With everything happening during the past year, seniors living in Greene County have had a lot on their mind. Worries about physical and mental health, self-care, and living needs have been on many people’s minds. For seniors in our area, there are several different options available around the county and more are becoming available as restrictions begin to end and vaccines become accessible.
If you’re not ready to head back out into the world, consider your in-home needs first. Do you need a little help with tasks around the house? In-home care might be the perfect option. Jesse Pento, owner of Pento Home Care, has been providing care for those that have difficulty leaving their homes for 20 years. “We do non-medical in-home care, sending our aides out to do cooking, cleaning, and other housework, “ Jesse says. “We can take you to appointments and any engagements that you may have. Basically, we do anything around the home that is not related to specific medical care.”
The aides at Pento Home Care are constantly working for their customers even before they start assisting. It is a long process to become eligible for the assistance required in home care, and Jesse and his team helps potential clients every step of the way.
“Once someone calls us, it typically takes six to eight weeks to complete the application process, “ Jesse says. “We have seen lots of people give up through the process, but we are here to help you through every step of the process. We help our customers along by encouraging them to fill out all the forms and giving them tips on how to correctly fill out each section of the application process. Once you pick a service coordinator, we will actually come out to your house and help you through the process.”
After completing hours of paperwork and getting approved for needed in-home care, it can be scary welcoming a stranger in your home. Jesse has been in the homecare business for 20 years and knows the importance of a good patient-aide fit. He works tirelessly to make sure that the aides he sends out to each home are just right.
Before an aide ever steps foot in a home, they have already gone through hours of in-depth training and interviews to ensure they are the right fit.
“We fully train all of our aides in-house and are certified by the PA Healthcare Association, “ Jesse says. “After they are trained, we make sure that the aide is a good fit for the patient’s needs. We conduct house interviews for each aide selected and after that we can usually determine which side is going to be the best fit for you. All of our aides have their clearances and background checks, and we strive to provide the best care for you.”
If you’ve got your in-home care in order, a program aimed to improve quality of life – mentally or physically – might be a great choice. In Greene County, there are many different programs around focused on self-care. Whether you’re suffering with muscle pains, struggling with fitness, or need help with self-management, there is a program out there that can help.
“The Health and Wellness program offered by the Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging provides opportunities for adults 60 and older residing in Greene, Fayette, and Washington counties, “ says Robin Younger of the Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging. “We work a lot with the Uniontown YMCA to offer health and wellness programs tailored to our seniors.”
Every program offered by the Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging is centered around helping seniors improve themselves, providing individual attention in a fun group environment. This month, Pam George, the wellness director at the Uniontown YMCA, is offering a Tai Chi and enhanced fitness class for seniors who want to get fit.
“Programs offered at the Uniontown YMCA include Tai-Chi for Arthritis (8 weeks), Enhance Fitness (6 weeks), and Chronic Pain Self-Management workshops, “ Robin says “The SWPA AAA also sponsors the 15-week ‘Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less’ online weight management program developed by NC Star University.”
The EQT REC Center in Waynesburg also offers a variety of programming geared towards seniors. Their facility offers a fitness room, walking track, and group classes. The center believes that,” when seniors exercise regularly in a group setting, they gain the social interaction, motivation, and the physical benefits necessary to stay active and engaged in their community.” Their senior programs include low-impact chair exercise, balance programs designed to reduce falls, and Silver Sneakers. As a Silver Sneakers partner, the EQT REC Center programming incorporates Silver Sneakers classes, developed to maintain fitness and health through cardio, yoga, flexibility and stability exercises.
When people feel cared for they often turn towards their community with the need to share that comfort with others. There are several organizations around Greene County that provide seniors and people over the age of 55 a chance to help serve their communities. These programs help community members who are struggling and giving back to those less fortunate can be a rewarding experience, both mentally and physically. “Joining Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a great way to become more active in the community and to help others,’ says Stacy Stroman, program director at Blueprints. “There is research that demonstrates the mental and physical health benefits associated with volunteering, including lower mortality rates, increased strength and energy, decreased rates of depression, and fewer physical limitations.”
There are four main programs offered by Blueprints that allow seniors to help those in their communities. Seniors can deliver meals to the homebound elderly, educate other adults about financial literacy, prepare taxes for low-income families, or provide telephone reassurance to isolated seniors. Each person is paired with another senior in need and provides them much-needed assistance.
Every year, Blueprints receives hundreds of senior volunteers eager to help their fellow senior citizens. According to Stacy, the response from all of these seniors is the same: a rewarding experience that they will never forget.
“In 2019, we had 316 senior volunteers, and even during the pandemic, we had a total of 266 volunteers in 2020,” Stacy says “It is such a rewarding experience, and all of our volunteers have positive things to say about the program. It helps give them an opportunity to give back to their communities and makes them feel good inside.”
Greene, Washington, and Fayette counties have been built on the backs of seniors who have made a difference. Now it is our turn to give back by offering care, self-care, and enrichment opportunities to allow them to keep living enriching and engaging lives as they age.