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Area Agency on Aging
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A majority of aging services are federally funded through the
1965 Older Americans Act. This law requires that planning and service
districts be designated to plan and implement aging services.
The Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging has divided the state
into ten planning and service districts. Central Midlands Council
of Governments was designated as the midlands' Area Agency on Aging
in 1976.
The mission of the Area Agency on Aging is to plan programs and
services for the growing population of older people in Fairfield,
Lexington, Newberry and Richland Counties.
The agency subcontracts with local providers for delivery of
services. The Regional Aging Advisory Committee, the majority of
whom are older individuals or individuals who are eligible to participate
in Older Americans Act programs, representatives of older persons
and the general public, assists the Council of Governments in fulfilling
the responsibilities of the Area Agency on Aging.
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Services Provided:
Community Services
- Adult Day Care Services
- Insurance Counseling (I-CARE)
- Group Dining
- Health and Wellness
- Information and Referral
- Legal Assistance
- Nutrition Education and Screening
- Transportation
- Volunteer Opportunities
In-Home Services
- Home Delivered Meals
- Home Care
- Respite Care
Aging Links
The SC Lieutenant
Governor's Office on Aging
SC Access: The
Lt. Governor's Office on Aging Internet Guide to resources for older
adults, people with disabilities and their families and caregivers
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Long Term Care Ombudsman
The regional ombudsman receives calls and investigates complaints
related to residents in long-term care facilities. Complaints range
from abuse, neglect and exploitation to quality of care issues. To contact
the Regional LTC Ombudsman please call (803) 376-5389 or toll free at
1-800-391-1185. For more information on the CMCOG Long Term Care Ombudsman
Program, please
click here.
To learn more about our new Volunteer Ombudsman Program, please
click here.
Four Year Area Plan Development
The Older Americans Act requires that a multi-year comprehensive
area plan be developed for the planning and service area and submitted
to the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging (our state unit on aging).
The White House Conference on Aging reports, 1990 Census data, needs
assessment surveys, service delivery waiting lists and current service
levels are used to project the need for service. The Area Plan also
requires that staff coordinate with other service organizations, engage
in program development when needed, provide training and technical assistance
to service providers and serve as the quality assurance component for
contracted services. A public hearing is conducted and the Regional
Aging Advisory Committee and CMCOG Board approves the final document.
The area plan is updated annually each spring.
The Area Plan can be viewed by
clicking here
The Regional Budget Plan for Aging Services can be viewed by
clicking here
Senior Center Development
Over the past 10 years, several new senior centers have opened within
the Central Midlands region. In October 1994, Newberry County Council
on Aging opened the Dave C. Waldrop, Jr. Senior Center at a cost of
$538,000. September 1995 saw the opening of the $1.5 million Capital
Senior Center to serve senior citizens in Richland and Lexington County.
In May 1998, the Pine Ridge Senior Center was opened in Lexington County
to replace the South Congaree Senior Center. These facilities were made
possible through the S.C. Senior Permanent Improvement Act, which funds
construction and renovation costs of senior centers across the state.
Most recently, in October 1999, the Town of Winnsboro was awarded $315,000
of CDBG funds to construct a brand new senior center to serve Fairfield
County. The Winnsboro Senior Center opened in 2002.
Family Caregiver Advocate
In South
Carolina, family members have always provided the majority of long-term
care for older relatives. 18% of adults in South Carolina provide regular
care or assistance to an elderly relative or another family member with
long-term illness or disability. Many people provide this round the
clock care in their own homes; many out of financial necessity. The
psychological and physical demands on these unpaid caregivers are often
overwhelming.
The
Central Midlands Family Caregiver Support Program seeks to provide assistance
to individuals caring for family members aged 60+ with health problems.
The Program provides access
for family caregivers to the following services:
1. Information: public
education, and outreach regarding available support services.
2.
Assistance: Provide assistance to individuals on how to gain
access to services.
3.
Counseling, Education & Training: Provide advice, guidance and
instruction to caregivers on an individual basis to solve problems faced
in their role as caregivers.
4.
Respite: Helping caregivers find temporary relief from care-giving
responsibilities on an occasional or emergency basis.
5.
Supplemental Services: Provide compensation to assist with the
cost of some services (e.g. home safety supplies, nutritional supplements,
incontinence supplies) used in the provision of care to family members.
For
more information on the Family Caregiver Program contact Joe Ritchey.
(803) 376-5390
I-Care
I-Care is a program provided by the Central Midlands Area Agency
on Aging to seniors on a variety of issues such as insurance counseling,
assistance and referral. Information is also available regarding the
Medicare Program, the dangers of Medicare fraud, the Modernization Act
of 2003 (Prescription Drugs Programs), Medigap information and Medicaid
programs.
For more information on I-Care, contact
Carol Abrahamsen
(803) 376-5390.
Information, Referral & Assistance
Information, Referral and Assistance Specialists (IR&As) are trained
to assist in locating and accessing the most appropriate community resources
available for the physical and mental health needs of the elderly population. This includes providing information and linkage
with service providers, advocacy assistance when needed, and follow-up
when necessary.
For more information on CMCOG's Information, Referral and Assistance
Program, contact Jackie
Thompson (803)-376-5390.
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