Picnic introduces senior citizens to agency offerings
BUTLER TWP — Carol Israel had worked for the Butler County Area Agency on Aging for several years, but on Tuesday she experienced the offerings of the public organization from the receiving end.
The Butler woman was just one of more than 400 people over age 60 who attended the first ever Agency on Aging picnic at Alameda Park. As a person just entering the “senior community,” Israel said it was a good way to get reacquainted with other people who utilize the agency’s service.
She even said she was surprised by the people in attendance at the picnic, despite working with some of them.
“You think about a senior center and you think about people with walkers,” she said. “But that’s not what you see here at all.”
According to Beth Herold, the Area Agency on Aging director, more than 410 people registered to attend this event, the first picnic planned by the agency. The cost was $5 per person, which included catered food and a free umbrella.
Herold said that while its services are available to everyone age 60 and over, many people are unaware what the agency offers.
“It’s a way for them to get to know us, what we do and we could do it in a way that touches people we may not normally touch,” Herold said.
Herold said that among the plethora of familiar faces at the picnic were many new ones. She talked to them while they ate, heard live music from a guitar-accordion duo and played Jenga.
Virginia Mills, of Valencia, said she has never used any services provided by the Agency on Aging, but she attended the picnic just because it was a nice activity.
“It’s nice that it’s there if you need it,” Mills said of the agency.
In addition to providing events and activities for seniors, Israel said the agency provides services that even frequent participants may not know about — like income-based legal services.
“They will help you get an appointment with an attorney to help on something like your will,” she said. “A lot of people don’t want to face that but they will help you with it.”
Israel also said the network of agency users is a helpful resource, especially for people just entering their golden years, like her.
“It’s comforting for seniors having issues,” Israel said. “That’s something really nice is they really want to help.”
For more information on the Area Agency on Aging’s resources and events, call its office at 724-282-3008.
