Lake County Council on Aging

(440) 205-8111
8520 East Ave, Mentor, OH 44060
9:00-4:30 Monday-Friday

Aging & Disability Resource Center

Aging & Disability Resource Center

The Council on Aging serves as the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Lake County. In partnership with the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, the goal of the ADRC is to create a single, coordinated system of information and access for persons seeking long-term care services and supports. The ADRC is available to individuals aged 60 and over, as well as adults aged 18 and over with a disability.

As a consumer of Older Americans Act (OAA) funded services, your rights are important. The Council on Aging strives to provide the best possible service and treat all consumers with dignity and respect. If you believe that your rights have been violated or are dissatisfied with or have been denied OAA funded services, you may file a grievance. Click here for our Grievance Policy and Form.

There are three primary functions of the ADRC: Information & Assistance, Benefits Assistance, including Medicare assistance, and Options Counseling.

 

Information & Assistance

When you contact the ADRC, you will be connected with an Information & Assistance (I&A) Specialist who will work with you to find the right options for your individual situation and will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions. Now more than ever, seniors and adults with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers, are confronted with often challenging decisions about how to obtain the long-term services and supports they need to age in place. I&A Specialists provide information on public and private long-term care options, in addition to promoting awareness of community based service options to help individuals accomplish everyday tasks such as bathing, fixing meals, and managing a home 

Benefits Assistance

The Benefits Assistance program helps seniors and adults with disabilities find and enroll in state and federal benefit programs for which they are eligible. These programs include Medicare Part D Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-formally known as Food Stamps), and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), among others. When you contact the Council on Aging, a trained Benefits Specialist will complete a screening to determine your eligibility for various benefit programs. The Benefits Specialist will explain the eligibility requirements and can help you to apply. In addition, we will follow-up with you to ensure the benefits were obtained. You may also visit www.benefitscheckup.org to complete an online benefits screening.

Medicare Savings Programs

Medicare Savings Programs (also known as Medicare Premium Assistance Programs – MPAP) help those with low income and asset levels pay for health care coverage. If eligible, these programs can help pay the Medicare Part B premium, as well as all deductibles and coinsurances that Medicare does not pay. There are four Medicare Savings Programs and you must meet certain income and asset criteria to qualify. Click here to see if you qualify.

Extra Help (also known as the Low Income Subsidy) helps those with low income and assets pay their Medicare prescription drug (Part D) costs. If eligible, Medicare will pay all or most of the monthly premium, all or most of the annual deductible, and most of the copayments/co-insurance. Also, if you qualify for Extra Help, you will have full coverage in the coverage gap (also known as the donut hole). Click here to see if you qualify.

Although these programs are administered by the Department of Job and Family Services and the Social Security Administration respectively, the Council on Aging’s Benefits Specialist will screen for eligibility for these programs and help you to apply.

HEAP

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Community Assistance. It is designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of home heating. If you are eligible for assistance, the amount of your one-time HEAP benefits will depend on federal funding levels, how many people live with you, total household income, and the primary fuel used to heat your home. In most cases, the one-time benefit will be a credit applied to your energy bill by your utility company (or fuel vendor). Please note that if you have a shut off notice, or if your service has been shut off, you must go to the Lifeline Energy Assistance Office for assistance.

You may call the Council on Aging for assistance with completing your HEAP application or walk-in during our regular business hours. Click here for a list of documents to bring with you.

Medicare Counseling

Understanding your Medicare options can be overwhelming but the Council on Aging has trained Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) volunteers available to help. You may make a one-on-one appointment by contacting Allie Heinz 440-205-8111 ext. 240. Prefer to do it yourself? Check out www.medicare.gov. Medicare.gov has a user-friendly plan finder tool that allows you to plug in your medications and pharmacy information to review your Medicare plan options, as well as enroll.

The Council on Aging offers Welcome to Medicare presentations in the Spring and Summer for those who are new to Medicare. Please see the list of presentations offered and call the phone number provided to register at the location of your choice.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15th through December 7th annually. This is your opportunity to review your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan. Plans change from year to year so it is important to review your coverage options to ensure you have the best fit for your needs. You can call to set up a one-on-one appointment with one of our trained OSHIIP volunteers to better understand your options. Please note that appointments are required during Open Enrollment

During the Medicare Open Enrollment period the Council on Aging will be offering Medicare Check-Up Presentations throughout Lake County. Please see the list of presentations offered and call the phone number provided to register at the location of your choice.

Options Counseling

Options Counseling is an interactive decision-support process by which individuals and families receive guidance as they make informed choices about Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). The Options Counselor is available to talk with you, your family members, caregivers and/or significant others about a variety of long-term services and support options to fit your needs and preferences. The Options Counselor will help guide you through what can be a difficult and complicated decision making process, and help you to weigh the pros and cons of each decision. Through the process, individuals and caregivers receive free, unbiased information about the range of long-term care support options and resources available to help pay for them. Options Counseling may be provided at home, at an agency, in a hospital, rehabilitation or nursing facility.

How to Get Started…

Our Information & Assistance (I&A) Specialists are the first point of contact for information about our programs and services. When you connect with us online via our ‘Send Us a Message’ Contact Form, an I&A Specialist will contact you back via the preferred method of contact you designate on the form.  Or, if you prefer, you may call us at (440) 205-8111 and ask to speak to an I&A Specialist regarding your needs.