County Approves New Contracts For Senior Services

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  OCEAN COUNTY – Ocean County recently approved 37 contracts for various senior programs in order to continue to meet the needs of the aging population.

  “Ocean County is home to more than 173,000 seniors,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, chairman of Senior Services. “It’s imperative we continue to have services in place to meet the growing demand and to make certain we can assure our seniors live independently and with a quality of life they deserve.”

  On Jan. 15, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded 37 competitive contracts to a host of local network service providers totaling more than $2.7 million.

  “All of the funded programs such as access, community support, home support and nutrition support are designed to improve the quality of life for older adults at all stages of aging from the newly arrived senior who benefits from Medicare counseling, educational programs, and health screenings to the older more frail individual who receives a home delivered meal or a home health aide visit,” Vicari said. “Our goal is to fund services and provide information and assistance efforts that will keep older adults in their own homes in their own communities for as long as is safely possible.

  In 2020, the Ocean County Office of Senior Services will oversee a total of 45 Area Plan Contracts with 21 governmental and non-profit agencies in Ocean County totaling over $6.2 million.

  A key contract awarded in 2019 was to Community Services Inc. for the county’s senior nutrition program, expected to serve about 300,000 meals in 2020. Other support areas to be funded under the contracts include transportation, legal services, caregiver services, social and recreational activities, benefits options counseling, mental health support and a host of other community based initiatives.

  Over 532,000 units of service are planned for 2020 through 45 area plan contracts which project to serve close to 34,000 older residents and their families.

  “We provide help in a variety of ways to our seniors,” Vicari said. “Whether it be nutrition assistance or Medicare information and education, the goal is to help keep our aging population healthy, active and independent.”