March 3, 2025 • 30 mins
“Ben Knox, the new Administrator of Dauphin County’s Area Agency on Aging discusses all the remarkable services available to seniors and the positive impact that these resources have on their lives.” www.dauphincounty.gov
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss. This is Inside of Public Affairs
program sponsored by iHeartMedia where we really care about our
local communities and all of our listeners who lived there.
In case in point, we're talking to the administrator of
Dauphin County's Area on Aging, Ben Knox, about the resources
that are available to all the seniors in our area.
(00:21):
They have. I can't believe it. I can't believe that
what they have. I thought I knew everything. And Ben
was here last week. So if you missed last week's show,
check out your favorite podcast out for part one. Here's
part two where we're going to talk about last week.
As I said, we talked about housing. We're going to
talk a little better about the issues that Ben felt
that were the most pressing for seniors. They are transportation
(00:42):
and preventing social isolation. We did talk a little bit
about preventing social isolation. Isolation. Yes, okay, tell me I
said to you last week, to me, this is the biggest,
big deal because it's a number one issue in the country.
It's a number one issue everyone where people have issues
with mental health. How is it impacting our seniors, Like,
(01:04):
what kind of things do they go through I mean
depression and all those other kind of things. But let
me ask you, is that something that has to be
assessed to qualify for any of the programs that you
have through the county for people with mental health issues.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So we really interact with a lot of individuals that
might be experiencing mental health in our protective services units
where we're completing those comprehensive investigations, and really we work
very closely with our counterparts at the mental health, autism
and developmental programs as well as Pathways Forward which provides
case management to Dauphin County.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Okay, talk to me about those senior centers that are available.
How many you have? Is it like eleven or twelve
of the senior series all around the area and what
are they?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yes, we have several senior centers that provide socialation or
socialization opportunities as well as activities that occur throughout the day.
So there's bingo, there's certain clubs, there's exercise activities that
are occurring to really bring people together as well as
the fundamental thing is they provide a congred meal to
(02:16):
those individuals. So individuals that are attending these senior centers
can receive that nutrition through that congred meal.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Okay, let's talk about transportation. That's a major issue that
plays into the issue of isolation for these seniors and
can be very depressing because every senior wants to say
independent and connected. So tell me about what you have
been placed for seniors with CAT with Rabbit trends that
you have several different things.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yes, so we do have a partnership with Rabbit Transit
to provide subsidized rides for medical appointments. Okay, correct, And
then we also have public private entities throughout Dauphin County
and local townships and it's really run by volunteers to
provide transportation services to individuals that may need to also
(03:07):
get the medical appointments, grocery stores as well as other
errands they may need to run. So they can contact
our office and we can put them in contact with
one of those public private transportation groups.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
This is where you're going to correct me again, Okay, Cat.
I always thought in Pennsylvania, if you were senior citiers
in like sixty five or older, you could write free
on your public transportation our Is this Cat wrong? Right? What?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So for individuals sixty five and older, there is an
application online through the Rabbit website. I would encourage individuals
to review that application in detail. I know for our
office is we subsidize medical trips.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Okay, okay, that's good. But if you want to go
for groceries and you don't got a cat that catch
the cat bus, you have to nowhere it runs in
your area because there's so many of them. But that
is not free.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
To my knowledge, I would encourage those individuals to talk
to CAT. Okay, I'm sorry to reach out to cat.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Okay, what do you have available for veterans? To me?
That's number one for transportation? Is that something that's a
public private partnership?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Great question? So I know we have a veterans affairs
department within Dauphin County, and I would encourage any veteran
that needs any types of benefits or services to reach
out to that department.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
You know what else we need to talk about, which
is probably going to take a while. This is so confusing.
What I would suggesting tell me if I'm wrong, is
when you're getting close to retirement age year or two,
you better start checking out different things like what is
medicare going to pay? Do I need A what do
they call those programs? Help me out?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Then PA METI.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, and we're going to talk about PA METI. But
the programs, I mean, there's so many things out there,
it's really confusing. But as you were just talking about
PA MEDI, what does MEDI stand for? And tell us
what you do?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Great question. So the acronym is Medicare Education and Decision Insight.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay, So you educate people about all the stuff I
talked about about Mandicare, supplemental income. All the things are
out there because people wait to the last minute to
do this. So what is like what? As I said,
I only mentioned a couple of things about it. But
it's free, right, That's a big deal. It's free.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
That's correct. So we have trained Medicare counselors within our
office where individuals can call or walk in at any
time or make an appointment to review their Medicare benefits.
Our counselors will educate them on the available options as
well as can assist with planned selection.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Okay, so we're talking about the word I couldn't think
of as advantage plan long term care insurance, which which programs?
And this is it's not a you know, it's not
a place to buy insurance. It's a place to find
out what's available with these plans.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Right correct, And our counselors are able to do some
planned selection so well.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
A lot of people don't understand basic Medicare benefits, like
you pay so much, so much if it comes out
of your Social Security every month and I don't remember
what's one hundred and seventy or something around now, and
that then that's part A. Part B is another story.
Part C and d's are another stories. That's where advantage
plans come in all these different things. So you have
(06:29):
a place people can either come to, they can go
to meetings that you have about You can do it
one on one, they can answers on provide answers on
the phone. It's free. You are there to educate, as
you said, Pa mety, and you administered this for the
common with right you're not tell me about that.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
So this is going to be for Douphin.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
County, Okay, okay, Yeah, And we do.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
A variety of things. So we do Medicare one on
one sessions. They are actually starting this month, so we
have of various Medicare one on one sessions throughout Dauphin
County to educate individuals about Medicare as well as during
open enrollment, we can meet one on one with individuals
(07:12):
to review their plan, assist with planned selection to meet
their needs. And last year we served approximately three hundred
and forty individuals during open enrollment and open enrollment it's
only about a month and a half to two months.
At the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
It is so great because you know, I get calls
all the time, and I'm in a program with an
avenged planet, and I get calls all the time. You want,
we want this, we want that, and those One thing
I want to make people aware of these programs. These
ads aren't TV see join it and what's that kid
from Good Times? I forget his name. They're being paid.
