Supportive Services

PA Medi
PA Medi is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Pennsylvania’s Medicare Beneficiaries. PA Medi will help Pennsylvanians with Medicare understand their health insurance options and help them make sound decisions about what is best for them. Aside from Medicare/Medicaid eligibility, the PA Medi program will screen for eligibility for all other programs. PA MEDI is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Pennsylvania’s Medicare Beneficiaries. PA MEDI has trained staff that will help Pennsylvanians with Medicare, understand their health insurance options and help them make sound decisions about what is best for them. Volunteer opportunities available. 

Aside from Medicare/Medicaid eligibility, the PA MEDI program will screen for eligibility for all other programs including:

Medicare Part B & D premium assistance
Fuel Assistance
SNAP Benefits
PACE | PACENET
Claim Filing
Property Tax & Rent Rebates
Consumer Protection and Advocacy

Outreach
The outreach goal is to provide information about the availability of resources and services, as well as linking the person to the appropriate agency through the use of a home visit. Outreach services include activities to seek out and contact isolated older persons who may or may not be aware of the AAA services. The goal is to provide information about the available services and resources as well as link the person to the appropriate agency or agencies if services are desired. 

Ombudsman
Pennsylvania Ombudsmen are federally mandated, legally-based, and state certified to actively advocate and give voice to people who receive long-term care services, whether delivered in the community or a facility-based setting.

Ombudsman is a Swedish word which means “citizen representative”.

The Ombudsman services are provided to, or on behalf of, residents in Personal Care Homes, Nursing Facilities, Domiciliary Care Homes, and anyone receiving Long Term Care Services in the community. The Ombudsman receives, verifies, and attempts to resolve any complaint on a local level by acting as a negotiator between the complainant and homeowner and/or administrator.

Pennsylvania Ombudsmen are federally mandated, legally-based, and state certified to actively advocate and give voice to people who receive long-term care services, whether delivered in the community or a facility-based setting.

The Older Adults Act of 1965 established the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and required the Department of Aging to implement it in the nursing home setting. In Warren and Forest counties, the ombudsman now also advocates for the residents of personal care homes, adult day care facilities and for those receiving services in the community. Ombudsmen are resident-directed, which means that the resident must give permission for their concerns to be shared with others. Otherwise these matters are kept confidential between the ombudsman and the resident.

Volunteer opportunities available.

1. Provides information to residents and family about rights, procedures and additional resources within the facility or community.
2. Investigates concerns and works to resolve issues that may involve a resident in a long-term care facility.
3. Offers consumer education programs and carries out training for facility staff.
4. Assists in the development of resident councils.
5. Instructs PEER classes in facilities. These classes instruct residents who will advocate for other residents in their own facility . (Pennsylvania’s Empowered Expert Residents)

Protective Services
These services are provided to individuals age 60 and older who are at risk of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, neglected or self-neglect, and/or exploitation. Individuals may reside in the community or within a licensed facility. The program includes a broad range of legal, medical, and social intervention on behalf of the older adult. The goal of protective services is to reduce or eliminate the risk of abuse.

Older Adult Protective Services (OAPS) intervenes in situations where an individual 60 years of age or older, cannot perform or independently obtain services necessary to maintain physical or mental health, has no responsible caregiver to assist them, and is in imminent risk of danger to their person or property at the hands of another person or due to their inability to meet their own basic needs.  Reports may be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, by calling (814) 723-3763 or toll free 1-800-281-6545

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES
Can be obtained by calling the main office at 814-723-3763 Ext. 139.