Northwest Senior and Disability Services outlines local Medicaid, SNAP and senior-support programs to Clatsop County advisory group

Suzanne Bjarnsen, program manager for Northwest Senior and Disability Services, told the Clatsop County advisory group that her agency is the local Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) and serves five Oregon counties, including Clatsop.

Bjarnsen said the agency helps residents apply for Medicaid long-term care, Medicare savings programs and SNAP, connects callers to local services, runs senior meal sites and provides caregiver supports. “We’re a local intergovernment agency … a one-stop shopping for when people have resource information they need,” she said.

Why it matters: Northwest Senior and Disability Services is a primary local access point for older adults and people with disabilities seeking long-term care and benefits. Its eligibility work and community programs affect care placement, household budgets and food access for county residents who are older or disabled.

The agency’s services and…