5/3/2012 - West Side Leader
     

County Executive Russ Pry creates Senior Citizen Information Booklet

DOWNTOWN AKRON — In an effort to assist older adults with living active, healthy and independent lifestyles, Summit County Executive Russ Pry developed a Senior Citizen Information Booklet.

The 24-page booklet alphabetically lists more than 60 community organizations, their contact information and the services they provide to seniors, according to Pry’s office.

“The Senior Citizen Information Booklet provides important information on activities, health services, prescription medication programs, housing improvements, safety, senior community centers, speakers and transportation,” said Pry. “It will serve as an excellent tool for older adults, as well as for adult children who care for their aging parents.”

Many of the organizations featured in the booklet are known service providers to older adults; for example: Area Agency on Aging, Barberton Active Adults, Mature Services, Mobile Meals, SCAT, Silver Sneakers and the Summit County Veterans Service Commission, according to Pry’s office. Contact information and program descriptions for county government senior services also are listed.

The booklets are available for downloading at www.co.summit.oh.us. For hard copies, contact Tina Merlitti at 330-643-8626.

Senior apartment community celebrates grand re-opening

CUYAHOGA FALLS — National Church Residences held a grand re-opening ceremony for Portage Trail Village, a 183-unit newly remodeled senior residential community located at 45 Cathedral Lane.

National Church Residences acquired Portage Trail Village in 1991 as an affordable housing community for seniors age 62 and older, according to National Church Residences officials. The recent renovations of Portage Trail Village will allow the property to provide assisted living services to its residents under the Medicaid assisted living waiver program. The conversion of Portage Trail Village to a licensed affordable assisted living facility is the second of its kind in Ohio for National Church Residences, according to company officials.

Twenty-three residents of Portage Trail Village were formerly being cared for at a skilled-nursing facility. The $10.4 million renovation was funded by a $9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as an additional $1.4 million in funds received through the Green Retro Fit Program, according to company officials.

Portage Trail Village is comprised of 36 one-bedroom apartments (15 of the units are designated for assisted living) and 147 studio-style apartments (56 are designated for assisted living), according to company officials.

“National Church Residences is elated to bring another affordable assisted living option to Ohio, and particularly to our existing campus in Cuyahoga Falls,” said Thomas Slemmer, president and CEO. “National Church Residences is pleased to partner with HUD, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging and the Ohio Department of Aging to combine housing with human services for the residents of Portage Trail. We believe that affordable assisted living, via the Medicaid assisted living waiver program, is a feasible part of the solution for the state’s distressed Medicaid system.”

National Church Residences is the nation’s largest not-for-profit developer and manager of affordable senior housing, according to company officials.

For additional information, visit www.nationalchurchresidences.org.

May is Older Americans Month

COLUMBUS — To celebrate Older Americans Month in May, the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) launched its third annual Older Americans Month photo project on Facebook. All Ohioans, regardless of age, are invited to submit photos they have taken that fit the theme: “never too old to …”

From now through May 16, Ohioans can visit www.facebook.com/OhioDepartmentOfAging and post photos they have taken to the department’s timeline. Posting requires a free Facebook account, and the photos must conform to Facebook’s terms of service. Individuals also may submit their photos by mail to: Ohio Department of Aging, Attn: Communications Division, 50 W. Broad St./Ninth Fl., Columbus OH 43215-3363.

According to ODA officials, the ODA cannot return photos and reserves the right to use submitted images in its online and print publications and outreach.

Staff from the ODA and fans of the ODA’s Facebook page will vote May 19-21 to determine the top three photos, which will be featured on the department’s website for the remainder of the month. Also, the submitters of the top photos will be given the opportunity to be interviewed for an article about their photos in a future issue of the department’s Boomerang newsletter, according to ODA officials.

Followers of the ODA page on Facebook will receive updates about the department from various sources, including the department’s electronic publications, according to ODA officials. They also will have access to other organizations that serve or provide opportunities for Ohio seniors and others.

According to ODA officials, the ODA is the state sponsor of Older Americans Month and supports and promotes local celebrations via its website, www.aging.ohio.gov/news/olderamericans month/.