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Area Agency on Aging
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Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging Mission Statement
The Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging’s mission is to serve and protect older adults, act as a resource for families, and enhance opportunities for individuals to be empowered in areas of health and wellness, dignity and independence.
As the local representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the AAA implements various programs for older adults and the caregivers throughout Lackawanna County.
The AAA reflects a simple philosophy: to act as advocates for the aging and to serve, protect, enable and empower older adults and persons with disabilities through the provision and continuous improvement of home and community based services.
Request for Services
The Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging provides residents 60 years and older with care services in their home. If you wish to inquire about services or apply, please complete the following application by clicking on the link.
| Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) | |
| Elderly Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) | ECHO Rental Application |
| Elderly Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) (Fillable) | Echo Rental Application (Fillable) |
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Area Agency on Aging 123 Wyoming Ave., Floor 4 Scranton, PA 18503 Or email the application to AAA@lackawannacounty.org |
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Lackawanna County Area Agency On Aging Assisting With Rebate Forms
PENNSYLANIA PROPERTY TAX AND RENT REBATE PROGRAM-PA-1000
We will be doing rent rebates for the next few months. This program runs from approximately mid-February through the month of June. It has been extended to December every year for the past eight years but there is no guarantee of that, so it is good to get your application in the mail before the end of June.
Agencies
Lackawanna County Aging Waiver Service Coordination Agencies
Service Coordination Agencies care-manage services for Aging Waiver participants. The Waiver Program offers individuals age 60 and older, a choice of community-based services as an alternative to Nursing Home placement.
To apply for the Aging Waiver program, call the Waiver Enrollment Agency, Maximus, at 1-877-550-4227 or fill out an online application at http://www.PAIEB.com.
LIFE Geisinger
LIFE Geisinger provides additional independence for older individuals and their caregivers.
Apprise office at the Voluntary Action Center
APPRISE is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Pennsylvanians on Medicare. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging created APPRISE to help older Pennsylvanians understand their health insurance options under Medicare and make sound decisions about what is best for them.
Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP)
PHLP is a nationally recognized expert and consultant on access to health care for low-income consumers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. For more than two decades, PHLP has engaged in direct advocacy on behalf of individual consumers while working on the kinds of health policy changes that promise the most to the Pennsylvanians in greatest need.
Forms & Documentation
Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: FOR SENIORS AND FAMILIES
ECHO stands for Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity. Elder cottages are small, separate, manufactured residences that are temporarily placed in the side or rear yard of an older adult’s friend or family member. It is an affordable housing option, meaning that the resident will pay no more than 30% of their income on rent.
- ECHO cottages provide safety and autonomy for older adults along with easy access to family members who can provide assistance. Instead of having to travel far to pick up mom or dad for appointments or shopping, he/she is only steps away;
- Both the elder and the host family maintain their privacy and dignity;
- In addition to improving the health of the older resident, stress on caregivers is reduced and family cohesiveness is preserved;
- Placing a temporary elder cottage near one’s home is also more cost effective and timely than making home modifications, which are expensive and can change the permanent character and use of the home;
- ECHO housing is much more affordable than nursing home care; and
- Finally, but not of least importance, access to an elder cottage can prevent premature institutionalization of an older adult.
The cottages will be owned and managed by the Housing Partner Agency, a nonprofit organization that has extensive experience in developing, owning and managing affordable housing.
ECHO targets adults 60 years and older with incomes below 80% of the area median income (AMI). These individuals do not have to be from the County administering the program, although the host family they want to live near must be located in the administering County. Moreover, since the ECHO resident must be able to live independently to maintain eligibility, the older adult must maintain services consistent with their level of care as determined by the County Area Agency on Aging (AAA).
The AAA will conduct outreach to a variety of public and private agencies and individuals in the administering County to identify older adults and host families interested in participating in the ECHO program. They will then be responsible for screening all prospective participants to ensure that they meet the age, income, and other program eligibility requirements.
The landowner/host family will be responsible for maintaining the property, allowing the utilities for the cottage to be hooked up to the main house and permitting the Housing Partner Agency to inspect the cottage on a biannual basis. These responsibilities will be secured through a Letter of Agreement between the Housing Partner Agency and the landowner/host family. A good faith deposit may be required once it is determined that ECHO is a viable option for all interested parties and steps are being taken toward securing an ECHO cottage. In addition, the host family may be requested to pay for unusual expenses related to setting the ECHO cottage.
No. Since the ECHO is considered a temporary structure, no additional taxes will be required.
Once the ECHO cottage is no longer needed by the older adult the cottage will be removed by the Housing Partner Agency and relocated to the property of another host for their older adult. At that time the landowner will be responsible for returning the land back to its desired condition, although funding may be available to assist with that process, depending on what is available at that time.
The older adult occupant will sign a lease with the Housing Partner Agency for the cottage. He/she will also be responsible for providing the necessary information regarding income, for paying rent to the Housing Partner Agency and for keeping the cottage in good condition. The Older Adult Occupant may also need to obtain renter’s insurance.
The older adult will lease the cottage for 30% of his/her gross income.
Yes. The Housing Partner Agency will conduct annual income re-certifications and make adjustments as necessary to the rental amount. In addition, the older adult occupant will be required to submit information to the Housing Partner Agency at any time there is a change in his/her income.
The AAA will provide Care Management services to the ECHO Occupant. When an Occupant requires additional supportive services, the AAA will assess the Occupant for AAA program eligibility and make referrals to other programs as needed.
The Housing Partner Agency will take responsibility and will work with the AAA to either seek another host family to accommodate the older adult or to find another suitable living arrangement for the individual.
No. The Housing Partner Agency will research the zoning regulations associated with the location of a prospective host site and advocate for any changes needed and will let the landowner know whether or not it is feasible to proceed. (Sample ordinances are available)
A township may develop a Special Exception to their current zoning ordinance to regulate the siting and use of ECHO cottages. The Special Exception can be written to allow cottages specifically under the Westmoreland County ECHO Program. It can define how the process will proceed and enable the Township to consider each case on its merits, defining the circumstances under which a property owner can place an elder cottage on his/her property. In addition, as long as it does not violate fair housing laws, the Township can limit occupancy to older adults, can define eligible host families, and can regulate setbacks, side yards, utilities, and other property requirements. Finally, the Special Exception can be granted for a specified period of time to be terminated when the eligible occupant vacates the premises, and/or to require periodic re- approvals. Sample ordinances are available through the PA Department of Aging or DMA.
| Elderly Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) | ECHO Rental Application |
| Elderly Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) (Fillable) | ECHO Rental Application (Fillable) |