Other Programs

Service Definition

Exercise or Physical Fitness

These programs address physical fitness, group exercise, music, art and dance-movement therapy. Some programs include multi-generational participation that are provided through local educational institutions or community-based organizations.


How Service is provided

Exercise and Physical Fitness: The Area Agency has contracts with the Hood River Valley Adult Center to pay for an instructor to come to the center and lead the senior exercise program 3 days per week. Their phone number is 541-386-2060. The Area Agency also contracts with Mid-Columbia Senior Center to provide a 3 day a week senior exercise program and 2 day a week yoga program. Their phone number is 541-296-4788.

Service Definition

Wellness Education

These are health promotion programs including programs relating to chronic disabling conditions (prevention and reduction of effects), alcohol and substance abuse reduction, smoking cessation, weight loss and control, stress management and providing information about the availability of, benefits and appropriate use of other preventive health services or programs.

How Service is provided

Wellness Education:The Area Agency promotes wellness and provides wellness education via our monthly newsletter, monthly PSA’s and our monthly radio show.

Service Definition

Newsletter

Staff prepare and distribution a monthly newsletter that informs seniors and the community of available services and activities.

Newsletter: the Area Agency on Aging publishes a bi-monthly newsletter called the Community Highlights.  Topics include information on wellness, elder abuse, services available for seniors, and other topics of interest to older adults. The newsletters are distributed to community partners, doctors offices, mealsites, senior centers, and a variety of other locations where older adults frequent. 

How Service is provided

Newsletter: The staff publishes a monthly newsletter with information on wellness, elder abuse, services available for seniors, and other topics of interest to older adults throughout the five counties served. The newsletters are distributed to community partners, doctors offices, meal sites, senior centers and a variety of other locations where older adults frequent.

Service Definition

Legal Assistance

This service provides legal advice, counseling and possible representation by an attorney or other person acting under the supervision of an attorney.

How Service is provided

Legal Assistance: The Area Agency on Aging contracts with Legal Aid Services of Oregon from Oregon City to provide legal assistance to elders in our district. They are not able to take on any fee generating cases. To schedule an appointment for legal help, call 1-800-228-6958.

Some services might be assistance with:

• Housing issues;
  
  
• Financial protection;
  
  
• Elder abuse protection.

Service Definition

Money Managment

This program provides assistance with financial tasks for seniors who are unable to handle their personal finances such as banking transactions and paying bills.

Money Management Program: this is an approved AARP money management program. The State of Oregon sponsor for the program is Easter Seals and the local sponsors are the Area Agency and Columbia River Bank. There are two coordinators – one who coordinates the intakes and determines eligibility of the clients, the other who provides the coordination of the volunteers. 

How Service is provided

Bill Payer Service
Bill Payer volunteers provide assistance with budgeting, organization, checkbook balancing and bill paying to individuals who remain in control of their finances but who need help keeping their finances in order.

Bill Payer clients must have the capacity to make good decisions about how they spend their money, but may need help with organizing, budgeting, reading, writing, understanding bills, or balancing their checkbook. Volunteers do not become signers on the client’s checking account or have any authority over the client’s personal finances in any way. Volunteers meet with the client (usually in the client’s home) at least once a month, or as needed, to meet the client’s needs for Bill Payer assistance. The client must have a checking account for this service. The client can be assisted in setting this account up with no charge to the client.

Representative Payee Service
Federal benefit paying agencies like the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs and the Railroad Retirement Board appoint fiduciary payees to manage benefits paid to individuals who do not have the capacity to do so themselves. Evidence that the beneficiary cannot manage his/her own financial affairs is normally supplied by a medical or psychiatric physician. In some cases a fiduciary payee may be required by court order.

While each federal benefit payer has its own regulations and terminologies, they all appoint a fiduciary to be responsible and accountable for the individual’s federal benefits. The Social Security Administration calls the fiduciaries Representative Payees.