Northampton County aging services seeks two supervisory upgrades to reduce protective-services caseloads

Northampton County’s Area Agency on Aging told the personnel committee on Feb. 18 that it is seeking two position upgrades within aging to address sharply higher protective-services workloads.

Margie Swandoski, who identified herself to the committee, said reports of need have risen from 723 in 2018 to 1,907 in 2025 and that state guidance prefers protective-services caseworkers have no more than 30 cases. "Currently, our veteran staff — 2 of our veteran staff — 1 has 84, 1 has 76," Swandoski said, noting the imbalance between experienced workers and newer staff who have lower caseloads. She asked that a vacant Aging Care Manager 2 position be upgraded to Aging Care Manager 3 and that an Aging Care Management Supervisor 2 be upgraded to a Supervisor 3 to formalize the supervisory duties the employee already performs.

Swandoski said the requested upgrades would be financed from the county’s aging block grant and would not require additional county general-fund dollars. She also said she has secured verbal agreement from the union business agent (PSSU) and that only minor language remains to be finalized in writing. Committee members thanked the presenter and an unidentified member moved to advance the personnel request to the next step; the committee acknowledged the motion.

The request now goes to full council for further review and any final personnel or budget approvals.