(Rio Grande) -- The local Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) in Ohio was honored recently by the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) through their “Stories from the Field” contest.
The AAA7 was named a Second Place winner in the contest and was therefore invited to present at NASUAD’s national convention that was recently held in Baltimore, Maryland.
The “Stories from the Field” contest collects examples of business strategies used by disability community‐based organizations to sustain or grow their community‐based business. The AAA7 has historically served individuals over the age of 60 living with a disability in southern Ohio.
After a bidding process in 2014, the AAA7 became a subcontractor for CareSource, a managed care company, to help with care management services for the Ohio Home Care Waiver Program that provides home and community‐based services to those under the age of 60 living at home with a disability.
The opportunity has allowed the AAA7 to branch out to more populations, now including those from birth to age 59, as well as expanded geographic reach with three additional counties to provide these specific services in, for a total of 13.
Debbie Gulley, RN, Director of Long‐Term Care Programs at the AAA7, presented at NASUAD’s national conference about the opportunities presented through the partnership. In addition, Gulley will be participating in an upcoming webinar to discuss the same topic.
The webinar, “It’s Never Too Late to Change: How One Organization Embraced Opportunity”, will take place on Wednesday, October 31st from 12:30 pm until 1:30 pm. Registration is required. More information is available at http://nasuad.org/community‐opportunities/events
“We were honored to participate in the Stories from the Field contest,” commented Gulley. “AAA7 expanded our mission to include serving individuals of all ages several years ago. Our work with Caresource was a chance to build on the strengths and resources we employ during our work with seniors. Through the contest, we hoped to share insights and give encouragement to other community‐based organizations seeking to try new business opportunities.”
Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non‐discriminatory basis in ten counties in Southern Ohio including Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay.
The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long‐term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.
Those interested in learning more can call toll‐free at 1‐800‐582‐7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a specially‐trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs.
The Agency also offers an in‐home assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available at www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e‐mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.