(07:48):
They're being paid and it might sound good, but that
might not be what's best for you. A lot of
these these advantage plans, you don't even have to pay
a premium. They supplement what Social Security doesn't pay, our
Medicare doesn't pay for. So people are quickly taking over.
I think what you're doing. You're not trying to sell
anything for anybody. You're trying to sit down with somebody,
(08:09):
find out what they need and send them in the
right direction. Right.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
That is correct.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Oh, I'm so glad here. I did I interrupt you?
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
No, I was just going to say we provide unbiased
so we don't benefit anyway by what plan an individual selects.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
No one else. I think is so cool. You're available
your office it handles this PA many program. You're available
to go out and talk to different organizations too, aren't
you about this?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
That is correct? So we hold this medicare one on
one session wherever the community needs it. So for this year,
what we have on our schedule is several senior center
sites as well as you know, we get requests from
specific entities or churches that feel they need to be
that they want more information on this, and we'll go
and speak to them as well.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
That's wonderful. Let me ask you this too, who is
the lady you reached out to about this and how
do you find out how to find any of the
stuff that we talked about with PA Meddy. Don't you
have a specific person?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yes, so, and she does an outstanding job. Her name
is Shannon Valier. So individuals that are interested in receiving
more information or scheduling appointment can call our office's main
number at seven one seven seven eight zero six one
three zero. So Shannon, as well as Sally Snyder and
Michelle Ryder are really the team that administered this program
(09:25):
and provide this unbiased Medicare advice.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
That's great. I'm so glad to hear that. Don't They
offer a couple of resources too for people that are
out there, a reference guide and you know, things to
help them see what they would qualify because some people
who qualify for an advantage program, some people in the
other types of medicare medicaid. I mean, there's so many
things out there and it's freaking confusing.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Absolutely, yeah, So we have information that we can provide
during those individualized meetings.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
As I said before, we've got so much to doctor.
You should see the pages of notes, and I usually
don't have pages and notes like this. The things I
want to ask you about. One of the things is
and I don't want to confuse people about this. I
don't know how often it's used in the county. There
are legal resources about this. This isn't for these are
civil cases. Could you explain how what it is and
(10:17):
how people would qualify for that.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yes, So for individuals over the age of sixty, we
have a partnership with Widner Law School where they will
perform civil related free legal assistants. You know, the most
common things they assist with are going to be drafting
power attorneys, drafting wills, advanced directives as well.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Could they do that there? Correct? No, Kidden, I didn't
know that.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
That's great as well as they assist with non contested
guardianships as well as landlord tenant issues. They can assist with.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Oh, I think that's fantastic. See Ben, I'm glad we
did this show. Another thing that people don't realize they
have access to isn't one as what does an ombudsman do?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Great question. I'll give you the definition of what a
ambud what ombudsman means and it's a Swedish word meeting
citizen representative. And really the vision for this program is
to advocate for those who can't, support those who can
and ensure long term care consumers or clients live with
dignity and respense respect, excuse me, and really our team
(11:27):
provides guidance and education to promote resident rights, quality of care,
in quality of life in long term care facilities, so
that could be in personal care homes, that could be
in nursing facilities. So our team is very active throughout
all the facilities within Dauphin County, and we have Resident
(11:47):
Council meetings, so meetings made up of residents to voice
their concerns as well as advocate with the administration at
these facilities, which is outstanding.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You never go home, do you?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Occasionally? I do get home from time to time, but
we have a lot of things going on, and we're
really we're really here to serve the community.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
And you're doing one heck of a job. One of
the things that I see a lot of seniors doing.
In fact, I was talking to somebody about this the
other day, is you get to a point it seems
like people are working longer because their health is better
because they needed a lot of people live on Medicare sobsecurity.
And that's not that I don't think people realize that,
but I've always been told if you want to live long,
(12:32):
keep your mind occupied, occupied, stay active. You have opportunities
for volunteering for seniors. That's a heck of a job
or heck of a thing to do that you know
you're giving back to the community to talk to me,
is me about some of the opportunities for seniors to
volunteer and what capacity.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Absolutely, so, we have several opportunities to volunteer. They're going
to be in our PA METI program, our Home Delivered
Meals program, which is a very low network to deliver
those meals to individuals that are primarily home bound. They
can also volunteer with our public private transportation groups, which
can either be a driver or dispatcher for one of
(13:13):
our transportation groups that bring no cost transportation to seniors
of their community. And then the last one is going
to be umbudsmen. So volunteers undergo free specialized training to
serve as advocates, provide guidance in education, to promote residence rights,
resident rights, quality of care, quality of life really to
(13:34):
residents and long term care facilities.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Okay, so somebody say, my mother's in a nursing home
and I find out that she's I don't know, has
bedsores or something, and nobody's taking care of what I
call them ambudseman and the county and say, check this out.
Are those some of the issues.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
An unbudsman could be deployed, But if an individual has
if there's grave concerns for some type of neglect. So
when we see sacral wounds, stage three, stage four wounds,
our protective services should be involved as well as depending
on what the results of our investigation are, which are
either substantiating that there's some type of immine risk or
(14:15):
unsubstantiating the case, we could notify the licensing entity that
oversees that particular facility.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Okay, we've been talking about this through an hour almost
between last week and this week. What do you feel
the most encouraged about and why do you do this?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So two things, Okay. The first one is I am
very encouraged by our staff. So we're coming from a
time where we had trouble with staffing. This is going
to be right after the pandemic. Our staffing were levels
were very low. We have bolstered our staffing and we
have an outstanding group in all areas and facets of
our agency. And then the reason why I do it
(14:53):
is to serve our community. So I have a great
connection with the community, connecting with the individual that we serve,
and really that's our mission. We want to serve those
older adults and we want them to age in place,
and that's what drives me every day.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Ben, You're a young guy. If you weren't doing this,
what would you be doing? What do you think? Are
you going to be one of those guys that comes
in here and says to me, well, I'd be playing
professional baseball.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
You know that was a dream probably when I was
a little kid. Yeah, but you know, I don't know,
to be honest, So you know, I started with the
County in twenty fourteen and then came to the Dauphin
County Air Agency on Aging in twenty sixteen. I've held
a variety of roles, so i was a protective services investigator,
(15:39):
very tough, but it was very rewarding and I was
really a time where I was able to connect with
the individuals we're here to serve. Then I moved into
the intake and Assessment supervisor role, then moved into the
Director of Services role where I oversaw all of our programs,
and then I was appointed this last April as the
administrator of the agent. So I've worked in multiple facets,
(16:03):
completed investigations, all the assessments that our agency completes. So
I feel I'm very knowledgeable in all those facets.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Everybody else's job first, and that's what everybody, even in business.
