseling hours more than doubled during open‑enrollment season.

Committee members approved go‑and‑dine vendor agreements with ACES Country Cupboard, Donnie Jean’s (Belmont), Copper Keg (Cuba) and TC’s Diner (Friendship) at a standardized rate of $13 per redeemed voucher, which Masson said helps conform menus to state dietary regulations.

The committee approved consumer‑directed fiscal intermediary contracts and home‑care provider rates. The committee authorized an agreement with AIM Independent Living Center as a fiscal intermediary at $28.00 per hour (an increase of $1.07 from the prior year); that vote recorded one abstention. Trusted Choice Home Care was approved as a second fiscal intermediary at $27.50 per hour. Home and Health Services was approved for home‑care services at $30.30 per hour with nursing supervisory visits at $130 per visit. Jan & Bev’s Home Care was approved at $32 per hour.

Masson also presented congregate luncheon site leases for multiple locations (Alfred Union United Church, Herbert D. Elong American Legion in Belmont, Bolivar Fire Department, Cane‑Shoraga/Canisoga Fire Company, Cuba Fire Department, William P. Brooks Hose Company in Fillmore, Town of Friendship site, Grace United Church in Wellsville, and Board of Fire Commissioners of Independence for Whitesville). Most locations carried the same daily fees as 2024; Wellsville’s Grace United Church rate increased by $1 to $12 per use.

The committee unanimously approved continuing the Center for Elder Law & Justice contract to provide legal services for residents aged 60 and older at $75 per hour. Masson also received permission to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the county’s personal emergency response system (PERS) contract; she said vendors typically include national firms and some out‑of‑area providers and that devices are wearable pendants or watches with GPS options.

On grants, the Office for the Aging received committee permission to apply for the Lifespan of Greater Rochester Elder Abuse Education and Outreach Program Community Mini Grant for $6,000 (the grant program’s maximum is $8,000). Masson said funds would support education and outreach to increase awareness, recognition and reporting of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. The committee voted to authorize the application.

Votes at a glance - Go & Dine vendor agreements (ACES Country Cupboard; Donnie Jean’s; Copper Keg; TC’s Diner): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (committee voice vote: aye; carried). - AIM Independent Living Center (consumer‑directed fiscal intermediary) at $28.00/hour: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved with one abstention (tally: yes 4, abstain 1). - Trusted Choice Home Care (fiscal intermediary) at $27.50/hour: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Home and Health Services (home care) at $30.30/hour; nursing supervision $130/visit: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Jan & Bev’s Home Care at $32/hour: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Congregate luncheon site leases (multiple locations): approved as presented (voice vote: aye; carried). - Center for Elder Law & Justice legal services at $75/hour: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Authorization to issue an RFP for PERS: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Authorization to apply for Lifespan Elder Abuse Education & Outreach Community Mini Grant ($6,000 requested): approved (voice vote: aye; carried).

Masson said all contract increases and new arrangements are budgeted in the department’s 2025 budget. Several committee members thanked the hosts of congregate sites for donating space or charging modest fees. The committee did not adopt new policy changes in this session; the actions were approvals of contracts, leases and grant applications that Masson said will be incorporated into the 2025 budget if awards/agreements are finalized.

The committee’s next steps include finalizing contract documents, returning signed agreements to the clerk’s office, issuing the PERS RFP and, if awarded, adding grant revenue and expenditures for the elder‑abuse mini grant to the 2025 budget.