Senior levy seeks support

VERMILION — For older Erie County residents, like Mary Miller, Serving Our Seniors represents a godsend. "I rely on this service," said Miller, referencing the out-of-town transportation service for health care appointments she relies upon. Serving Our Seniors not only provides a vetted driver and safe vehicle taking this person to a necessary medical appointment — in Miller's case, to Elyria — but also lets people pay what they can afford. "I would be lost without them, and I appreciate all the time they give to people like me," Miller said. Miller directly thanked her driver, Ford Evans, a volunteer with Serving Our Seniors. "What this agency does is very important," Evans said. "I tell people who I drive that I'll be sitting in that seat myself one day, and I would like that service if I need it." Levy language Both Miller and Ford said, come Nov. 4, they'll vote "yes" on Issue No. 1 in Erie County. The Senior Our Services ballot language, in part, reads how this levy is "a renewal of a tax for the benefit of Erie County, Ohio, for the purpose of providing or maintaining senior citizens' services or facilities." The 0.75-mill, five-year renewal levy, if approved, will go into effect in 2026. And for people to understand: The levy aims to collect about $1.8 million a year but won't increase taxes. In other words, approving or renewing the levy will maintain a person's property tax portion going to Serving Our Seniors today. If approved, the homeowner of a $100,000 home can still expect to pay $17 a year for Serving Our Seniors' levy. All voters in Erie County can weigh in on this yes-or-no issue on Election Day. Q&A Since its founding in 1995, Sue Daugherty has served as Serving Our Seniors' executive director. She oversees agency programs, which all revolve around improving the quality of life for every Erie County resident 60 or older — or, as Daugherty says, "60 or better." "If you don't have the right leadership, you have nothing," said Jane Lucal, who led a campaign to create Serving Our Seniors 30 years ago. "We should be grateful we were fortunate enough to get Sue Daugherty. It is probably the most successful agency we have had in our lifetime. She gets the best out of the people around her." Back then and truly every day since, Daugherty has dedicated her life to not only stabilizing Serving Our Seniors but also growing it to what it's become today: a clearinghouse where people can receive services, information and confidence to continue living as independently of a lifestyle as possible. Daugherty recently talked about the levy's importance, impact and provided insight into what it means for all community members: Q: Why is this levy important? SD: The levy is what funds Serving Our Seniors for Erie County residents ages 60-plus. Although we are engaged in fundraising activities to supplement the levy income, if there was no levy, there would be no Serving Our Seniors. Q: Who are the people dependent upon Serving Our Seniors' services? SD: Serving Our Seniors is a partner and an advocate when someone needs help maintaining their health and ability to function independently. Serving Our Seniors funds the help older people need, so it is affordable based on their circumstances. Some figures to understand: • About 30% of Erie County's population is age 60 or older. • About 28% of those who are age 65 and older live alone, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. • About 25% of those who are at least 65 years old are known as "elder orphans," meaning they are single, widowed, have no children living near them and no support system, according to the Institute of Family Studies. Ageism is a social norm, and it causes older people to not be taken seriously. They are then often marginalized and dismissed. Q: What, specifically, will this levy fund? SD: We will be able to continue to operate our many programs and services benefiting the older population of Erie County. This would include: • Rural home-delivered meals program — Serving Our Seniors funds Erie County Senior Center to cook, package and manage the volunteers who deliver lunch to the homes of older adults who live in the rural cities, villages and townships of Erie County. This service is funded, in part, through an anonymous donation. • Out-of-town transportation to health care appointments — Serving Our Seniors provides the vehicles and the volunteers who drive the vehicles, so older adults can get to health care appointments outside of Erie County. This service is funded, in part, through an anonymous donation. • Medicare counseling — We help make sense out of Medicare insurance by sifting out fact from fiction, explaining the costs and what the insurance will cover. This is available free of charge. • Weekday transportation through the Sandusky Transit System — We will pick up older adults at their home and take them to their destination, a one-way trip, for $1.50. If that is not affordable, Serving Our Seniors can pay the $1 so the passenger can ride for 50 cents. • Housekeeping — A housekeeping business, vetted by Serving Our Seniors, will do housekeeping for those who are unable to do this work themselves. For those who qualify, Serving Our Seniors will pay the portion that is unaffordable for the older adult to pay. • Handyman program for small home repairs — A business, vetted by Serving Our Seniors, can make small home repairs and maintenance to keep the home in sound condition. For those who qualify, Serving Our Seniors will fund the portion of the bill that is unaffordable for the household. • Ramp program — Serving Our Seniors will install a metal ramp at the home of the older adult who cannot enter or exit their home due to a disability. Serving Our Seniors buys the ramp, and the client pays what they are able to afford for the installation of the ramp. Serving Our Seniors pays the difference. In some cases, clients contributed $1 because that is all they could afford. • Senior advocate assistants and senior advocates — They help older adults solve problems affecting them in later life. By using problem-solving, the advocates are their voice for seniors when older adults have concerns that are not being addressed or a bureaucracy is a barrier to accessing the help that they need. • Matter-of-balance classes — This is a free eight-week course of learning and practical exercises to improve balance and prevent falling in later life. New classes start in January. • Functional fitness pilot project — This is a free 10-week exercise course, two days per week, to improve physical strength and ability to function independently as one grows older. • Diabetes empowerment education classes — This is a socially interactive course about what you didn't know you could do to control to manage diabetes and pre-diabetes. • Health care advocate trainer — This person helps older adults prepare for their medical appointments. The trainer can attend the appointment with the older adult, if desired, and help the older adult understand what is taking place during the appointment. • Public forums — Information is power. For that reason, Serving Our Seniors produces up to four informational forums per month on issues impacting the lives of older adults living in Erie County. This is a free service. • Consumer advocacy — To prevent being ripped off in later life, Serving Our Seniors has a consumer advocate who can run public record searches on individuals whom older adults are considering for hire to perform work in their home. The search will tell the consumer if any of the individuals have a history with law enforcement or the court system. This is a free service. • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren — In partnership with Sandusky Schools, Serving Our Seniors has a program to help older grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Q: Why are all these services and everything that Serving Our Seniors does essential? SD: Aging can be difficult, especially when you are aging alone. We provide services to help Erie County residents grow older well for as long as possible and safely. Q: Why should people, including non-seniors/younger people, vote for this levy? SD: We function in place of adult children supporting their parents and/or grandparents. For those older adults who do have adult children nearby, adult children cannot always take off work to help their parents/grandparents solve a problem or meet their needs. Serving Our Seniors can fill that gap. Q: What will happen if this levy fails? SD: If the levy fails, Serving Our Seniors would not be able to continue. There is a chance to bring it before the voters again in March or May. If it fails again, Serving Our Seniors will close.