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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. test
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
- Home Delivered Meals
- 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
- Adult Day Care Services
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:
Kathy Dickerson, CIRS-A
Information & Referral Specialist
Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging
P O Box 1366
Greenwood SC 29648
864-941-8061 direct
864-941-8090 fax
1-800-922-7729 - toll free
kdickerson@uppersavannah.com
