Given a choice, most seniors would prefer to remain living at home as they age. But doing so oftentimes requires support from the community in terms of care, resources and more. Luckily, a local organization called the Center for Community Resources, Inc.—or, CCR—makes obtaining these resources as easy as possible.
“We are committed to making a positive difference in everyday lives by connecting people to a network of supports and services essential for actively learning, working and living in our community,” says Ashlee Hershberger, CCR’s Senior Manager of Programs. “Our goal is to coordinate services for individuals and families seeking information and referral for aging, mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse and other human service needs.
Susan is a typical example of a senior who benefited from CCR’s help. She had been discharged from a nursing facility back to her home and had a lot of concerns and anxiety about being able to make this transition. Thanks to the services provided through Aging Waiver (see below), which were coordinated through CCR, Susan was able to successfully adjust. In fact, she has been back in her own home for six months now and is doing quite well. She receives personal assistance services, home-delivered meals and had adaptations made in her house to make sure that she felt safe and comfortable living independently.
CCR serves as a single point of contact for a variety of aging services, working in collaboration with other human service agencies to identify needs in the community and effectively respond to anyone seeking help. They have three service coordinators and continue to grow the program throughout the counties they serve (a listing is at the end of this article). Last year, CCR assisted more than 13,000 individuals in getting the resources they needed. CCR provides help 24 hours, 7 days a week. The assistance is free and confidential.
Please be aware that the Pennsylvania Department of Aging will transition to Community Health Choices and a managed care model on January 1, 2018 in 14 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. The managed care organizations are AmeriHealth, PA Health and Wellness and UPMC. CCR is contracted with each of these to provide service coordination and assist the residents of these counties to receive the supports and services they need to stay in their homes.
The Center for Community Resources is located at 212-214 South Main Street in Butler. CCR provides services in these counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland. To learn more, call (724) 431-3748 or (844) 360-4372. To enroll, call the Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) at (877) 550-4227.
Aging, Home and Community-Based Waiver service coordination
As part of their coordination of aging services, CCR helps older adults obtain Aging, Home and Community-Based Waiver services. Seniors may be eligible for the Aging Waiver service coordination if they meet the following criteria:
• Are a resident of Pennsylvania
• Are a US citizen or a qualified non-citizen
• 60 years of age or older
• Meet the level of care needs for a skilled nursing facility
• Meet financial/income eligibility
Services that may be available include:
• Accessibility Adaptations, Equipment, Technology and Medical Supplies
• Adult Daily Living Services
• Community Transition Services
• Home Delivered Meals
• Home Health Services
• Non-Medical Transportation Services
• Participant-Directed Community Supports
• Participant-Directed Goods and Services
• Personal Assistance Services
• Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
• Respite
• Service Coordination
• TeleCare
• Therapeutic and Counseling Services