Friday, August 29, 2003

Senior services receives grant

Fulton County has received a $2.6 million grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission to continue providing senior citizen services next year.

The Board of Commissioners voted August 20 to accept the $2,661,032, and approve matching funds of $218,773 earmarked for that purpose in the Human Services Department's Office of Aging budget.

Since 1991, the County's Office of Aging has used the annual funding to provide nine services for residents age 60 and older, as required by the Older Americans Act. The services, designed to help seniors to remain independent and productive as long as possible, are:

Transportation Non-emergency rides for qualified seniors to and from County senior centers, medical appointments and group activities such as shopping;

Information and Assistance Staffing of a telephone answer line, 404-730-6000, for questions about available senior services;

In-Home Care Light housekeeping, cooking and personal care for homebound seniors, plus caregiver respite;

Case Management Assessments and coordination to help seniors access needed services;

Volunteer Recruitment and training of persons to assist seniors;

Adult Day Care Supervision and activities for frail and dependent seniors;

Congregate Meals Nutritional lunches served Monday through Fridays, in the County's 15 neighborhood senior centers;

Home-Delivered Meals "Meals on Wheels" to the frail and homebound; and

Senior Employment Counseling, training, referrals for paid jobs.

As the ARC's Designated Senior Services Provider, Fulton County Government coordinates and implements this responsibility through the County's Office of Aging. Staff members operate four senior multipurpose facilities directly, and oversee management of 15 neighborhood senior centers.

The Older Americans Act is administered by the Administration on Aging, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information, call the Fulton County Office of Aging at 404-730-6000.