You should start off in the bathroom.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Sure, right, and that's.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
What you did.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Sure. Oh, but you know that's what I'm most encouraged about.
It is really our team and really here to serve
those individuals.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
What can people that are listening to this program, people
live in central Pennsylvania, what can they do to support
what you are doing with the Dauphin County Area Agency
on Aging. What do you think you.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Know the best way to do it is to provide
that social connection to individuals that might be socially isolated isolated.
That is really a priority for us as a community.
I think I do think at times we might have
gone away from checking in on our older neighbors, our
older relatives. So really encouraging individuals to do that would
(16:58):
be monumental.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I would like to ask you now, which I probably does,
because this has been I'm telling my listeners to contact
and please maybe I need to contact this because I
thought I knew a whole lot of stuff, but things
have been a whole lot of things have been added
to Drop and Counting Area on Aging over the last
couple of years, and I think this is wonderful. So
let me is there anything we forgot to talk about?
(17:21):
Do we may have missed? Please speak up.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
The only thing that I want to reference is regarding
some of our funding. Okay, So in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is
home to three point five three point four million older adults,
which is the fifth highest total in the country. So
it is estimated by twenty thirty there will be an
increase in the number of older adults in Pennsylvania to
(17:46):
account of one out of every three Pennsylvanians.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
I went twenty thirty, twenty thirty in the next years away,
that's right, goodness.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
And one thing to point out is the funding, the
funding that our office received eves that directly supports this
exploding population, in my opinion, has lagged over the last
twenty years. And really to put in perspective, what the networks,
when I talk about the network all Triple A's across
Pennsylvania do, is we provide critical services to roughly twenty
(18:17):
two percent of older Pennsylvania's and older Pennsylvanians annually in
really ensuring essential program services and protections that allow them
to age in place. And that is a huge theme
for us. So I want to point out and we
are very thankful for Governor Shapiro's proposal in the budget
that includes twenty million dollars in the pen care Line Item,
(18:39):
which are funds that would directly go to our agency services,
the critical services that allow individuals to age in place.
But I just wanted to mention this that the true
ask and the need across Pennsylvania is approximate one hundred
and five million. So very grateful for what the governor
has done, and from my observations, he's very supportive of
(19:02):
the network, But just wanted to put in there what
the true need is in our community across Pennsylvania.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
What would you suggest to our listeners to do. Get
a hold of the Governor's office or the Department of
Aging at the state and say, hey, you need to
support this.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Voice the concerns with their works with their elected officials
in their areas.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
That's absolutely wonderful. Ben, As we're quickly wandering out of time,
We've talked about so much stuff over the last couple
of weeks. Where's the starting point if you And here's
another thing I thought about a lot of seniors don't
know how to use a computer. I mean, there's so
many things out there, but what's your website address? Most
of what we covered today is on is on there, So.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
We're gonna be at Dauphincounty dot gov.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I encourage anyone to review our website as well as
to call our office. So if you were to call
our office, you would be connected with a trained intake
worker to evaluate what the needs are of the individual
you're calling about and how we can best serve them.
And if it's not through a program through our office,
we will do a warm handoff or get you connected
(20:06):
to the services in the community to assist.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
So seniors in Dolphin County are in pretty good shape,
aren't they. I think for their needs, for their needs
from what they need.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I would say yes generally, but I mean there's always
there's always room for improvement. So looking forward to continuing
to serve and meet the needs of those Douphin County
residents that we're here to serve.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And I look forward to coming back again because there's
got to be more stuff that we have to talk about.
One of the things I thought was really cool and
I thought about being a part of is a program
you have for seniors. It's called health and Wellness, right,
It's about health and wellness. What do you can you
find there?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yes, So our agency partners with the y MCA to
provide evidence based programming and classes in Dauphin County. And
really some of their programs are going to be enhance fitness,
healthy Steps in Motion, which is an exercise class. I'm
not doing that, disease prevention, diabetes prevention, diabetes self management programs,
(21:05):
as well as various exercise classes. So I encourage individuals
to reach out to our office as well as they
can find the information at the local YMCAs to partake
in these This is going to be another way to
bring individuals in Dauphin County together to have that social
component and really to benefit and get some education regarding
(21:26):
their health.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Well, you know what seems to me about the major
things that we talked about that you felt were the
issues the transportation, the housing, it seems to me from
the way you're talking that the socialization is the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I do see that as very critical. Ensuring that individuals
in our community remain connected, I think is paramount as
well as our office provides services to help them stay
in their homes as long as possible, but that social
connection someone going checking in on them is just absolutely critical,
and that's what some of our programs do. So home
(21:59):
deliver meals, we have a touch point every time we
deliver that meal, and that's part.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
I understand that that's part of them going into the
house to make sure that person's okay. How about it?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
They can at times, So I mean, I would say
our volunteers and home delivered meals is done by our
volunteer network wouldn't traditionally go into the home, but if
they see that the meal wasn't taken from the previous day,
that would be an alert that they would contact our
office and then we would follow up to ensure everything's okay.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
You know, I'm curious about this. I was told it's
a pretty helpy meal. Does that mean somebody is on
a low salt diet they'll prefer a low salt buyet
for them, I mean a low salt meal.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
So we have our meals through one of our providers,
and it's going to be one one there's a menu
that comes out as just one meal for everyone that
day in essence, but we also do provide kosher meals,
So individuals that prefer kosher meals, we do provide kosher
meals at anybody for anyone that's interested in having those,
(23:00):
as opposed to the home delivered meals from the nutrition group.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Well, you know what, there's no I mean, you got
it covered, kiddo. I mean everything's covered, seriously. All the
information need is either on the site or you've got
a resource center. It's I mean that's terrific. But as
par socialization, anybody who is well enough to go out
to the senior centers, you don't have a way to
(23:25):
get there. You have those different modes of transportation. It
seems like you've got pretty much everything covered absolutely. What
do you think the biggest thing you need? Volunteers? Yeah,
we just talked about volunteers, but yeah, yes, is that
a need.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
It's a huge need. I would say individuals to deliver
home delivered meals is a great need for us.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Okay, what else?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
So I would say that is the ultimate biggest need.
