Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Controlling Board on Monday approved a request by the Ohio Department of Aging to increase appropriations in certain senior service funding due to additional federal funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“During the coronavirus emergency, older adults have been asked to limit their contact with others. As a result, we have seen increased need for services that help seniors live independently in their homes,” said Ursel J. McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. “We are grateful to the federal government and the Ohio Legislature for recognizing the importance of increasing these crucial services for older Ohioans at a time when more Ohioans than ever need them.”
The department received authority to use $4,886,917 of additional CARES funding in FY 2020 and $24,434,585 in FY 2021. The funds will be used to support increased demand for targeted Older Americans Act programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs impacted by the funding include supportive services, nutrition, caregiver support, information and referral, and Long-Term Care Ombudsman services. The funds are available from April 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021.
The increased funding will be awarded to Ohio’s 12 area agencies on aging who, in turn, will distribute it to contracted service providers in their local aging networks. Area agencies are planners and funders within their community and have strong community partnerships that allow them to use funds efficiently and effectively.
To learn about available assistance for yourself or a loved one, call 1-866-243-5678 to be connected to the area agency on aging serving your community, or visit www.aging.ohio.gov/findservices to look up agency contact information.
For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call
1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
