Lots of programs, activities planned for the Area Agency on Aging of Somerset County
SOMERSET ― The Area Agency on Aging of Somerset County is under new leadership and they are already rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.
Jennifer Clark and Jessica Berkey are the new administrator and deputy administrator, respectively. They both come into their positions with plenty of experience in the field.
Jennifer Clark moved to Somerset County from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2018. She was a first-grade teacher for 12 years there.
Clark came to Pennsylvania from South Florida "because there are no hurricanes here!" She stayed with her grandparents in Harrisburg when Hurricane Irma hit Florida in 2017. Her grandfather was originally from Johnstown before moving to Harrisburg to work. She said her husband had the opportunity to coach baseball at UPJ. They liked the Somerset Area School District, so they moved here. Clark and her husband have been married for 17 years. They have twin boys who are turning 16 in the spring, and a 12-, going on 13-year-old daughter.
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Clark started at the agency almost five years ago as a care manager, where she visited consumers in the Somerset area and surrounding areas to the north. She became the deputy administrator in April.
Jessica Berkey is from Friedens and never left Somerset County. She began her career with the agency in 2013 as the Confluence Senior Center operator. Since then she's held several titles at the office. Berkey has two boys, ages 9 and 12, who attend the Somerset Area School District and put their heart and soul into baseball.
Programs at AAA
The Area Agency on Aging of Somerset County has been helping out in the community for more than 30 years, coordinating and delivering services and support to older adults and their family members. The mission of the Area Agency on Aging of Somerset County is to provide support, services and advocacy to older adults so they may live independently safely, comfortably and with dignity.
"Every day is so different than the last," Clark said. "We want to try to get the word out to the community about what services we have available. We'd like to increase the attendance at the senior centers. There's socialization, exercise equipment, a meal served every day. It's not just bingo.
"Money is so tight. We want for anybody to remain in their home and remain healthy as long as possible."
Programs offered include personal care assistance, personal emergency response units, home-delivered meals, home modifications and care management. There is also reimbursement for qualifying caregiving expenses that include respite care, hired help to assist with personal care and activities for care recipients, nutritional supplements, home modifications and assistive devices, school supplies and seasonal clothing and extracurricular activities.
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"I think overall we are here to provide services to our senior community, so that's what we're going to do," Berkey said. "We will link them to another service to assist them if we don't have that program available. We never make them buy into the program. We can also help them seek out other ways to help to afford the programs. Don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help."
The center is planning an Elder Justice Day in June and the senior picnic is in July. This year's theme is "Picnic in Paradise." The kitchen staff will be preparing the food this year, Clark said.
Area Agency on Aging offers Medicare counseling services, assistance with enrollment in needs-based programs such as SNAP, LIHEAP and Tax and Rent Rebate. It can link up with other community resources for assistance, Level of Care assessments, transitions to Community Life and Waiver Programs, nursing home and personal care home preadmission assistance and information, monthly newsletter, Protective Services and legal assistance for Power of Attorney and Will preparation.
The home-delivered meals, not to be confused with the Meals on Wheels program, have some guidelines in that the person requesting the meal will be assessed to see if they qualify. For instance, they must be homebound, along with some other guidelines, Berkey said.
The assessment is a process they use to determine if a person qualifies for the programs.
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Senior centers have a lot to offer
The seven senior centers under the Area Agency on Aging offer a home-cooked meal, socialization, bingo, music and entertainment, games, cards, crafts, evidence-based exercise classes and equipment, volunteer opportunities and more. All seven are open Monday through Friday, except Boswell which is open only on Mondays.
"Each center's managers are creative and think of ways to pull the public in and make new friends," Clark said. "We have transportation if they don't drive. We're talking about bringing back bus trips. They're doing surveys to see what kind of things they want to see in the center. All of the centers have different personalities and interests. We have an amazing staff. We have a good time."
Working together
Both women emphasized the agency is part of a group of organizations that are working together to provide the most services possible to the senior community. They have a coordinated program with Tableland Services Inc. for doing the tax preparations. The Department of Revenue will have somebody come to the centers to help with the property tax/rebates forms from March through May. There are also clinics at the centers, Clark said.
The women said those concerned about a senior citizen's health or well-being can report it to the AAA anonymously and confidentially. The organization will investigate for abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment.
"We investigate all types," Berkey said. "Financial exploitation and scams are a huge problem now. We'll cover that in the Elder Abuse Justice Day."
The Area Agency on Aging in Somerset County is hiring. The administrators recommend looking at the link on the website to see what jobs are available. They have a newsletter on their website as well as email. Call 814-443-2681 or 1-800-452-0825 or visit www.somersetaaa.org.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Lots of programs, activities planned for the AAA of Somerset County