But also we can have volunteers for the transportation services.
So I see those as meeting two huge, huge needs
in our community, would be delivering home delivered meals as
well as transportation services, and I'll talk about the un
delivered meals. When our volunteer based drops, then we have
(24:10):
to modify our delivery schedule. So everyone still receives five
delivered five meals per week, but depending on where the
individuals located in the county, it could be delivered one
day per week on a specific day as a five
hot meals delivered Monday through Friday, so that varies and
that can really be attributed to our volunteer network.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Years ago, there used to be a senior what was
it the rights book or what? Would you don't know
what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yes, so we have information and pamphlets.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
The pamphlets you were going to talk about.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
So we have various pamphlets that provide various information and
resources to individuals. If individuals would like any type of
those resources, we're more than happy to mail that directly
to them.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Okay, I don't even know where to what to say
to you. You've given us so much information.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Would you come back absolutely? Okay, No, it's been fun.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Okay, you know, what what would you like to tell
people out there? The people who have aging parents? What
do you think is the best thing you advice? You
could give them or how would you encourage them about
the severity and the respect for the parents. And I'm
not trying to put anybody down by this. I realized
people have lives and everything else, but you got to
remember they were there for you, right.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Absolutely, So I would say connecting with them, checking in
with them on a regular basis, as well as have
a discussion if they would be open to having a
power attorney established when they still have capacity to do so.
And we, as I talked about through wider law school,
we're happy to make that referral to them to complete
(25:48):
that work free for individuals over the age of sixty.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Do you know what? I get a lot of calls
and questions about tax rent rebate and what was the
other one?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Like, what's the fuel assistance program?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Heaping?
Speaker 1 (26:03):
They go through your office for that.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
We are more than happy to assist with the application
process for both of those forms, but they do not
get returned back to our office. So I believe that goes.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
To help somebody fill them out. Absolutely, you tell them
what they have to do next. Okay, absolutely? What about
the accent rebase? Who is that for? By the lad
be on medicaid to get.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
No, that's going to be for anyone that may qualify.
So that's going to be through the state. So we
will assist in providing that application as well as completing
the application with those individuals and then they would need
to turn it into the appropriate state office.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
Okay, how big is your is your office? How many
people are there?
Speaker 2 (26:47):
We have approximately forty five employees within our office.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Are you looking for anybody?
Speaker 2 (26:53):
We do have openings, so I encourage anybody that's interested
in getting into this work to continue to review. You
the open positions on the Dolphin County website and.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
There are I think through AARP you can see their
jobs there for seniors, part time jobs. That's a resource
for seniors because people don't want to retire. Yes, I mean,
my son has said to me, if you retire, you're
gonna die. Well, it's true, that's just gonna happen. But
I'm confident everything we talked about, ben Ben is going
to help you out. The address for the website is
(27:24):
Joppincounty dot gov. Or they have a Information Assistance Resource
Center with specials to send you in the right direction
for everything. Those numbers are you have those on in
front of you. You probably know those by.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Home, yes, So I mean I would encourage anyone to
call seven one seven seven eight zero six one three
zero and they would be connected with one of our
staff members to meet their needs.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And don't forget that they're looking for somebody on their round,
on their council to talk about a couple of times
a year, talk about what you feel the seniors need
in this area. And it's just like what I do.
I listen to what you want me to talk about
your needs are, and then I get somebody in here
to talk about it. So I'm sure glad that I
got Ben in here. So again, my guest has been
the Dolphin County Agency Area Agency on Aging Administrator Bendknox
(28:11):
Fend Again, thank you so much for coming in and
as always, don't forget Inside Airs every weekend on your
ten iHeart stations. If you miss it, it's on your
favorite podcast app. I'm Sylvia Moss. This has been Inside
Thanks so much for listening. To see you next week.
(28:34):
It's truly an inspirational event. Bridge of Hope's House of
Family Gala and it's on Saturday, March twenty second, at
five at the West Shore Country Club and Camp Hill.
You can expect the night to have live music and
auction or dervs, a played meal and dessert, and it'll
conclude with one of the many homeless mothers with children
in our area who's going to share her story of
(28:56):
strength and resilience. For more information and tickets, go to
Wursburg dot Bridge of Hope, Inc. Dot org. Hi, this
is Iheartpublic affairs director and host of Insight, Sylvia Moss.
Each week on Insight, we address and try to provide
the best local resources for issues that you tell me
are the most important to you, the ones that have
the biggest impact on your everyday lives. INSIGHT's also a
(29:18):
place where we can let you know about exciting community
events and introduce you to many of the incredible people
who work hard every single day just to make all
of our lives better. If you're not able to listen
to Insight when it airs on this station each week,
then catch it on your favorite podcast. Stat thank you
for listening. If you think that only old people get
(29:39):
Parkinson's disease, Huh, you're wrong. If you think you can
die from Parkinson's disease, wrong again. Get heard that research
shows that we're getting close to a cure for parkinson
as well. We have finally got one right. Eduscate yourself
about Parkinsons disease by going to ap DA Parkinson dot org.
