Older Adults

The Area Office on Aging helps those age 60 and over, their family caregivers as well as some younger persons with disabilities receive the care they need to help them remain as independent as possible in the following ways:

Adult Day Care

Adult Day Care service centers provide a coordinated program of professional and compassionate services for older adults in a community-based group setting. Services are designed to provide social and some health services to adults who need supervised care in a safe place outside the home during the day, so family caregivers can get a temporary break from the demanding responsibilities of caregiving.

Assisted Living Waiver Program

The Assisted Living Waiver Program helps bridge the gap between an older adult living in their own home independently and living in a nursing home, providing another cost-effective option for long-term care. The Assisted Living Waiver Program helps eligible persons receive services in an assisted living facilities. The consumer pays monthly room and board and the waiver pays for needed services to assist consumers.

To be eligible for the Assisted Living Waiver Program, the person must be:

• 21 years of age or over
• Qualify for Medicaid under waiver criteria
• Monthly income criteria is established annually by Medicaid (possible co-pays for services may apply)
• Requires care with at least two activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming or mobility or needs 24-hour supervision due to dementia.

Caregiver Support Program

Families, not social service agencies, nursing homes or government programs, are the main providers of long-term care for older persons in Northwestern Ohio. The National Family Caregiver Support Program, implemented as a part of the Older Americans Act of 2000 recognizes the monumental role caregivers play in caring for older family members. Under this program five basic services are available: information to caregivers about available services; assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services; counseling, support groups, and caregiver training; respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities; and supplemental services, to complement the care provided by family caregivers.

Connecting with Services

The Area Office on Aging serves as a single entry point into the long-term supports and services system for older adults and people with disabilities by connecting them with the information and services they need to live quality independent lives and maximize their independence.

Consultation with a Social Worker or a Nurse

Long-Term Care Consultations are provided by the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio free of charge to consumers and focus on planning for services that may need be needed to remain as independent as possible.

Dining Site Meals and Home-Delivered Meals

Lunch is on us. A dining site meal is the centerpiece of services provided at senior centers where older adults can congregate to eat and fulfill many o f their social, physical, emotional and intellectual needs.

Our meal delivery program offers tasty, home-made, balanced meals that provide one-third of the daily required nutrients, delivered directly to the homes of older adults whose mobility is limited. There's no place like home to enjoy the smallest of pleasures of life like a meal being brought right to the door.

Grandparents and Relatives Raising Children

The Kinship Navigator Program is designed to provide information and resources to assist grandparents and other relatives who are raising children in their extended family. Many of the children have behavior and learning disabilities, which can be a daily challenge to the Caregiver. The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio connects grandparents and relatives raising children to information and services in our community, including education programs, financial assistance, health care for the children, and more.

Housing Programs

These programs deal with housing issues for older adults, including home repair and locations of housing options for older citizens.

Low-Income Housing for Older Adults – The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio sponsors three low-income apartment complexes for older adults: Island Parkway Manor, located in Defiance, Ohio; Riverview Terrace, located in Napoleon, Ohio; and Westhaven Apartments, located in North Baltimore, Ohio.

Residential State Supplement – The Residential State Program is a state-funded program which provides a cash supplement to low-income, aged, blind, or disabled adults who have increased needs for assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing, but do not require nursing home care. This program is provided through the Ohio Department of Aging and provides assessment and case management. To be eligible for this program, one must live in or move into one of the following types of licensed facilities: Adult Family Home, Adult Group Home, Adult Residential Care Facility, or a certified Adult Foster Home.

Adult Foster Home Program – The Adult Foster Home Program, funded through the Ohio Department of Aging, is administered by the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio. This program allows older, dependent adults to remain in the community in a safe and supervised environment.

Housing Smarts Resource Guide –

Housing Smarts is a comprehensive guide that was developed primarily to assist in finding suitable housing for seniors. In addition to assessing housing resources, Housing Smarts may be a useful resource for planning purposes.

Minor Home Repair Program – The Minor Home Repair Program is a state-funded program through the Ohio Department of Aging for minor home repairs and modifications for eligible older adults (age 60+).

In-Home Care Programs

The Area Office on Aging's In-Home Care Program for frail, low-income older adults allow the older adult to live in their own home by providing home-delivered meals, a home health aide to help with bathing and dressing, minor home modification, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, home medical equipment and supplies, adult day services, transportation and more.

PASSPORT Program – The PASSPORT Program can help with home-delivered meals, bathing, dressing, housekeeping, transportation, emergency response systems, adult day services, equipment and more. PASSPORT also has consumer-directed service options that empower persons 60 years of age and over to be employers of record and hire their own service providers (including friends, neighbors and some relatives) to provide services such as bathing, dressing, housekeeping, meal preparation and others.

To be eligible for PASSPORT, the person must be:

• At least 60 years of age
• Permanently residing in a non-institutional setting (i.e., not in a nursing home or assisted living)
• Qualify for Medicaid under waiver criteria.
• Monthly income maximum is established annually by Medicaid (possible co-pay for services may apply)
• Combined resource maximum of $2,000 or less in savings, checking, etc. (1 car and home are exempt if senior is living in the home)
• Need for hands on assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility and/or medication assistance)

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for the rights of people who receive long-term care services in nursing homes, adult care facilities, or through in-home care programs. Ombudsman advocates respond to complaints made by or on behalf of the resident of Northwestern Ohio's long-term care facilities.

