Resources as We Grow Older

Office of Aging

Resources As We Grow Older
in Centre County

Where To Find Help When You, a Family Member, or Friend, Needs Assistance With Daily Living

Important Websites

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Foreward

Generally, Americans want to be independent. Independence, however, can become much more of a challenge as we grow older. As we age, we often see a variety of changes in our lifestyles and in our needs. Most individuals remain healthy and are able to care for themselves while others need assistance in differing degrees to maintain their independence.

This resource guide describes a wide range of health, social, and support services available in Centre County. Different needs exist for those who are relatively healthy, those who might have slight impairments, those who are disabled, and those who are totally dependent on others for assistance. This guide is designed to help individuals, families, and friends to choose appropriate levels of support for older persons so that they can continue to live in the community, either in their own homes or in a more protective environment.

For most of us, it is difficult to admit that we or someone we love really needs some type of extra support or help. Sometimes, it is even harder to decide what we need and where to find it. This resource guide was created to provide you with enough information to find the support and resources you may need now—or in the future.

The Centre County Office of Aging is not responsible for omissions nor does listing in this guide imply endorsement.

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How to Use This Resource Guide

As a starting point, and a way to organize this guide, we have created a continuum of care from "Independent" To "Needs Total Assistance." Then we grouped the services and resources typically needed. To save a few trees, we didn't repeat services that may be helpful in each step in the continuum. For example, someone needing "Frequent Assistance" may still need some legal advice listed under "Independent Care."

The easiest way to use this guide is to:

  1. Look at the continuum and determine what level of care might be needed.
  2. Turn to the Contents to find the resources associated with that level of care. Everything is in alphabetical order.
  3. Read about those services; we have defined terms that may be difficult to understand.
  4. Then read about the resources one level above and below the level of need.
  5. Make some phone calls. Ask some questions. There are many people in the community who care about you and your family. Help is just a phone call away.
  6. Try a resource for a month or two. Services can always be cancelled or changed.

Continuum of Care

Least CareIndependent in Self Care
Community Resources
Down ArrowNeeds Occasional Assistance
Supportive Services
Needs Frequent Assistance
Services for Partial Care
Most CareNeeds Total Assistance
Long-Term Institutional Care

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About

This Guide is made possible through funding from the Centre County Commissioners.

Jon W. Eich, Chair
Rich Rogers
Steven G. Dershem

Prepared by representatives from the Centre County Office of Aging

Revised April 2009

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