Allen County residents who are 60 or older can benefit from a wide variety of services, from free meals to legal help to caregiver support and even in-home care.
Kathy Brennon, director of the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, gave county commissioners an update on the organization at Tuesday’s meeting.
The agency provides nearly $100,000 worth of services in Allen County, Brennon said. Most of the agency’s funding comes from state and federal sources. Traditionally, Allen County commissioners have approved $3,000 from its annual budget for SEKAAA.
“That’s quite a return on your investment,” Brennon pointed out.
Area Agencies on Aging operates as a sort of clearinghouse for services for those 60 and older. Most services are provided for little to no copay.
One of the primary objectives is to allow older people to continue living independently in their homes. To help, the agency works to provide meals and in-home services. Those in-home services can include assistance with laundry, housekeeping, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living.
In Allen County last year, residents received $43,160 worth of in-home services, according to data Brennon provided.
Nutrition care is the second-highest service provided, with $29,527 in meals and services provided to Allen County. Data shows 57 people receive a weekly meal packet of seven meals for a total of 5,755 meals.
SEKAAA also provides case management services and care assessments to those who need nursing home care and help reviewing other options. Allen County received $11,998 worth of case management assistance and $7,325 worth of assessments.
Other services, valued at a total of $45,564, include such things as legal services, caregiver support groups and counseling, caregiver training and health promotion programs.
MUCH OF Brennon’s focus was to provide information about nutrition programs.
Starting June 1, those age 60 and older can receive $50 vouchers for the Farmers Market. The vouchers can be picked up at Iola City Hall.
On June 15, visitors to the Allen County Farmers Market can meet with a dietitian for a mobile health screening. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services has partnered with Hy-Vee, Inc. to provide mobile health screening and nutrition education services across the state, and will be in Iola from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the downtown Farmers Market. KDADS Medicare staff will also be available on-site to discuss health insurance and aging services.
SEKAAA also is working with St. Luke’s Health System to offer CHAMPSS, Choosing Healthy Appetizing Meal Plan Solutions for Seniors, as a sort of hybrid congregate meals program. Under the program, seniors can eat meals at a cafeteria or restaurant as a congregate site up to seven days a week.
“The big part of congregate meals is socialization.Especially after COVID, people are ready to get out,” Brennon said. “But because we don’t have a kitchen, we can’t do congregate meals in Iola.”
The program has not yet begun. It has been quite popular in other communities, Brennon said.
