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Area Agency on Aging

Upper Savannah Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging is designated by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging as the coordinating and planning body for services for older adults in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick and Saluda counties.

The primary goal of the Area Agency is to develop and promote a comprehensive, coordinated community-based service delivery system with simple access that will improve the quality of life for all older adults in the region and enable them to lead independent lives with dignity in their own homes for as long as possible. 

Specific objectives of the Area Agency on Aging are:

 

• Plan, coordinate and advocate for a community-based service delivery system;
  
• Maintain and strengthen the quality of life of older adults through community cooperation;
  
• Help local communities meet the needs of the rapidly growing older populations;
  
• Help older adults remain in their homes; solicit input from Advisory members about aging issues;
  
• Provide contract management, technical assistance,
  
• Program quality assurance and monitoring services to contracted service providers;
  
• Offer resource materials to older adults and their families;
  
• Serve as the regional information, referral and assistance focal point offering callers access to services relating to aging and disabilities;
  
• Support the S. C. Silver Haired Legislature efforts in the region; provide complaint resolution for residents of long-term care facilities and community education through the Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program;
  
• Operate the Family Caregiver Support Program, benefiting seniors and children by supporting the adults and older relatives who care for them;
  
• Provide I-CARE and Senior Medicare Fraud Prevention programs; coordinate Senior Farmer’s Market program; coordinate the Upper Savannah Senior Sports Classic.

For more about the Area Agency on Aging or Upper Savannah Senior Sports Classic, please contact:

Vanessa Wideman, AAA Director
864-941-8053
vwideman@uppersavannah.com

Services Provided:

• In-Home Services
  

• Home Delivered Meals
  

  • Home Care
    
  • Respite Care
    
  
   
• Community Services
  

  
   

  • Adult Day Care Services
    
  • Insurance Counseling (I-CARE)
    
  • Group Dining
    
  • Health and Wellness
    
  • Information and Referral
    
  • Legal Assistance
    
  • Nutrition Education and Screening
    
  • Transportation
    
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  
   

   

REGIONAL LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

The Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman investigates and works to resolve problems or complaints affecting residents in nursing homes and residential care facilities.

In an effort to improve the lives of all persons residing in long term care facilities, the ombudsman educates residents and family members about long term care and related issues, advocates for the protection of the resident’s rights, provides training and technical assistance to resident and family councils and facility staff and coordinates efforts with other agencies concerned about long term care.

For assistance contact:

Ericca Livingston, Regional Ombudsman
Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging
P O Box 1366
Greenwood SC 29648
864-941-8070 - direct
864-941-8090 - fax
1-800-922-7729 toll free
elivingston@uppersavannah.com

 

FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Family Caregiver Support Program, funded through the Older Americans Act, is administered by the Area Agency in Aging. It was developed to address the needs of the ever increasing numbers of caregivers.

One in four households in the United States has a caregiving situation involving a senior adult. The caregiver program focuses on caregivers of any age caring for those 60 and older and also on seniors (age 60 and older) who are primary caregivers for their grandchildren (age 18 and younger).

Support is provided to these caregivers by outreach and information to community groups and organizations, by assistance provided to caregivers in accessing available services, and by individual and group counseling, education and training.

Qualified individuals may also benefit from limited respite care which is funded by the program and other supplemental services that help caregivers better care for their loved ones. Services might include, for example, construction of a ramp for accessibility to the home or help with the purchase of incontinent supplies or nutritional supplements.

The design of the program promotes consumer choice and flexibility, building on existing services and resources and including collaboration and coordination with other agencies and community partners. Support for caregivers results in people giving better care to seniors, promoting quality of life and individual choice.

For assistance contact:

Barbara Wright, Family Caregiver Advocate
Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging
P O Box 1366
Greenwood SC 29648
864-941-8067 direct line
846-941-8090 fax
1-800-922-7729 toll free
bwright@uppersavannah.com

 

INFORMATION, REFERRAL AND ASSISTANCE

Need Assistance finding help? SC Access and Information Referral Services at Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging can assist you to find aging and adult disability services in your community. This is a “One-Stop” shopping service for older adults, adults with disabilities, their caregivers, families and professionals.

SC Access, (Aging and Disability Information) is a web-based resource that will help you identify agencies and programs that offer the services you need in your community.
www.scaccesshelp.org

The Information, Referral and Assistance Program allows you to talk directly to an Information Specialist. This program serves as the clearinghouse for senior resources, programs and services. The Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging serves the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick and Saluda.

For assistance contact:

Kathi Culbreath, Information & Referral Specialist
Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging
P O Box 1366
     Greenwood SC 29648
     864-941-8069 direct
     864-941-8090 fax
     1-800-922-7729 - toll free
     kculbreath@uppersavannah.com

The Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging SHIP program assists seniors and caregivers by educating them about the Medicare prescription drug programs. In order to get prescription coverage, Medicare recipients need to choose and enroll into a Medicare prescription drug plan that best meets their needs. Open enrollment for choosing a Medicare Prescription Plan is Nov. 15 - Dec. 31 each year.  The SHIP program provides accurate and objective information concerning Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplemental insurance policies, and other coverage options. SHIPs also assist eligible participants in enrolling in these plans as well as assist seniors with Extra Help, MSP and Gap assistance programs. The Upper Savannah SHIP program serves Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Saluda counties.

 

For assistance contact:                              Kathy Dickerson, CIRS-A

                                                                Regional SHIP Coordinator

                                                                Upper Savannah Council of Governments

                                                                PO Box 1366

                                                                222 Phoenix Street, Suite 200

                                                                Greenwood, SC 29648

                                                                Office: 864-941-8061 Toll-Free: 800-922-7729

                                                                FAX: 864-941-8090           kdickerson@uppersavannah.com