(30:00):
We're calling one eight hundred two two three seven two
seven three two
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss. This is Inside of Public Affairs
program sponsored by iHeartMedia where we really care about our
local communities and all of our listeners who lived there.
In case in point, we're talking to the administrator of
Dauphin County's Area on Aging, Ben Knox, about the resources
that are available to all the seniors in our area.
(00:21):
They have. I can't believe it. I can't believe that
what they have. I thought I knew everything. And Ben
was here last week. So if you missed last week's show,
check out your favorite podcast out for part one. Here's
part two where we're going to talk about last week.
As I said, we talked about housing. We're going to
talk a little better about the issues that Ben felt
that were the most pressing for seniors. They are transportation
(00:42):
and preventing social isolation. We did talk a little bit
about preventing social isolation. Isolation. Yes, okay, tell me I
said to you last week, to me, this is the biggest,
big deal because it's a number one issue in the country.
It's a number one issue everyone where people have issues
with mental health. How is it impacting our seniors, Like,
(01:04):
what kind of things do they go through I mean
depression and all those other kind of things. But let
me ask you, is that something that has to be
assessed to qualify for any of the programs that you
have through the county for people with mental health issues.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So we really interact with a lot of individuals that
might be experiencing mental health in our protective services units
where we're completing those comprehensive investigations, and really we work
very closely with our counterparts at the mental health, autism
and developmental programs as well as Pathways Forward which provides
case management to Dauphin County.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Okay, talk to me about those senior centers that are available.
How many you have? Is it like eleven or twelve
of the senior series all around the area and what
are they?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yes, we have several senior centers that provide socialation or
socialization opportunities as well as activities that occur throughout the day.
So there's bingo, there's certain clubs, there's exercise activities that
are occurring to really bring people together as well as
the fundamental thing is they provide a congred meal to
(02:16):
those individuals. So individuals that are attending these senior centers
can receive that nutrition through that congred meal.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Okay, let's talk about transportation. That's a major issue that
plays into the issue of isolation for these seniors and
can be very depressing because every senior wants to say
independent and connected. So tell me about what you have
been placed for seniors with CAT with Rabbit trends that
you have several different things.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yes, so we do have a partnership with Rabbit Transit
to provide subsidized rides for medical appointments. Okay, correct, And
then we also have public private entities throughout Dauphin County
and local townships and it's really run by volunteers to
provide transportation services to individuals that may need to also
(03:07):
get the medical appointments, grocery stores as well as other
errands they may need to run. So they can contact
our office and we can put them in contact with
one of those public private transportation groups.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
This is where you're going to correct me again, Okay, Cat.
I always thought in Pennsylvania, if you were senior citiers
in like sixty five or older, you could write free
on your public transportation our Is this Cat wrong? Right? What?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So for individuals sixty five and older, there is an
application online through the Rabbit website. I would encourage individuals
to review that application in detail. I know for our
office is we subsidize medical trips.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Okay, okay, that's good. But if you want to go
for groceries and you don't got a cat that catch
the cat bus, you have to nowhere it runs in
your area because there's so many of them. But that
is not free.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
To my knowledge, I would encourage those individuals to talk
to CAT. Okay, I'm sorry to reach out to cat.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Okay, what do you have available for veterans? To me?
That's number one for transportation? Is that something that's a
public private partnership?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Great question? So I know we have a veterans affairs
department within Dauphin County, and I would encourage any veteran
that needs any types of benefits or services to reach
out to that department.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
You know what else we need to talk about, which
is probably going to take a while. This is so confusing.
What I would suggesting tell me if I'm wrong, is
when you're getting close to retirement age year or two,
you better start checking out different things like what is
medicare going to pay? Do I need A what do
they call those programs? Help me out?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Then PA METI.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, and we're going to talk about PA METI. But
the programs, I mean, there's so many things out there,
it's really confusing. But as you were just talking about
PA MEDI, what does MEDI stand for? And tell us
what you do?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Great question. So the acronym is Medicare Education and Decision Insight.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay, So you educate people about all the stuff I
talked about about Mandicare, supplemental income. All the things are
out there because people wait to the last minute to
do this. So what is like what? As I said,
I only mentioned a couple of things about it. But
it's free, right, That's a big deal. It's free.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
That's correct. So we have trained Medicare counselors within our
office where individuals can call or walk in at any
time or make an appointment to review their Medicare benefits.
Our counselors will educate them on the available options as
well as can assist with planned selection.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Okay, so we're talking about the word I couldn't think
of as advantage plan long term care insurance, which which programs?
And this is it's not a you know, it's not
a place to buy insurance. It's a place to find
out what's available with these plans.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Right correct, And our counselors are able to do some
planned selection so well.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
A lot of people don't understand basic Medicare benefits, like
you pay so much, so much if it comes out
of your Social Security every month and I don't remember
what's one hundred and seventy or something around now, and
that then that's part A. Part B is another story.
Part C and d's are another stories. That's where advantage
plans come in all these different things. So you have
(06:29):
a place people can either come to, they can go
to meetings that you have about You can do it
one on one, they can answers on provide answers on
the phone. It's free. You are there to educate, as
you said, Pa mety, and you administered this for the
common with right you're not tell me about that.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
So this is going to be for Douphin.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
County, Okay, okay, Yeah, And we do.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
A variety of things. So we do Medicare one on
one sessions. They are actually starting this month, so we
have of various Medicare one on one sessions throughout Dauphin
County to educate individuals about Medicare as well as during
open enrollment, we can meet one on one with individuals
(07:12):
to review their plan, assist with planned selection to meet
their needs. And last year we served approximately three hundred
and forty individuals during open enrollment and open enrollment it's
only about a month and a half to two months.
At the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
It is so great because you know, I get calls
all the time, and I'm in a program with an
avenged planet, and I get calls all the time. You want,
we want this, we want that, and those One thing
I want to make people aware of these programs. These
ads aren't TV see join it and what's that kid
from Good Times? I forget his name. They're being paid.
