SC OFA Services

Having trouble paying medical bills? Confused about medical coverage? What is SSI and how do I apply for it? Need help with food bills? Will I lose my house if I apply for Medicaid? Call us for expert answers and caring advice.

A number of programs in Steuben County offer part-time work to persons age 55 and older who meet certain income criteria. For information on Green Thumb and the Senior Aide Program, call the Office for the Aging.

Assistance is provided to income eligible persons in applying for HEAP, the Home Energy Assistance Program, for the payment of heating bills. Assistance is based on monthly gross income, the number of persons living in the household, and the heating situation.

Staff from OFA is also available to screen and refer eligible older persons whose homes are in need of winterizing and other energy conservation services. In addition staff will assist in identifying other resources to meet a client’s needs including utility fuel funds, charitable organizations, state and federal loan and grant programs, etc.

This 8-hour driver training program for persons age 50+ is cosponsored by AARP and the Office for the Aging. For a schedule of upcoming classes, call OFA at 776-7813.

The Office for the Aging offers a non-medical service that assists people who are not able to meet their needs independently. It is designed to serve a population of seniors who are not eligible for Medicaid, but do not have sufficient resources to pay for private care. Services available can include help with eating, bathing, housework, laundry, shopping, errands and reminders to take medication. The Office for the Aging subcontracts with Home and Health Care Services, Inc. for these services. http://www.homeandhealthcare.org/

Lifeline, a personal emergency response system, linking the client to 24-hour assistance at the push of a button, is also available.
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Legal advice, representation, or referral are available through the Office for the Aging pertaining, but not limited to:

A bi-monthly newsletter, “Second Season” is available free-of-charge by contacting the Office for the Aging nearest you. Or click here to link to an online copy.

Staff and trained volunteers receive, investigate, and resolve concerns of, or on behalf of the residents of long-term-care facilities. Ombudsmen from the Office for the Aging visit these facilities regularly to: monitor the quality of care, assist residents in understanding and exercising their rights, assure care with dignity and respect, and encourage residents to express their opinions.

The Office for the Aging offers outreach visits to the homes of seniors who are unable due to frailty, health conditions, or transportation issues to visit our offices to access services.

A network of volunteers in the Bath and Hammondsport area provides friendly visits, chore services, transportation, shopping, etc. to older persons to enable them to remain independent and living in their own homes.

Assistance to senior citizens is available to complete federal or state income tax forms February – mid April. Year-round assistance and information regarding tax credits, property tax reductions, etc. is also available.

Door-to-door non-emergency medical transportation is available through a contract from the Office for the Aging with Steuben Coordinated Transportation, a program of the Institute for Human Services. Please call Steuben Coordinated Transportation at 1-800-346-2211 at least 48 hours in advance of your medical appointment to schedule the ride. For more information go to this web site:
http://www.ihsnet.org/pages.asp?CatID=6

TRIAD

The Office for the Aging participates in a join venture with police agencies, senior service organizations and senior citizens to reduce crime and fraud against our county's older residents. TRIAD addresses safety and security issues through educational programs, home security surveys, the Blue Light Project, File of Life, and others. For more information, go to: http://steubencony.org/Sheriff/triad.html

A program to provide free home safety surveys to reduce or prevent injuries is available through a contract from the Office for the Aging to the ProAction Senior Wellness Program. The Program also features exercise groups, walking clubs and other wellness efforts. For more information call 776-2125.

