WILMINGTON, Ohio — During the Clinton County Commissioners’ meeting last week, representatives from Council on Aging (COA) and Clinton County Job and Family Services provided updates on the status of elderly services, Clinton County Healthy Aging Grant and a federal home modification grant. Present at the meeting were Ken Wilson, vice president of program operations for COA, Suzanne Burke, president and CEO of COA, and Nicole Rodman, director of Clinton County Job and Family Services.

The COA team highlighted the impact of $220,066 in Healthy Aging funds received from the Ohio Department of Aging. These funds were dedicated to serving Clinton County residents ages 60 and older, focusing on priority populations, including low/moderate-income individuals, the unemployed, the food insecure, and those experiencing housing insecurity. All funds were utilized for service delivery, with no administrative costs incurred.

Key Service Areas and Impact:

Food Insecurity – The Healthy Aging funds provided support for home-delivered meals to eligible seniors under the Clinton County Elderly Services Program. This ensured continued access to nutritious meals for those unable to leave their homes.

Housing Insecurity – A one-time utility assistance credit of up to $500 was offered to seniors in emergency need of help with gas and electric bills. Additionally, COA introduced a home modification service for two individuals who didn’t qualify for other programs, allowing them to remain independent in their homes.

Digital Literacy and Internet Access*– COA partnered with the Clinton County Community Action Agency to teach digital literacy skills through in-person classes. Some seniors also benefited from technology such as electronic medication dispensers.

Medicare Assistance – A portion of the funds was used to help seniors navigate the complexities of their Medicare Advantage benefits, covering services like emergency response devices and medical transportation.

With the Healthy Aging funds fully spent, Wilson and Burke noted that two more reports would be filed with the Ohio Department of Aging before closing the grant. They also advocated for the allocation of any unspent funds from other Ohio counties to Clinton County.

Clinton County HUD Home Modification Program

COA also provided an update on the Clinton County Older Adults Home Modification Program, which is funded by a $1.25 million grant secured by COA from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), The program provides no-cost home repairs or safety modifications that will allow older adults to continue to live independently at home. Council on Aging was recently informed by a HUD evaluation team that the project in Clinton County was the top performing site in the country. So far, the program has received 69 referrals, and 27 home modification projects have been completed, with 10 more underway. To date, the program has authorized over $140,000 in funding to help seniors live independently. Part of the program that has added a lot of value includes an assessment of the environment by an occupational therapist to ensure that the home modifications are tailored to accommodate the disabilities of the older adult.

Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) Update

COA issued a request for proposals (RFP) to find a provider for electronic monitoring systems for elderly services across four counties, including Clinton County. The winning bidder, Guardian Medical Monitoring, was selected based on its competitive pricing and financial stability. The new five-year contract is expected to save $1.5 million, a 20.6% reduction in costs compared to previous contracts.

Three bidders responded to the RFP, but two were disqualified for failing to meet financial stability benchmarks. The contract with Guardian, which has been the vendor since 2015, was extended through October to allow time for a final appeal from Connect America, a competing bidder.