(07:48):
They're being paid and it might sound good, but that
might not be what's best for you. A lot of
these these advantage plans, you don't even have to pay
a premium. They supplement what Social Security doesn't pay, our
Medicare doesn't pay for. So people are quickly taking over.
I think what you're doing. You're not trying to sell
anything for anybody. You're trying to sit down with somebody,
(08:09):
find out what they need and send them in the
right direction. Right.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
That is correct.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Oh, I'm so glad here. I did I interrupt you?
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
No, I was just going to say we provide unbiased
so we don't benefit anyway by what plan an individual selects.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
No one else. I think is so cool. You're available
your office it handles this PA many program. You're available
to go out and talk to different organizations too, aren't
you about this?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
That is correct? So we hold this medicare one on
one session wherever the community needs it. So for this year,
what we have on our schedule is several senior center
sites as well as you know, we get requests from
specific entities or churches that feel they need to be
that they want more information on this, and we'll go
and speak to them as well.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
That's wonderful. Let me ask you this too, who is
the lady you reached out to about this and how
do you find out how to find any of the
stuff that we talked about with PA Meddy. Don't you
have a specific person?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yes, so, and she does an outstanding job. Her name
is Shannon Valier. So individuals that are interested in receiving
more information or scheduling appointment can call our office's main
number at seven one seven seven eight zero six one
three zero. So Shannon, as well as Sally Snyder and
Michelle Ryder are really the team that administered this program
(09:25):
and provide this unbiased Medicare advice.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
That's great. I'm so glad to hear that. Don't They
offer a couple of resources too for people that are
out there, a reference guide and you know, things to
help them see what they would qualify because some people
who qualify for an advantage program, some people in the
other types of medicare medicaid. I mean, there's so many
things out there and it's freaking confusing.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Absolutely, yeah, So we have information that we can provide
during those individualized meetings.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
As I said before, we've got so much to doctor.
You should see the pages of notes, and I usually
don't have pages and notes like this. The things I
want to ask you about. One of the things is
and I don't want to confuse people about this. I
don't know how often it's used in the county. There
are legal resources about this. This isn't for these are
civil cases. Could you explain how what it is and
(10:17):
how people would qualify for that.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yes, So for individuals over the age of sixty, we
have a partnership with Widner Law School where they will
perform civil related free legal assistants. You know, the most
common things they assist with are going to be drafting
power attorneys, drafting wills, advanced directives as well.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Could they do that there? Correct? No, Kidden, I didn't
know that.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
That's great as well as they assist with non contested
guardianships as well as landlord tenant issues. They can assist with.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Oh, I think that's fantastic. See Ben, I'm glad we
did this show. Another thing that people don't realize they
have access to isn't one as what does an ombudsman do?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Great question. I'll give you the definition of what a
ambud what ombudsman means and it's a Swedish word meeting
citizen representative. And really the vision for this program is
to advocate for those who can't, support those who can
and ensure long term care consumers or clients live with
dignity and respense respect, excuse me, and really our team
(11:27):
provides guidance and education to promote resident rights, quality of care,
in quality of life in long term care facilities, so
that could be in personal care homes, that could be
in nursing facilities. So our team is very active throughout
all the facilities within Dauphin County, and we have Resident
(11:47):
Council meetings, so meetings made up of residents to voice
their concerns as well as advocate with the administration at
these facilities, which is outstanding.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You never go home, do you?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Occasionally? I do get home from time to time, but
we have a lot of things going on, and we're
really we're really here to serve the community.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
And you're doing one heck of a job. One of
the things that I see a lot of seniors doing.
In fact, I was talking to somebody about this the
other day, is you get to a point it seems
like people are working longer because their health is better
because they needed a lot of people live on Medicare sobsecurity.
And that's not that I don't think people realize that,
but I've always been told if you want to live long,
(12:32):
keep your mind occupied, occupied, stay active. You have opportunities
for volunteering for seniors. That's a heck of a job
or heck of a thing to do that you know
you're giving back to the community to talk to me,
is me about some of the opportunities for seniors to
volunteer and what capacity.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Absolutely, so, we have several opportunities to volunteer. They're going
to be in our PA METI program, our Home Delivered
Meals program, which is a very low network to deliver
those meals to individuals that are primarily home bound. They
can also volunteer with our public private transportation groups, which
can either be a driver or dispatcher for one of
(13:13):
our transportation groups that bring no cost transportation to seniors
of their community. And then the last one is going
to be umbudsmen. So volunteers undergo free specialized training to
serve as advocates, provide guidance in education, to promote residence rights,
resident rights, quality of care, quality of life really to
(13:34):
residents and long term care facilities.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Okay, so somebody say, my mother's in a nursing home
and I find out that she's I don't know, has
bedsores or something, and nobody's taking care of what I
call them ambudseman and the county and say, check this out.
Are those some of the issues.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
An unbudsman could be deployed, But if an individual has
if there's grave concerns for some type of neglect. So
when we see sacral wounds, stage three, stage four wounds,
our protective services should be involved as well as depending
on what the results of our investigation are, which are
either substantiating that there's some type of immine risk or
(14:15):
unsubstantiating the case, we could notify the licensing entity that
oversees that particular facility.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Okay, we've been talking about this through an hour almost
between last week and this week. What do you feel
the most encouraged about and why do you do this?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So two things, Okay. The first one is I am
very encouraged by our staff. So we're coming from a
time where we had trouble with staffing. This is going
to be right after the pandemic. Our staffing were levels
were very low. We have bolstered our staffing and we
have an outstanding group in all areas and facets of
our agency. And then the reason why I do it
(14:53):
is to serve our community. So I have a great
connection with the community, connecting with the individual that we serve,
and really that's our mission. We want to serve those
older adults and we want them to age in place,
and that's what drives me every day.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Ben, You're a young guy. If you weren't doing this,
what would you be doing? What do you think? Are
you going to be one of those guys that comes
in here and says to me, well, I'd be playing
professional baseball.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
You know that was a dream probably when I was
a little kid. Yeah, but you know, I don't know,
to be honest, So you know, I started with the
County in twenty fourteen and then came to the Dauphin
County Air Agency on Aging in twenty sixteen. I've held
a variety of roles, so i was a protective services investigator,
(15:39):
very tough, but it was very rewarding and I was
really a time where I was able to connect with
the individuals we're here to serve. Then I moved into
the intake and Assessment supervisor role, then moved into the
Director of Services role where I oversaw all of our programs,
and then I was appointed this last April as the
administrator of the agent. So I've worked in multiple facets,
(16:03):
completed investigations, all the assessments that our agency completes. So
I feel I'm very knowledgeable in all those facets.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Everybody else's job first, and that's what everybody, even in business.
