Council Authorizes Millions to Help Seniors Age-in-Place
Appropriating
nearly $150 Million in Funding to Keep Seniors in their Homes
[COLUMBUS, OH] Columbus continues its commitment to be a
welcoming and inclusive city for all residents. Councilmember Mitchell J. Brown,
chair of the Veterans and Senior Affairs committee sponsored ordinances
1331-2019 and 1332-2019 to authorize appropriations totaling $146,974,560 for
various programs to help older adults age in place.
“As folks age, it’s important to provide them opportunities to
age in place, staying comfortable in homes they’ve lived in for years,” said
Brown. “These programs exist to ensure a sustainable future for our seniors,
and they are critical to the future success of our communities.”
Ordinance 1331-2019 authorizes the appropriation of grant funds
from the Ohio Department of Aging for the continued operation of the
Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today (PASSPORT)
Medicaid program for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
“Supporting older residents with the necessary resources and
tools needed to help them age-in-place is vital to the growth and stability of
our neighborhoods,” said Brown. “We are championing our Age-Friendly initiative
and this effort perfectly aligns which our goal to provide avenues that support
to maintain healthy, vibrant multi-generational communities.”
Ordinance 1332-2019 will authorize the Director of Recreation
and Parks to enter into various contracts to provide PASSPORT home care and
assisted living services for older adults in Central Ohio for the second year
of a two year period beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
PASSPORT services include case management, adult day care,
homemaker, meals, personal care, respite, transportation and emergency
response. Approximately 7,000 clients are currently being served by the
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) under the PASSPORT program.
“Passport is one of COAAA’s key programs providing long term
care alternatives to Central Ohioans,” said Cindy Farson, executive director of
the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. “We urge individuals or caregivers
needing home care assistance to call COAAA to see if PASSPORT or another
program can help.”
PASSPORT is an acronym for Pre-Admission Screening System
Providing Options and Resources Today and is managed locally by the Area
Agencies on Aging.
###