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MISSION
STATEMENT
As
partners in the community the Middlesex County Department on Aging provides
leadership in the development and implementation of programs and services
that enable Middlesex County seniors to remain independent in the community.
DEPARTMENT
INFORMATION
The
County Department on Aging is the federally designated agency to advocate,
plan, coordinate and provide area wide programs and services to senior
citizens residing in the county regardless of the funding source. It
serves as the connecting link between County government, the State Department
of Health and Senior Services and local communities in the development
of various senior programs initiated by federal, state and county directive.
Thru annual contracts, the Department funds local providers for support
services in: legal assistance, adult day care, telephone reassurance,
outreach, transportation, congregate nutrition, home delivered meals,
language translation, friendly visiting, visiting nurse, homemaker home
health aides, care management, residential maintenance, senior center
support, mental health services, caregiver education, and information
and assistance.
The Department on
Aging conducts a needs assessment survey and public hearing annually
to determine the service needs and priority areas to allocate funding.
It administers senior service programs from a comprehensive approach
by addressing issues related to three vantage areas:
- advocacy
- access to services
- information, referral and assistance
- resource management
- effective and efficient coordination of services
The Department is
the recognized lead agency for N. J. EASE (Easy Access Single Entry)
the statewide system that coordinates access to services, care management
and support services for seniors. It is responsible for taking the lead
in providing information, referral and assistance to seniors, their
caregivers, provider agencies and the general public who need to obtain
services in the county. The Department is also linked to the Eldercare
Locator which gives access to a network of Aging entities nationwide.
The N. J. EASE toll free number within New Jersey is 1-877-222-3737
and the Eldercare Locator national toll free number is 1-800-677-1116.
The Department on Aging directly provides a broad array of services
including:
- Information and
Assistance for seniors and caregivers
- Congregate noontime
meals at sites located in: Carteret, Edison, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy,
Piscataway, Sayreville, South Brunswick, Spotswood and Woodbridge.
- Transportation
to the congregate sites.
- Weekday home
delivered meals to frail homebound seniors
- Medicare health
insurance counseling on site and at various locations
- Care management
services for various Medicaid waiver homecare programs
- Care management
services for the Respite Care Program for Caregivers
- Coordination
of in-home services under various county funded programs
- Care management
services for the Assisted Living Program
- Medication Management
Assistance
- Health awareness
and nutrition education programs
- Life enrichment
and senior recognition programs
- Annual senior
art contest
- Annual 90's Birthday
Bash
- Distribution
of FREE "File of Life" refrigeration information pouches
- Elder abuse presentations
to law enforcement, bankers, etc.
- Kids & Seniors
- Perfect Together School Program
- "ENSURE"
Senior are Nourished Initiative
- Farm Market Produce
for Seniors Initiative
As a means to advocate
on behalf of and inform the public about senior issues and programs,
the Department provides speakers for senior clubs, civic, health care,
law enforcement, caregiver, religious and other community or business
groups.
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