INTAKE
 

Intake has successfully integrated with the Assessment Unit.  Some of the Assessors have taken an Intake position for one month to better understand the community resources and what it is like to serve the consumer and/or the consumer’s family before they ever walk into the door of their homes.  Some of the Intake Staff have gone out to assess individuals either in their homes or in a Nursing facility.  They have gained a keener understanding of what an Assessor needs to better serve the consumer in the community.
 
Intake serves as the entry point of this agency and the aging system.  We are primary source of information and referrals to aging services and community resources.  The Front Desk fields over 200 calls a day that are disbursed throughout the agency.  The Front Desk staff can also facilitate walk-ins by directing them to the proper person in the agency who can help them.
 
Referrals are received requesting services for community assessments, Nursing Home Transition, Protective services, Pre-Admission assessments, Meals On Wheels, transportation, Senior Centers, Legal Services, Housing, Financial needs and Ombudsman, heating/cooling emergencies.
 
Intake staff also helps with information and assistance in completing forms for PACE, Rent/Tax Rebate, Medical Assistance, LIHEAP, BARTA, Vehicle Registration-Senior Discount and Handicap placards
 
A variety of information brochures and packets are also available from the Intake Area.  They are organized under subject matter as much as possible.  Updated lists of Adult Day Cares, Personal Care Homes, Nursing Facilities, Independent Housing, Home Health Providers, Personal Response System Providers, Pharmacies and Senior Centers are available to the public.  A variety of these lists are regularly sent out from requests received by phone and e-mail.
 
Intake staff also answers questions and helps enroll seniors for Medicare Part D. They manage the Cooling Program that provides a 5000 BTU AC to those Seniors who are medically compromised and financially unable to afford a AC when there is heat emergencies.  Along with this, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program is managed by Intake.  This program provides four (4) five dollar ($5.00) checks to eligible seniors to be used at local Farmers Markets to purchase Pennsylvania grown produce.  The program benefits not only seniors but our Pennsylvania farmers.  Seniors can sign up for the program at the Office of Aging, Senior Centers, and through many subcontract agencies.