MOUNT VERNON – In Knox County, there are many services available to seniors — such as meal assistance — yet many members of the community may not even realize they are available.
As a member of the advisory council for the District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Larry Schafer wants to help make sure fellow senior citizens know what is available to them.
Schafer, who was recently reappointed to the advisory council by Mayor Matthew Starr, has been on the advisory council since 2007 and has also served on the board for Station Break Citizens Center for approximately 25 years.
As he began approaching retirement age himself, Schafer said he realized how many services available to senior citizens are not widely known, and he chose to accept his first appointment to the advisory council in order to help make people more aware.
“That’s the reason I do it, basically, is helping the seniors of Knox County — making them aware of the fact that there are things out there that they can apply for if they’re eligible,” he told the Mount Vernon News.
Schafer noted that programs available to Knox County seniors through the agency include meal delivery — something that is particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic — assistance with paying home utility bills and even assistance with things such as home repairs.
“There are a lot of different programs that the Area Agency on Aging has,” he said. “If you’re interested, all you have to do is get ahold of them. And if they can’t get ahold of them, they can get ahold of me, and I can get ahold of them for them. I’m more than happy to do that.”
As someone who doesn’t have the internet, Schafer said he understands that while the agency has a comprehensive website (www.aaa5ohio.org), many seniors may not be aware of the many different services discussed on the site.
Some examples of available services include transportation, prescription drug assistance, safety monitoring, volunteering opportunities, caregiver support and many others.
Station Break also administers a number of programs funded through the agency, such as subsidized meal delivery, Schafer said.
“With a limited income, sometimes — like now — it’s hard to get food to eat,” he said. “A lot of people just don’t have the money to take care of their groceries. And when they’re seniors, they can’t get out to get it.”
Additional information about available programs can be found by contacting the Area Agency on Aging at 419-524-4144 or by calling Station Break at 740-397-2417 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Schafer also said that fellow seniors who need help navigating the system are welcome to call him at 740-392-2346.
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