Lancaster County Office of Aging

08/31/2026

Tomorrow's projected to be another scorcher, near 90 degrees. Know the signs of heat-related illnesses.

08/31/2026

Alzheimer’s disease can make communication difficult for both caregivers and the person with Alzheimer’s. This page covers how Alzheimer’s can change how a person communicates and provides tips for how to manage these changes.

As with all articles from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there is an option to translate the page to Spanish.

Get tips on how to improve verbal and nonverbal communication with a person with Alzheimer's disease.

08/30/2026

Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. Then, either Mom or Dad dies.

This article from AgingCare.com addresses developing a long-term plan when one parent dies.

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/long-term-care-plan-starts-with-death-of-one-parent-148854.htm

08/29/2026

On behalf of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), I encourage caregivers to familiarize themselves with some basic tips to help maximize the safety of the seniors in their care while minimizing the risks associated with electricity.

08/28/2026

Caregivers are often the first line of defense in protecting the elderly and infirm – especially when it comes to making sure medications are obtained and taken properly.

08/28/2026

Lancaster County's Long Term Care Ombudsman team consists of 4 full-time staff who advocate for LTC residents. The goal of this federal program is to educate and empower residents, and to ensure resident rights are being honored. Ombudsmen will meet with staff to address concerns on a resident's behalf if the resident requests their help.

Ombudsmen conduct unannounced visits at least quarterly to 31 nursing facilities, 48 personal care homes, and 3 assisted living facilities. They also make annual visits to 78 Domiciliary Care homes and 7 adult day centers.

This is a challenging task, and we are always looking for community volunteers to partner with us. If you would like more information, contact us at [email protected].

08/27/2026

This week, two of our programs joined together to educate a small group of older adults on important information.

"Player One" was our 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (CSP), which reimburses eligible caregivers for their out of pocket expenses.

"Player Two" was 𝗣𝗔-𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜, Pennsylvania's Medicare counseling program.

Through a Zoom link, our CSP caregivers were able to attend a "Medicare 101" session by our PA-MEDI Coordinator, without having to leave their loved one at home.

Contact us for more information on either (or both) of these programs.

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

"Now that you have some experience under your belt, imagine that you could go back in time. What would you say to your novice self about how to be a caregiver?"

from AgingCare.com

Things that may seem “clearer” to you in hindsight can still be distorted by difficult emotions—especially when it comes to a major life event like caregiving. Are your reflections on your time as a caregiver healthy, or are they doing you a disservice?

08/26/2026

If you are in need of assistance, please stop by and see our Office of Aging staff at the Columbia Borough Fire Department (726 Manor Street, Columbia, PA).

We are underway with the Multi-Agency Resource Center in collaboration with Columbia Borough and PEMA for those impacted by the August 20th Storms

Location: Columbia Borough Fire Department (726 Manor Street, Columbia, PA)
Hours: Open Now - 8:00 PM

Resources Available:
- Lancaster County Office of Aging
- Lancaster County Veterans Affairs
- Lancaster County BHDS Crisis Intervention
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department
- And more

If you are in need of assistance please don’t hesitate to stop by.