Holly Tuttle, Care Manager Supervisor for the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging

We were joined this moning by Holly Tuttle, the Bucks County Area Aagency on Aging's Care Manager Supervisor

Holly, a 20-year veteran of the Agency, explained that the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging (AAA), one of 52 in Pennsylvania, is responsible for the planning and implementation of a variety of services and programs to assist older adults and their families.  We are organized as the local agent of the PA Department of Aging, whose broad goal is to provide comprehensive services to help adults age 60+ maintain independence in their homes and communities.  Our priority consumers are those with the greatest needs and fewest resources.

What They Do

The AAA offers more than twenty programs covering a wide range of needs.  For those who qualify, these services may include in-home personal care and support services; family caregiver support; transportation; home-delivered meals and adult day care.  Additional services include health insurance counseling, adult protective services, legal assistance, health promotion programs and ombudsman services. 

Mnay programs offered by the AAA are funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery, unique ass its proceeds can ony be used to fund programss for older persons.  Some of its major programs include:

  • Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract of the Elderly (PACE) – helps pay for prescribed medicines for Pennsylvania residentss 65 years or age or older who meet incodm eligibility guidelines.
  • Rent and Property Tax Rebates – reimburses, up to $650 annually, personss whose income is less than $35,000 per household who are 65 years of age and over, widows and widowers over age 50, and permanently disabled persons 18 years and over.
  • Transportation – free mass transit provided inurban areas to persons age 65 and over, and reduced-fare transportation services for persons age 65 and over in both rural and urban ares.  There is also paratransit services for disabled persons.
  • Funds for Area Agencies on Aging – to provide a viariety of services and benefits to older persons.

Consumers may also call the AAA to inquire about eligibility these programs.

Among the other services the AAA can provide are:

  • Care Management Services  – Many people have heard the term "Care Management," but are not sure exactly what it means. Care Management is an integral part of Long Term Care. The need for Long Term Care can arise either gradually, as a person needs more and more assistance with their activities of daily living, or suddenly, for example, following a hip fracture or stroke.

  • In-Home Services  –  Trained aides can assist elderly clients in need with their personal care and other necessary tasks such as grocery shopping or laundry. This service may be privately obtained or may be subsidized by the Area Agency on Aging (AAA). In order to receive these services from the AAA, a person would have to be assessed by a social worker to determine the need.

  • Adult Day Care Providers  –  For those seniors who require constant supervision which their families are unable to provide, or for those seniors who need socialization opportunities but are too physically or mentally impaired to attend a senior center, Adult Day Care provides daytime supervision and activities which are geared to the abilities of the participants. This service may be obtained privately or may be subsidized by the Area Agency on Aging.

  • Nursing Facilities In Bucks County  –  Individuals age 18 or older who are requesting Medical Assistance funding for nursing home care are assessed by a social worker to determine that placement in a nursing facility is appropriate. Although every case is unique, generally speaking, nursing facility placement is indicated when the individual can no longer remain safely in their own home and 24-hour supervision is required.

  • Nursing Facility Assessment  –  Individuals age 18 or older who are requesting Medical Assistance funding for nursing home care are assessed by a social worker to determine that placement in a nursing facility is appropriate. Although every case is unique, generally speaking, nursing facility placement is indicated when the individual can no longer remain safely in their own home and 24-hour supervision is required.

  • Personal Care Facilities  –  The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging is providing a public service of maintaining a directory of licensed Personal Care Facilities in Bucks County.

  • APPRISE – Insurance Counseling  –  a free health insurance counseling program designed to help Pennsylvanians age 60 and over with health insurance concerns.   APPRISE counselors are specially trained volunteers who can answer your questions about Medicare, provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about health insurance.  APPRISE services are free and all information is kept completely confidential.

  • Health Promotion Programs  –  PrimeTime Health is an exciting program sponsored by the PA Department of Aging and administered locally by the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging. Older Pennsylvanians are staying healthy, active and independent through activities that are fun and informative. PrimeTime Health programs cover a wide range of subjects that are important to people as they get older and are available throughout the year.

  • Nutritional Services  –  Nutritious meals are served in a group setting at least once a day, five days a week, depending on the facility – usually senior centers. A complete listing of centers is provided on this web site under the heading, "Senior Community Centers."  For those older persons who are unable to prepare meals and have no other means of obtaining a hot, nutritious meal, home delivered meals can be provided.

  • County Senior Community Centers  –  There are thirteen County Senior Community Centers located throughout Bucks County and all provide a variety of recreational and educational programs. Most also serve a hot, nutritious meal. County Senior Community Centers link older adults to community resources and help seniors maintain their wellness and independence.

  • Employment Assistance  –  The Area Agency on Aging is a partner in PA CareerLink, the one-stop resource for recruitment, hiring and finding a job.  Persons age 55 and over with limited income may also be eligible for the Title V program, which places persons in part-time positions in non-profit agencies with the goal of providing training and more permanent employment. Applicants must meet income guidelines to qualify.

  • Positively Aging Volunteer Program  –  The Bucks County Positively Aging volunteer program provides opportunities for adults age 18+ to engage in volunteer service and contribute time, experience and knowledge to others in their communities.  There are many volunteer opportunities throughout Bucks County, and the Volunteer Coordinator will make every effort to match volunteers with an assignment that best meets their interests and skills. If specific services are offered, staff will make every effort to identify an organization that is in need and can best accommodate those skills and services.

  • Elder Abuse  –  Each year, hundreds of thousands of older persons across the U.S. are abused, neglected and exploited.  Many victims are frail and vulnerable, cannot help themselves, and depend on others to meet their most basic needs.  Elder abuse can present itself in various forms – physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial or material exploitation, neglect and self-neglect.  If you suspect mistreatment of an older person, you should report it to your local Area Agency on Aging.  For Bucks County residents, the phone numbers are listed below.  Even if you are not sure abuse has occurred, but feel you have a reason to be concerned about the older person’s well-being, you should make the call.  All calls are confidential.  Every Area Agency on Aging you call to report suspected elder abuse has specially trained staff to deal with these situations and to investigate the report.  If you report a suspected case of elder abuse, your name will not be revealed without your permission.  The staff person will contact the older person suspected of being abused.  If abuse has occurred, steps will be taken to advise the older adult of options available, protect the victim, stop the abuse and prevent it from happening again.  If abuse has not occurred, but the older person or family appears to need assistance, the staff person may refer the family to other services available through the Area Agency on Aging or other agencies.

All clients are assigned a Client Manager.  If needed Legal Aid is available.

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Afterwards, Holly drew the winning ticket for two first row seats aat the June 26th game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.

Holly pulling the winnint ticket with Fundraising Chaaair, Irv Perlstein'

The drawing's winner was Jeff Schur of 611 Auto Connection, 246 East County Line Road in Hatboro.

The raffle nettedd a total of $500 … with $200 being dedicated to the Club's work witth the William Dick School and the balance of $300 being going toward the Club's 22019 fundraising goal fof $10,000 or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (aaand we're 85% of the way toward that goal).