Council Authorizes Millions to Help Seniors Age-in-Place

Councilmember Mitchell J. Brown,

Appropriating nearly $150 Million in Funding to Keep Seniors in their Homes

[COLUMBUS, OH] Columbus continues its commitment to be a welcoming and inclusive city for all residents. Councilmember Mitchell J. Brown, chair of the Veterans and Senior Affairs committee sponsored ordinances 1331-2019 and 1332-2019 to authorize appropriations totaling $146,974,560 for various programs to help older adults age in place.

“As folks age, it’s important to provide them opportunities to age in place, staying comfortable in homes they’ve lived in for years,” said Brown. “These programs exist to ensure a sustainable future for our seniors, and they are critical to the future success of our communities.”

Ordinance 1331-2019 authorizes the appropriation of grant funds from the Ohio Department of Aging for the continued operation of the Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today (PASSPORT) Medicaid program for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.

“Supporting older residents with the necessary resources and tools needed to help them age-in-place is vital to the growth and stability of our neighborhoods,” said Brown. “We are championing our Age-Friendly initiative and this effort perfectly aligns which our goal to provide avenues that support to maintain healthy, vibrant multi-generational communities.”

Ordinance 1332-2019 will authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into various contracts to provide PASSPORT home care and assisted living services for older adults in Central Ohio for the second year of a two year period beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.

PASSPORT services include case management, adult day care, homemaker, meals, personal care, respite, transportation and emergency response. Approximately 7,000 clients are currently being served by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) under the PASSPORT program.

“Passport is one of COAAA’s key programs providing long term care alternatives to Central Ohioans,” said Cindy Farson, executive director of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. “We urge individuals or caregivers needing home care assistance to call COAAA to see if PASSPORT or another program can help.”

PASSPORT is an acronym for Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today and is managed locally by the Area Agencies on Aging.