You should start off in the bathroom.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Sure, right, and that's.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
What you did.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Sure. Oh, but you know that's what I'm most encouraged about.
It is really our team and really here to serve
those individuals.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
What can people that are listening to this program, people
live in central Pennsylvania, what can they do to support
what you are doing with the Dauphin County Area Agency
on Aging. What do you think you.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Know the best way to do it is to provide
that social connection to individuals that might be socially isolated isolated.
That is really a priority for us as a community.
I think I do think at times we might have
gone away from checking in on our older neighbors, our
older relatives. So really encouraging individuals to do that would
(16:58):
be monumental.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I would like to ask you now, which I probably does,
because this has been I'm telling my listeners to contact
and please maybe I need to contact this because I
thought I knew a whole lot of stuff, but things
have been a whole lot of things have been added
to Drop and Counting Area on Aging over the last
couple of years, and I think this is wonderful. So
let me is there anything we forgot to talk about?
(17:21):
Do we may have missed? Please speak up.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
The only thing that I want to reference is regarding
some of our funding. Okay, So in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is
home to three point five three point four million older adults,
which is the fifth highest total in the country. So
it is estimated by twenty thirty there will be an
increase in the number of older adults in Pennsylvania to
(17:46):
account of one out of every three Pennsylvanians.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
I went twenty thirty, twenty thirty in the next years away,
that's right, goodness.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
And one thing to point out is the funding, the
funding that our office received eves that directly supports this
exploding population, in my opinion, has lagged over the last
twenty years. And really to put in perspective, what the networks,
when I talk about the network all Triple A's across
Pennsylvania do, is we provide critical services to roughly twenty
(18:17):
two percent of older Pennsylvania's and older Pennsylvanians annually in
really ensuring essential program services and protections that allow them
to age in place. And that is a huge theme
for us. So I want to point out and we
are very thankful for Governor Shapiro's proposal in the budget
that includes twenty million dollars in the pen care Line Item,
(18:39):
which are funds that would directly go to our agency services,
the critical services that allow individuals to age in place.
But I just wanted to mention this that the true
ask and the need across Pennsylvania is approximate one hundred
and five million. So very grateful for what the governor
has done, and from my observations, he's very supportive of
(19:02):
the network, But just wanted to put in there what
the true need is in our community across Pennsylvania.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
What would you suggest to our listeners to do. Get
a hold of the Governor's office or the Department of
Aging at the state and say, hey, you need to
support this.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Voice the concerns with their works with their elected officials
in their areas.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
That's absolutely wonderful. Ben, As we're quickly wandering out of time,
We've talked about so much stuff over the last couple
of weeks. Where's the starting point if you And here's
another thing I thought about a lot of seniors don't
know how to use a computer. I mean, there's so
many things out there, but what's your website address? Most
of what we covered today is on is on there, So.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
We're gonna be at Dauphincounty dot gov.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I encourage anyone to review our website as well as
to call our office. So if you were to call
our office, you would be connected with a trained intake
worker to evaluate what the needs are of the individual
you're calling about and how we can best serve them.
And if it's not through a program through our office,
we will do a warm handoff or get you connected
(20:06):
to the services in the community to assist.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
So seniors in Dolphin County are in pretty good shape,
aren't they. I think for their needs, for their needs
from what they need.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I would say yes generally, but I mean there's always
there's always room for improvement. So looking forward to continuing
to serve and meet the needs of those Douphin County
residents that we're here to serve.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And I look forward to coming back again because there's
got to be more stuff that we have to talk about.
One of the things I thought was really cool and
I thought about being a part of is a program
you have for seniors. It's called health and Wellness, right,
It's about health and wellness. What do you can you
find there?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yes, So our agency partners with the y MCA to
provide evidence based programming and classes in Dauphin County. And
really some of their programs are going to be enhance fitness,
healthy Steps in Motion, which is an exercise class. I'm
not doing that, disease prevention, diabetes prevention, diabetes self management programs,
(21:05):
as well as various exercise classes. So I encourage individuals
to reach out to our office as well as they
can find the information at the local YMCAs to partake
in these This is going to be another way to
bring individuals in Dauphin County together to have that social
component and really to benefit and get some education regarding
(21:26):
their health.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Well, you know what seems to me about the major
things that we talked about that you felt were the
issues the transportation, the housing, it seems to me from
the way you're talking that the socialization is the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I do see that as very critical. Ensuring that individuals
in our community remain connected, I think is paramount as
well as our office provides services to help them stay
in their homes as long as possible, but that social
connection someone going checking in on them is just absolutely critical,
and that's what some of our programs do. So home
(21:59):
deliver meals, we have a touch point every time we
deliver that meal, and that's part.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
I understand that that's part of them going into the
house to make sure that person's okay. How about it?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
They can at times, So I mean, I would say
our volunteers and home delivered meals is done by our
volunteer network wouldn't traditionally go into the home, but if
they see that the meal wasn't taken from the previous day,
that would be an alert that they would contact our
office and then we would follow up to ensure everything's okay.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
You know, I'm curious about this. I was told it's
a pretty helpy meal. Does that mean somebody is on
a low salt diet they'll prefer a low salt buyet
for them, I mean a low salt meal.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
So we have our meals through one of our providers,
and it's going to be one one there's a menu
that comes out as just one meal for everyone that
day in essence, but we also do provide kosher meals,
So individuals that prefer kosher meals, we do provide kosher
meals at anybody for anyone that's interested in having those,
(23:00):
as opposed to the home delivered meals from the nutrition group.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Well, you know what, there's no I mean, you got
it covered, kiddo. I mean everything's covered, seriously. All the
information need is either on the site or you've got
a resource center. It's I mean that's terrific. But as
par socialization, anybody who is well enough to go out
to the senior centers, you don't have a way to
(23:25):
get there. You have those different modes of transportation. It
seems like you've got pretty much everything covered absolutely. What
do you think the biggest thing you need? Volunteers? Yeah,
we just talked about volunteers, but yeah, yes, is that
a need.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
It's a huge need. I would say individuals to deliver
home delivered meals is a great need for us.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Okay, what else?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
So I would say that is the ultimate biggest need.
