Ruth Moore,of Chicora, plays the card game 500 Bid on Wednesday at The Butler County Area Agency on Aging picnic held at Chicora borough park. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 7/26/23

The Butler County Area Agency on Aging helps fill the needs of senior citizens every day, but those needs could change as the years go on and people from different demographics become seniors.

The agency is hosting five listening sessions during which senior citizens and other stakeholders can voice their wants and needs with agency officials. The officials will then share the findings with the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging aims to use the findings to create a 10-year plan to serve older adults.

“As the state identifies needs, then funding is conveyed,” said Beth Herold, administrator for the Butler County Area Agency on Aging. “We want to paint a picture of what aging looks like in 10 years.”

The Master Plan is a 10-year, state-led and stakeholder-driven strategic plan designed to help transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older residents, according to a news release from the Department of Aging.

During the listening sessions, the agencies will present an overview of the plan with a concentration on AARP's “8 Domains of Livability for Age-Friendly Communities.” These domains assess the characteristics of a community or state that make it more acceptable for the older adult population, with benefits for all residents, the department said.

Brittany Gilfillan, program manager for the Butler County Area Agency on Aging, said the 10-year plan could affect more than just current senior citizens. She said input from certain populations could be especially helpful to include in the county’s offering to the state.

“They need to tell us what they think,” Gilfillan said. “Grandparents raising their grandkids, caregivers; we want everyone’s input.”

The state Department of Aging has a registration form available online, and the Butler County Area Agency on Aging also will use a survey to gather results. Some of the questions include “how often do you feel that you lack companionship” and “how far do you live from a public park or green space?”

Herold said the agency will have food and refreshments at some of the sessions, and attendees also will be entered into a raffle. She said she hopes to see people participate in the survey sessions because Butler County has a unique population of older residents.

“We want to hear from as many people as we can,” Herold said. “The 10-year plan is going to hit people 55 years and older most.”

People interested in attending a listening session have to register by calling 724-431-1205 and selecting option 6 for senior centers.