Services
Benefits Counseling	Ombudsman Program
Employment	Outreach
Energy	Project Care
55 Alive	Tax Assistance
In-Home Services	Transportation
Legal Services	TRIAD
Newsletter	Wellness
Long-Term Care Insurance Education and Outreach Program (LTCIEOP)
BENEFITS COUNSELING Having trouble paying medical bills? Confused about medical coverage? What is SSI and how do I apply for it? Need help with food bills? Will I lose my house if I apply for Medicaid? Call us for expert answers and caring advice. Back to top EMPLOYMENT A number of programs in Steuben County offer part-time work to persons age 55 and older who meet certain income criteria. For information on Green Thumb and the Senior Aide Program, call the Office for the Aging. Back to top ENERGY Assistance is provided to income eligible persons in applying for HEAP, the Home Energy Assistance Program, for the payment of heating bills. Assistance is based on monthly gross income, the number of persons living in the household, and the heating situation. Staff from OFA is also available to screen and refer eligible older persons whose homes are in need of winterizing and other energy conservation services. In addition staff will assist in identifying other resources to meet a client’s needs including utility fuel funds, charitable organizations, state and federal loan and grant programs, etc. Back to top 55 ALIVE This 8-hour driver training program for persons age 50+ is cosponsored by AARP and the Office for the Aging. For a schedule of upcoming classes, call OFA at 776-7813. Back to top IN-HOME SERVICES The Office for the Aging offers a non-medical service that assists people who are not able to meet their needs independently. It is designed to serve a population of seniors who are not eligible for Medicaid, but do not have sufficient resources to pay for private care. Services available can include help with eating, bathing, housework, laundry, shopping, errands and reminders to take medication. The Office for the Aging subcontracts with Home and Health Care Services, Inc. for these services. http://www.homeandhealthcare.org/ Lifeline, a personal emergency response system, linking the client to 24-hour assistance at the push of a button, is also available. Back to top LEGAL SERVICES Legal advice, representation, or referral are available through the Office for the Aging pertaining, but not limited to: Medicare and Medicaid Consumer Complaints Social Security/SSI Hospital Patient Rights Landlord/Tenant Relations Other Entitlements and Benefits Legal services are not available to cover wills, criminal cases, negligence actions, or other cases for which a private attorney may be obtained on a contingency basis. Back to top NEWSLETTER A bi-monthly newsletter, “Second Season” is available free-of-charge by contacting the Office for the Aging nearest you. Or click here to link to an online copy. Back to top OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM Staff and trained volunteers receive, investigate, and resolve concerns of, or on behalf of the residents of long-term-care facilities. Ombudsmen from the Office for the Aging visit these facilities regularly to: monitor the quality of care, assist residents in understanding and exercising their rights, assure care with dignity and respect, and encourage residents to express their opinions. Back to top OUTREACH The Office for the Aging offers outreach visits to the homes of seniors who are unable due to frailty, health conditions, or transportation issues to visit our offices to access services. Back to top PROJECT CARE A network of volunteers in the Bath and Hammondsport area provides friendly visits, chore services, transportation, shopping, etc. to older persons to enable them to remain independent and living in their own homes. Back to top TAX ASSISTANCE Assistance to senior citizens is available to complete federal or state income tax forms February – mid April. Year-round assistance and information regarding tax credits, property tax reductions, etc. is also available. Back to top TRANSPORTATION Door-to-door non-emergency medical transportation is available through a contract from the Office for the Aging with Steuben Coordinated Transportation, a program of the Institute for Human Services. Please call Steuben Coordinated Transportation at 1-800-346-2211 at least 48 hours in advance of your medical appointment to schedule the ride. For more information go to this web site: http://www.ihsnet.org/pages.asp?CatID=6 Back to top TRIAD The Office for the Aging participates in a join venture with police agencies, senior service organizations and senior citizens to reduce crime and fraud against our county's older residents. TRIAD addresses safety and security issues through educational programs, home security surveys, the Blue Light Project, File of Life, and others. For more information, go to: http://steubencony.org/Sheriff/triad.html Back to top WELLNESS A program to provide free home safety surveys to reduce or prevent injuries is available through a contract from the Office for the Aging to the ProAction Senior Wellness Program. The Program also features exercise groups, walking clubs and other wellness efforts. For more information call 776-2125. Return to OFA/RSVP Home page Return to Steuben County Government Home Page