Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Agency Has New Name For Seniors

Get used to hearing the name Senior Specialists,' as this is the new moniker for the Area Agency on Aging in Clark County.

Betty Fincher, director of community programs with the organization, said the functions of Senior Specialists won't change from what they were when the entity was known as Area Agency on Aging.

In Gurdon this organization works with the Senior Adult Center.

Senior Specialists, she said, will provide the same referrals and services as it always has  only the name has been changed.

"The change to the name Senior Specialists was needed for a number of reasons," said Darrell Smith, executive director, "but primarily to address the ever-changing aging population who prefer to be called seniors. We wanted to promote our agency's role as specialists in working with them."

The organization's mission remains unchanged. It exists to provide services to help senior citizens live as independently as possible in the environment of their choosing.

In Clark County, Fincher said, the organization assists in-home clients with their daily personal care, which, in turn, helps them live in their homes and be independent as long as possible.

Senior Specialists serves as a clearing house for information about services provided for senior citizens and their families.

Case managers work to help match the needs of the families with the services required, such as personal care, food stamps, housing and Social Security. These are but a few areas the case managers assist the elderly.

A nursing home ombudsman works to help protect the rights of those seniors in nursing homes, along with assisting them with other problems they may have.

Senior Specialists, though, specializes in providing home care assistance to Medicaid eligible clients.

These services include respite, bathing, grooming and help with hair, clothing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry and special services for those with no other support.

A private pay program exists for those who can afford home care support on their own.

The senior companion program serves two purposes, as it encourages volunteers, seniors themselves, to remain independent and active as they help others with exceptional needs.

Senior Specialists has a hospice program with a team of professionals and volunteers working to provide support and counseling for the terminally ill and their families.

The organization also sponsors 15 senior centers where group activities help seniors foster new friendships.

These centers also provide hot, well-balanced meals to those attending, and deliver meals to the homebound through the Meals on Wheels program.

For more information you may call 870-246-8708 or toll-free at 1-800-467-2174.