Members of the Pennyrile Area Development District were presented with an update regarding current and upcoming resources for senior citizens, grandparents and those who are disabled at their Monday board meeting.
Jill Collins, the director of the Pennyrile Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living announced the revival of the Kentucky Caregiver Program which offers assistance to grandparents raising their grandchildren.
The program grants financial support to grandparents who have sole custody of their grandchildren that are under 18 years of age.
Guest speaker Victoria Elridge, the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) followed speaking to the Board about state resources for older Kentuckians and the importance of giving senior citizens choices in regard to assisted living care.
Elridge announced plans for her department to strengthen support for retired veterans, a new senior citizen care program and additional resources those with Dementia.
Elridge says that for the support Veterans Affairs might not be able to provide, her department will step in and fill those crevices to ensure care for all retired veterans.
Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) a plan which Elridge says supports senior citizens who want to stay in their homes, launched recently in Lexington and Elridge says the program will soon be brought to Western Kentucky.
Along with supporting senior citizen care, Elridge talked about a recent grant that would go toward supporting Kentuckians with Dementia. A grant worth $2 million will support the Office of Dementia Services, which is a solely grant funded office.
Elridge says the grant will fund in-home care for those with Dementia.