I had the privilege of attending the Ohio Association of Senior Centers annual conference in Newark earlier this year. The conference’s theme was ‘Empowering Lives’ and over 70 senior center directors, managers and staff attended the event. From the Mahoning Valley, we had representatives from Austintown, Kinsman, Orwell and, of course, SCOPE Senior Centers.

The OASC mission is clear — be an advocate for senior center professionals to obtain industry information, leverage industry contacts and provide ongoing continuing education and useful information as it pertains to senior centers in Ohio.

The OASC leadership is made up of a board of directors consisting of member representatives from all 12 regions that serve the entire state. Our local regional board representative is Barb Klingensmith from Country Neighbor in Orwell, who also serves as our state organization treasurer. We also have our state administrators, Kim and David Corey of Columbus, on staff to provide the benefits and programs of membership.

OASC members can benefit through seven areas: advocacy and legislative updates, collaboration & innovation, group benefits and discounts, leadership and support, networking and communication, new director mentorship and professional development.

As for professional development, senior center staff members can be certified on one of three levels based upon experience and educational achievements. I was honored to recently receive the highest level of certification — Certified Administrator of Aging Services — after completing a 130-question test, which must be passed with an 80% or higher. There are only two certified senior center advocates located in the Mahoning Valley.

At the core, senior centers are places to foster social connection and belonging, helping to curb the epidemic of loneliness and the increasing rates of depression and suicide amongst the elderly as identified by the U.S. Surgeon General and other health professionals.

However, many do more than just provide social and wellness activities to those who attend the centers. They also offer specialized support and social services.

SCOPE — Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavors — is one of just a few local nonprofits that handles information and referrals for not only the elderly, but their family members and caregivers, too.

SCOPE also provides assistance for social security, Medicare, Medicaid, prescription discounts, grief counseling, dementia issues, technology training, utility discounts, free tax preparations, notary and legal services, employment, housing, financial, and free groceries.

Senior centers are the best return on investment for taxpayers when it comes to assisting seniors.

Across Ohio, senior centers provide more support to older adults living in our local communities than any other service — except for transportation. Though they provide critical services, some small local senior centers are chronically underfunded.

That is why Trumbull County’s senior levy is so vital in helping to fund community senior centers across the entire county. Currently, they serve almost 20% of the total senior population in Trumbull County, with SCOPE alone serving 10,000 older adults, families and caregivers.

Larger nonprofits, too, like SCOPE’s parent organization Axess Family Services, can help cover annual financial needs as well as handling other business expenses smaller resident-type clubs have difficulty with.

OASC believes strongly in achieving success through innovative partnerships to address aging issues across the state. OASC partners include Ohio Aging Council, Governor’s Council on Aging, Senior Driver Safety Council, Meals on Wheels Association of Ohio, Ohio Injury Prevention Partnership, Ohio Elder Abuse Commission, The Ohio Department of Aging and Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The former represents Ohio’s 12 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s) or districts. Our regional AAA office is located in Youngstown and is called Direction Home of Eastern Ohio. They administer and provide case management for PASSPORT, Assisted Living, and Ohio Home Care waiver programs. For more information about Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, call 330-505-2300.

SCOPE is proud to be a member of OASC, as well as being the only Trumbull County-based senior centers accredited by the National Council on Aging and National Institute of Senior Centers. For information or to receive a schedule of activities, call 330-399-8846.

Contact Mike Wilson, director of SCOPE Senior Services, with column topics at 330-399-8846.