But also we can have volunteers for the transportation services.
So I see those as meeting two huge, huge needs
in our community, would be delivering home delivered meals as
well as transportation services, and I'll talk about the un
delivered meals. When our volunteer based drops, then we have
(24:10):
to modify our delivery schedule. So everyone still receives five
delivered five meals per week, but depending on where the
individuals located in the county, it could be delivered one
day per week on a specific day as a five
hot meals delivered Monday through Friday, so that varies and
that can really be attributed to our volunteer network.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Years ago, there used to be a senior what was
it the rights book or what? Would you don't know
what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yes, so we have information and pamphlets.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
The pamphlets you were going to talk about.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
So we have various pamphlets that provide various information and
resources to individuals. If individuals would like any type of
those resources, we're more than happy to mail that directly
to them.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Okay, I don't even know where to what to say
to you. You've given us so much information.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Would you come back absolutely? Okay, No, it's been fun.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Okay, you know, what what would you like to tell
people out there? The people who have aging parents? What
do you think is the best thing you advice? You
could give them or how would you encourage them about
the severity and the respect for the parents. And I'm
not trying to put anybody down by this. I realized
people have lives and everything else, but you got to
remember they were there for you, right.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Absolutely, So I would say connecting with them, checking in
with them on a regular basis, as well as have
a discussion if they would be open to having a
power attorney established when they still have capacity to do so.
And we, as I talked about through wider law school,
we're happy to make that referral to them to complete
(25:48):
that work free for individuals over the age of sixty.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Do you know what? I get a lot of calls
and questions about tax rent rebate and what was the
other one?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Like, what's the fuel assistance program?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Heaping?
Speaker 1 (26:03):
They go through your office for that.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
We are more than happy to assist with the application
process for both of those forms, but they do not
get returned back to our office. So I believe that goes.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
To help somebody fill them out. Absolutely, you tell them
what they have to do next. Okay, absolutely? What about
the accent rebase? Who is that for? By the lad
be on medicaid to get.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
No, that's going to be for anyone that may qualify.
So that's going to be through the state. So we
will assist in providing that application as well as completing
the application with those individuals and then they would need
to turn it into the appropriate state office.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
Okay, how big is your is your office? How many
people are there?
Speaker 2 (26:47):
We have approximately forty five employees within our office.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Are you looking for anybody?
Speaker 2 (26:53):
We do have openings, so I encourage anybody that's interested
in getting into this work to continue to review. You
the open positions on the Dolphin County website and.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
There are I think through AARP you can see their
jobs there for seniors, part time jobs. That's a resource
for seniors because people don't want to retire. Yes, I mean,
my son has said to me, if you retire, you're
gonna die. Well, it's true, that's just gonna happen. But
I'm confident everything we talked about, ben Ben is going
to help you out. The address for the website is
(27:24):
Joppincounty dot gov. Or they have a Information Assistance Resource
Center with specials to send you in the right direction
for everything. Those numbers are you have those on in
front of you. You probably know those by.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Home, yes, So I mean I would encourage anyone to
call seven one seven seven eight zero six one three
zero and they would be connected with one of our
staff members to meet their needs.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And don't forget that they're looking for somebody on their round,
on their council to talk about a couple of times
a year, talk about what you feel the seniors need
in this area. And it's just like what I do.
I listen to what you want me to talk about
your needs are, and then I get somebody in here
to talk about it. So I'm sure glad that I
got Ben in here. So again, my guest has been
the Dolphin County Agency Area Agency on Aging Administrator Bendknox
(28:11):
Fend Again, thank you so much for coming in and
as always, don't forget Inside Airs every weekend on your
ten iHeart stations. If you miss it, it's on your
favorite podcast app. I'm Sylvia Moss. This has been Inside
Thanks so much for listening. To see you next week.
(28:34):
It's truly an inspirational event. Bridge of Hope's House of
Family Gala and it's on Saturday, March twenty second, at
five at the West Shore Country Club and Camp Hill.
You can expect the night to have live music and
auction or dervs, a played meal and dessert, and it'll
conclude with one of the many homeless mothers with children
in our area who's going to share her story of
(28:56):
strength and resilience. For more information and tickets, go to
Wursburg dot Bridge of Hope, Inc. Dot org. Hi, this
is Iheartpublic affairs director and host of Insight, Sylvia Moss.
Each week on Insight, we address and try to provide
the best local resources for issues that you tell me
are the most important to you, the ones that have
the biggest impact on your everyday lives. INSIGHT's also a
(29:18):
place where we can let you know about exciting community
events and introduce you to many of the incredible people
who work hard every single day just to make all
of our lives better. If you're not able to listen
to Insight when it airs on this station each week,
then catch it on your favorite podcast. Stat thank you
for listening. If you think that only old people get
(29:39):
Parkinson's disease, Huh, you're wrong. If you think you can
die from Parkinson's disease, wrong again. Get heard that research
shows that we're getting close to a cure for parkinson
as well. We have finally got one right. Eduscate yourself
about Parkinsons disease by going to ap DA Parkinson dot org.
(30:00):
We're calling one eight hundred two two three seven two
seven three two
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