The Wood County Committee on Aging continues spending grant money to assist seniors with home repairs and improve their quality of life.
At the governing board’s meeting in April, Executive Director Denise Niese provided an update on grants the agency has received from the Ohio Department of Aging.
She reported that $188,901 of a Healthy Aging Grant has been allocated as of March 30 with reimbursement requested from the county.
“Some things were a couple hundred dollars, some things were $48,000,” she said.
Funds have already been spent on ramps for homes ($23,605), internet access and digital literacy ($23,008), membership in the Wood County Probate Guardianship Board ($33,870), storm door installation ($802), doorbell and grab bar installation ($306), Great Lakes Community Action Partnership Getting Around Guides ($5,000), and nursing and health education services ($48,000).
The grant received from ODA includes an agreement with the Wood County Commissioners to use the funds for direct service and items that will benefit older adults. The agency will pay for the items and then bill the county for reimbursement.
Half of the $466,495 had to be encumbered by March 31 and the balance by Sept. 30, Niese said.
The agency also will use the grant money to purchase two vehicles for home-delivered meals, two medical escort vans, technology, additional technology including server, hardware and software installation and laptop setups for a computer lab in Bowling Green, internet connectivity for existing jetpacks, additional minor home repairs and adult day services.
The agency received a one-time allocation of $115,000 from ODA for minor home repairs and to date, 29 projects have been completed with a balance of $23,546 remaining. The money must be spent by Sept. 30.
There remains about 18 jobs still in the que, Niese said, “so we have no doubt everything is going to be exhausted.”
At the time of the meeting on April 10, the agency needed a site manager and driver for its North Baltimore location as well as a site manager for Pemberville.
Niese also reported no date has been set for the opening of MemoryLane Care Services.
Board member Sue Hess asked for an update on usage for the room that was meant to be a gift shop. She suggested making it a reading room with shelves.
Board Vice President Nancy Orel said the Friends of WCCOA thought it would be a good space to put computers and offer classes.
“Individuals who don’t have working computers at home, they can use the computers here,” she said. “We can also have sessions where individuals can learn to use this technology.”
Niese pointed out it was the board’s decision on how the space would be used.
“I think it’s an excellent suggestion,” Orel said.
Niese said the agency has purchased portable computer stands, but not desks.
She added there is not a television or hearing assistance in that room, so if there was a class with laptops, it would be held in one of the meeting rooms, she said.
The next governing board meeting will be May 8 at the Wayne Area Senior Center, 202 E. Main St.