Nursing Home Transition

The Area Office on Aging work with older adults who were placed in a nursing home, but no longer want or need to be there by helping them transition back home.

Nutrition & Wellness Programs

The goal of Nutrition Programs is to provide nutritionally balanced meals to those who are 60 years of age or older.

Dining Site Meals – For those who are 60 years of age or older and are able to leave their homes, there are over 57 dining sites in The Area Office on Aging’s ten-county service area. The dining sites are a place for older adults to socialize and receive a hot noon-time meal on a donation basis. Fun, exciting and up-to-date nutrition education is provided at the dining sites. Transportation is available to most dining sites. Also, evening and weekend meals may be provided at some sites.

Home Delivered Meals – Our Meals Delivery Program offers home-made, balanced meals that provide one-third of the daily value required nutrients, delivered directly to the homes of older adults whose mobility is limited.

Nutrition Education – Designed specifically for individuals 60 years of age or older. Topics include diet and disease prevention, diabetes, weight maintenance, food safety and food preparation.

Healthy U – The Healthy U Program is a workshop given two and-a-half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in senior centers, churches, senior apartment complexes and libraries. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders. Subjects include: techniques to deal with pain, exercise, appropriate use of medications, and nutrition.

Steady U- The Steady U Program is a statewide collaborative falls prevention initiative. The Steady U website contains many great tips and resources for falls prevention. To learn more, please visit : http://aging.ohio.gov/steadyu/

Ride to the Doctor

The Area Office on Aging pays for Black & White Cab to provide up to two medical transportation trips per month for older adults in Lucas County who have no other way of safely getting to the doctor.

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

Older adults living on fixed incomes sometimes find it difficult to afford locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Going without these foods negatively impacts their health. Older adults with limited income apply for and receive $50 worth of coupons that act as cash when purchasing locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey from about 130 participating farmers. ClIck here to Request an Application.

Special Events

These programs are meant to promote well-being among older adults and provide events for the general enjoyment of older adults.

50+ Sports Classic – The 50+ Sports Classic is an “Olympic Event” aimed at athletes ages 50 and over. Activities include bowling, tennis, golf, track and field, swimming, table tennis, and basketball. Each competition is divided into age groupings; awards are given to the winners of each age group within each sporting event.

Senior Safari – The annual Senior Safari event at the Toledo Zoo allows older adults to enjoy exhibits and other forms of entertainment. A lunch is served and attending seniors can participate in health screenings.

Images of Aging – The Images of Aging event publicly recognizes Northwestern Ohio centenarians who have contributed so richly to their families and communities and to publicly thank the families of these individuals, who have supported them throughout their older adult years.

Caregiver Expo – The Caregiver Expo gives caregivers the opportunity to receive information on the products and services available to aid in their care-giving responsibilities. The Expo provides the opportunity for businesses to educate the public on their latest products and services.

Spring Fling – The annual Spring Fling Senior Day Event offers valuable resources for area seniors. Free health screenings are provided and businesses are given an opportunity to inform the older adult population of their products and services.

Senior Holiday Party – The Senior Holiday Party consists of live entertainment and lunch.

Legislative Breakfast – The annual breakfast meeting with Northwestern Ohio’s legislators and public officials gives the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, its colleagues and older adults a chance to share thoughts, ideas and information on the issues facing older adults today.

Annual Meeting – The Annual Meeting is an all-inclusive review of the Area Office on Aging’s activities, highlights and financial status. The Annual Meeting serves as a way for the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio to publicly thank its partners, sponsors, employees, and board members for all they do.

Volunteer Programs

Volunteer programs allow older adults to give back to the community, and provide a way to remain active.

RSVP offers a full range of volunteer opportunities with thousands of local and national organizations for people age 55 and over. RSVP provides pre-service orientation, training from the organization served, and supplemental insurance while on duty.

There are various opportunities available that can be viewed on the Volunteer Web page of this site. These opportunities include the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol Program where volunteers get trained by the Toledo and Sylvania Township Police Departments and get to ride around in one of their retired patrol cars to help keep home bound older adults safe by visiting them weekly. These volunteers report any safety concerns that are law enforcement in nature back to the Police Department. Any safety concerns that are social service in nature get reported back to the Area Office on Aging for follow-up.

Another volunteer opportunity is the Caregiver Volunteer Respite Program, which allows volunteers to give a family caregiver a temporary break from their role caring for their aging loved one. Each week, an RSVP trained volunteer comes visit with the aging loved one so caregiver can get a break for a few hours.

RSVP volunteers also get trained by the Toledo Fire Department and conduct fire education to older adults in the community through the Senior Advocates for Fire Education (SAFE) Program. Just a few of the other volunteer opportunities include delivering meals to home bound older adults and serving as a reading mentor for elementary school students who need help learning to read.