Senior Options is funded by the Senior Services Levy and provides "one-stop shopping" for callers needing information, advocacy, or direct access to a wide range of community-based services.

By dialing (614) 525-6200, residents of Franklin County can access a system of services and information about community and home-based care for frail seniors. Senior Options maintains contracts with companies and agencies that provide personal care, home delivered meals, adult day care, medical transportation, and other services that allow our county's older citizens to live independently in their own homes.

Adult protective services (APS) are services that prevent, remedy or reduce situations that endanger an older adult. These services are meant to maximize independence and self-direction while preventing unnecessary institutionalization by selecting the least restrictive alternative for intervention.

Per Ohio law, an individual must be 60 years of age or older to receive adult protective services and must be considered a vulnerable older adult. A vulnerable older adult suffers some form of physical or cognitive impairment that prevents them from being completely independent.

APS investigates cases of older adults in the community. There are different agencies that investigate abuse in nursing homes or abuse of developmentally disabled individuals.

The Caregiver Support Program supports caregivers of older adults age 60 and older on a short-term basis. The Program can assist with a variety of services, including in-home respite, adult day care, and durable medical equipment.

Caregiving can be challenging, but support is available to make it easier.

Minor Home Repair strives to minimize the danger of falls and other accidents, enabling older adults to live at hme in safety and independence.

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues placards and license plates for the disabled. Placards and license plates for persons with a disability may be obtained at local Deputy Registrar agencies.

See the Senior Citizen Information Handbook for more information.

There are many senior citizen recreation centers operating within Franklin County.

A detailed list of these centers can be found on the Senior Citizen Information Handbook.

LifeCare Alliance has several dining center locations throughout Franklin County.

See the Senior Citizen Information Handbook for more information.

• be at least 60 years of age
• be a resident of Franklin County, Ohio.
• demonstrate a need for service based upon an assessment of her/his ability to do daily tasks. There must be an indication of an unmet or under met need in order for applicant to be enrolled into the program.

Referrals can be made by contacting Senior Options at (614) 525-6200.

Social Work and Health Care professionals may submit referrals online at http://referrals.officeonaging.org.

• the minimum requirements stated above are not met
• the applicants income and assets exceed program guidelines
• the applicant appears to be eligible for services from another funding source such as Ohio's PASSPORT program.

Elder abuse is a broad term that refers to any abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult age 60 or older.

• Abuse takes many forms, and includes hitting, pushing or striking an older adult; yelling at or belittling an older adult; and use of unreasonable constraint/confinement. Abuse can be physical, psychological or sexual in nature and most often occurs at the hands of an adult child or other family member.
• Neglect can be by a caregiver or the hands of the older adult (self-neglect) and involves the failure to provide needed services or items to prevent harm.
• Finally, exploitation is the act of using an older adult’s resources for the benefit of another and can be financial or material in nature.

In Franklin County, Ohio you can report elder abuse by calling Adult Protective Services at (614) 525-4348, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Professionals and mandated reporters can make reports online at http://referrals.officeonaging.org.

To make a report outside of Franklin County, visit the Ohio HOPES website at www.ohiohopes.org for local reporting numbers. Outside of Ohio, contact the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

All reports are reviewed by supervisory staff to ensure they meet the criteria for an investigation.

Once assigned, an investigator has three business days to initiate the investigation which is typically done with a visit to the abused person’s home. An investigation can take up to 30 days to complete and involves speaking with collateral contacts and making multiple visits to see the older adult.

Adults, old and young, have the right to refuse help. APS honors the wishes of those that decline assistance except in situations where the adult very clearly lacks the ability to make this decision.

APS works in conjunction with physicians, mental health professionals and the courts when an adult’s ability to make decisions is in question and abuse is happening.

You have the right to know the allegations that have been reported and the basis for the concern. Additionally, all APS clients are entitled to have an advocate of their choice present during any interview. Adults are entitled, by law, to a letter explaining that a report has been received and the intent to investigate.

APS works towards honoring the wishes of the older adult while gathering information from other concerned parties, who may not be entitled to the details of the investigation.

You have the right to make your report anonymously and leave no identifying information. You also have the right to contact APS and provide follow-up information on an open case.

Due to laws of confidentiality, APS may not be able to provide any feedback on the status of an open case. This concerns information on the substantiation status of any allegation.

Fill out the Interested Providers Form. A Quality Improvement professional will review your information and add your agency to our " Interested Providers List. ".

Upon initiation of an Invitation to Bid, we will give your contact information to the Franklin County Purchasing department who will notify you via US mail when the contract is available for bid.

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• You must demonstrate evidence of a two-year business history as a registered business in good standing with the Ohio Secretary of State, and be able to provide supporting documentation such as invoicing, tax records, etc.
• You must demonstrate evidence of business insurance coverage for two consecutive years.
• Because Senior Options only contracts with businesses, no independent providers are accepted.

Service Providers who do not meet these requirements are encouraged to consider the CommunityCare Registry Program.

• Homecare: Adult day care, Personal Care, Respite, Emergency Response System, Home Delivered Meals, Homemaker Services
• Transportation: Medical Transportation; Lift (ambulette) or non-lift
• Central Order: Nutritional supplements, Incontinence products, Durable Medical Equipment (DME)