Agency On Aging

Area Agencies on Aging cuts 'should not' affect the area

MASON CITY — A planned reduction in the number of the state’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) from 13 to six should not mean a loss of access to services, a state official on aging services told North Iowans Thursday at a public meeting in Mason City.

The Elderbridge Agency on Aging in Mason City would remain open with no planned cuts to staffing — but it’s operation would change.

The redesign would mean that Elderbridge, which currently serves 20 counties, would become part of a larger area made up of 49 counties along the western third of the state, said Donna K. Harvey, director of the Iowa Department on Aging.

Six AAAs would be combined in the new area — Mason City, Carroll, Creston, Fort Dodge, Sioux City and Spencer.

“We’re not talking about changing staffing, Harvey said. “Our commitment is to preserve and enhance services.”

All 13 of the state’s AAAs would remain open but under different names.

Each new AAA area is expected to include one administrative office that serves the entire area.

The remaining offices would become Centers of Excellence, which may choose to specialize in different services, Harvey said.

Consolidation will encourage agencies to adopt efficiencies and best practices from one another. They may jointly publish one newsletter, for example, or share the services of one nutritional director.

The AAA redesign was ordered by the Iowa Legislature as a cost-saving measure.

Harvey said she must have a plan ready to submit to the Legislature by Dec. 15. The redesigned AAA areas would go into effect by July 1, 2012.

“The legislators are trying to pinch every penny they can find,” Harvey said. “We’re trying to be creative, too, to save as many pennies as we can.”

Steve Palmer, chairman of the Elderbridge board of directors, said probably the biggest change would be the new name of the local agency.

“Our goal would be that the people we serve don’t even know there’s been a change,” he said.

Kim Doughty, Elderbridge program coordinator, said the reorganization has some positives “as long as we maintain a good network of places for people to access the services and funding for those services.”

“It may give us access to programs we haven’t had access to, such as an adult abuse initiative,” Doughty said.

He said the Elderbridge Agency has already seen more seniors trying to access services and more eligible seniors being denied services due to a lack of staff to process requests.

Fort Scott Tribune: Local News: Area Agency on Aging purchases ...

Area Agency on Aging

purchases web access

The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging has purchased access to the Gold Standard Pharmacology website.

The site has a program that checks for interactions between medicines, supplements and food.

It will print an "Interaction Consumer Report" that includes possible interactions, suggested time gaps between some products, foods to avoid related to particular medicine and product duplication, a news release said.

Forms are available at the Bourbon County Senior Center, 26 N. Main, Fort Scott, and the Fort Scott Public Library, 201 S. National, through Aug. 25.

Interested persons age 60 and older may pick up a form to complete. The completed form can be returned to the site or mailed to Southeast Kansas Area on Aging. The address is attached to the form. A printout of results will be mailed back to participating individuals. Privacy is protected, the release said.

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