An 81-year-old Wilmington resident is among more than 640 Clinton County individuals receiving support from the Elderly Services Program, which helps eligible older adults remain safely at home and aids family caregivers.
Donna Logan has enrolled in the program since 2015, according to the Wilmington News Journal. She lives with diabetes, a pacemaker, fused spinal discs and aftereffects of falls, and no longer drives. The program has supplied her with an emergency response system for fall-related calls and a lift chair designed to reduce pain and assist her in standing safely.
Through a consumer-directed care option, Logan selected Helen Aponte as her independent home care worker. Aponte provides weekly help with cleaning, shopping, appointments and errands, the newspaper reported. In May, the Council on Aging gave Aponte its Home Health Aide Hero Award.
According to the report, the Council on Aging administers the program for the Clinton County Board of Commissioners, handling intake, eligibility assessments, care management and provider oversight. County residents 65 and older may qualify if they need assistance with bathing, cooking, cleaning or transportation. Income is not a factor in eligibility, though some participants may contribute to service costs based on financial resources.
The senior services tax levy supplies 96% of program funding. Voters approved the current 2.35-mill levy in 2021; it costs about $57 annually per $100,000 of property valuation and funds stay in Clinton County. Without renewal in November, the levy expires at the end of the year.