Linking people with local services focus of Active Aging event

Jun. 28--For seniors in Crawford County, sometimes getting information face to face with people ready to help is a tall order. Pennsylvania Link makes it easy.

Active Aging hosted its annual PA Link to Services Fair on Thursday at its facility on Park Avenue in Meadville. The fair brought together 47 PA Link partner organizations, representing mental health services, assisted living communities, home health options, insurance assistance and more.

The Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources, commonly known as PA Link, is a networked system of local, regional and state partner agencies that collaborate to help find support for those with home and community-based needs. The PA Link allows streamlined access to resources and educational options while minimizing duplication of assets.

The network focuses specifically on those age 60 and older, people with disabilities regardless of age, those with behavioral health or substance abuse issues, veterans, caregivers and family members of such populations.

Kathy Freeman, lead link coordinator for several northwestern counties, said the PA Link started in 2011 and quickly expanded to more than 80 partners in Crawford County. The PA Link to Services Fair had its origins in an Active Aging event called Seniorfest, which Freeman said took over the former Meadville Mall and later the Downtown Mall.

"Unfortunately, some of us at Active Aging are actively aging, and we couldn't put on a huge festival that had 150 vendors because we'd have to do nearly all of it," Freeman said.

To bring back the event and highlight PA Link, Active Aging decided to have a smaller-scale fair in its facility on a first-come, first-serve basis for vendors.

"One of our goals is to have one-stop shopping, in a sense," Freeman said. "You come here, and you can get all this information. You don't have to sit at home and try to look through a phonebook if you're not computer savvy. Even if you want to make one call, who do you call?"

Freeman said she invited local state representatives to the fair as well as a shoutout for their support of PA Link.

Kay and Bob Smith of Meadville attended the fair specifically to hear a speaker give a presentation about Lyme disease and other illnesses spread through ticks. Kay said her son lived in an area where ticks were plentiful and wanted to learn more.

"I knew (the fair) was here, but I didn't know there was going to be a big marketplace," Kay said. "For seniors, you get a lot of information at one time. This bag's clear full."

Get help

For those interested in reaching out to Pennsylvania Link with questions about long-term living services and supports, a statewide helpline operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (800) 753-8827. Or, email Kathy Freeman at [email protected].

Christa Cicuto of Juniper Village, a personal care and senior living community on Chestnut Street, said Juniper Village has been coming to this event annually. As a PA Link partner, she said regular meetings allow for updates on forthcoming events as a way to foster collaboration.

"There's a lot of great companies out here with a wealth of information for them," Cicuto said. "So it really benefits them to come out here, check every table out, gain that information -- not only to have fun but also as a proactive approach. You never know when you're going to need a service in the community."

For Amy Jo Learn, it was her first Link to Services Fair. As a senior navigator for HVA: Senior Living Alliance, an alliance of regional nonprofit senior living communities, Learn meets with families in their homes to help them consider all the resources available for their needs, sort of like a PA Link in miniature. She also works with lower-income families to find state programs that can help.

"We help senior citizens find extra care either in the home, personal care, nursing home care -- we do the whole contingent," Learn said. "We don't just refer to our nonprofit facilities, but anything within the community."

Despite covering Crawford, Venango and Mercer counties, Learn mentioned more people should take advantage of HVA, especially considering the service she provides is free.

"I wish more senior citizens who need the help would reach out, and we could be able to help them find what they need to help them maintain their independence as much as possible," Learn said.

In addition to care facilities and medical equipment, mental health was also highlighted in the fair. For instance, Julie Eckert, co-chair of the steering committee for the Crawford County Suicide Task Force, was on hand with brochures and resources for those touched by suicide.

"I think (the fair is) awesome because this is an age group that you still need to worry about," Eckert said. "The suicide rate, age-wise, is going up recently. It's more middle-aged men that are having a hard time and farmers. It's nice to be able to reach out to this group."

Eckert explained the task force hosts a free support group every second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Java Tree Cafe on Chestnut Street for "survivors" who lost loved ones to suicide. The group is run by two trained facilitators who are survivors.

Having served at information tables in the past, she was particularly enthusiastic when it came to the collaborative nature of the fair.

"I think the cool thing about this is, from what I've seen, it's actually, instead of different agencies trying to sell themselves, it is more based on, 'Here's all the resources that could really help you,' and I like that feeling," Eckert said.

Tyler Dague can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at [email protected].

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