Area Agency on Aging 11 to Change Its Name
NILES, Ohio — The Area Agency on Aging 11 Inc. is changing its name to Direction Home of Eastern Ohio as part of its ongoing transition.
The name change coincides with the company’s move from Niles to Austintown in the former ITT building, 1030 N. Meridian Road. The move will take place in the spring of this year and the name change will take effect at that time.
The company will remain one of 12 state area agencies on aging that falls under the administration of the Ohio Department of Aging and federal programming.
Direction Home of Eastern Ohio is in line with the agency’s goal of providing choices to people to live in a place they want to call home. Area Agency on Aging 11 has expanded services, programming and staff over the past year.
“Due to our expansion beyond aging-only services, more than 25 percent of our business now deals with people under the age of 60,” said CEO Joe Rossi. “We want to continue to grow our product line and incorporate more private contracts to supplement our state and federal base.”
While the agency maintains its commitment and programs for aging services, it also offers services to people under the age of 60 with a disability. Some of these programs include Ohio Home Care Waiver, transition coordination for people being discharged from hospitals, care coordination with managed care organizations, healthy lifestyle programs, advocacy and senior rights through the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, and crisis intervention coordination with Mahoning County social service agencies.
“After opening in 1975, the Agency grew to 13 employees by 1984. Today we have 137 employees with 17 programs,” Rossi said. “As we continue our transition with a new location and new name, we hope to better serve our communities and increase our impact on the local economy.”
The majority of the Agency’s employees are licensed social workers and nurses who provide case management and service coordination for in-home services. The agency also administers the Mahoning County Senior Levy. The agency’s overall budget last year was more than $25 million.
Besides Medicaid programs, the federal programs under the Older Americans Act and levy services provide services for people 60 and older with no income eligibility. The company provides resources on aging and disabilities.
Direction Home of Eastern Ohio will continue to serve Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
