Council on Aging Launches New Personal Care Program for Seniors

By 2030, one in three individuals residing in Lake County will be 60 years of age or older. In a continuing effort to position the county to handle this increasing senior population, the Board of Lake County Commissioners is partnering with the Lake County Council on Aging on a new initiative. This service, titled the Non-Medical In-Home Care Program, will provide two hours of personal care assistance once per week for Lake County seniors 60+ and includes supervision with bathing and light housekeeping.

The program is designed to support Lake County seniors that are not eligible for traditional Medicaid based programs, but cannot afford to pay privately for the personal care they need. Participants must meet income verification requirements, and have an assessment completed by a licensed Council on Aging social worker. If deemed eligible for the program, individuals will be assigned to one of three area home health care agencies that have contracted with the Council on Aging to provide these services.

“Let’s face it, seniors want to live at home for as long as possible and we are committed to helping them achieve that,” said Joe Tomsick, CEO of the Council on Aging. “We strongly believe that this new program will help provide the in-home personal care and support that’s needed to maintain dignity; and help foster independence to enable seniors to stay safe in their home for as long as possible.”

The Lake County Council on Aging provides many services and supports that can help seniors remain in the setting of their choice. Many of the services, including this new program, are funded through the Lake County Senior Services Levy.

For more information on the program, eligibility requirements, scheduling and availability, please call the Lake County Council on Aging at (440) 205-8111.