Pathway’s Department of Community Resources employs Senior Brokers to help understand seniors needs and steer them toward self-sufficient solutions. With a variety of partnerships, the department hosts events and helps with everything from forms to food. In 2024, the department helped more than 300 seniors maintain their independent living situation.
“We’re trying to find the best way to help our clients,” said Interim Director Holly Wilson. “We have seniors who are asking ‘do I buy my medications or do I pay my rent?’”
Lucas County residents aged 60 or older (or those on permanent disability) can receive ongoing, temporary or even one-time assistance, Wilson said. Senior Brokers and Case Managers offer in office or home visits. In 2024, 664 seniors were provided with help, some more than once.
Needs range from basic necessities such as safe housing, food and utility assistance, to more complex problems like managing finances, navigating Medicare or raising grandchildren. In December 2024, between basic needs and special holiday events, the department served 76 seniors, Wilson said.
Sometimes just understanding the benefits available to them brings a huge relief. For example, many health care plans will cover the cost of transportation to medical appointments but most people don’t realize that.
“We always check if they are veterans,” Wilson said as another example. “We want to make sure they’re working with the Veterans Service Commission and getting what they need.”
During the pandemic, the Department of Community Resources – which serves all ages – burst with case managers to meet mostly temporary needs such as rent and utility payments. Readjusting after COVID-related funding ended has been difficult, Wilson said, because the emergency exposed widespread gaps.
“We found our seniors need all kinds of assistance and we’ve evolved to help,” Wilson said. “We try to find out what they need and if we don’t do it, within the agency we’re trying to find those things.”
Brokers also help seniors complete applications for utility assistance programs at Pathway as well as other national and statewide programs like food stamps. Post-pandemic, many of the applications are electronic and some seniors struggle with that, Wilson said.
The newest partnership brings The University of Toledo Medical Center’s mobile health unit to the agency the first Thursday of every month. The unit’s staff can conduct a variety of basic screenings such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Wilson kicked off the partnership with a neighborhood canvass and outreach at local events.
Partnerships help with many of the needs including monthly food distributions. Working with the Area Agency on Aging, Wilson hosts nutrition and wellness programs that include opportunities to try new things and meet new people.
They also refer to other in-house programs like emergency home repair, especially for furnaces. Pathway’s program also helps seniors fight loneliness and isolation, even if it is just staff having phone conversations.
“Some of our seniors really want to get out,” Wilson said. “We offer to come to their home and they want to come to the office. Others call us after a program and thank us and want to chat for a while. Everyone here just loves our seniors.”
Wilson also looks ahead to try to grasp changing needs early and is always ready to form a new partnership or try a new event if it will meet a need.
“Our team is really good at thinking outside the box and working together,” Wilson said. “We’re very happy with how we’ve evolved and we’re excited for the future.”
STATS
2024 Seniors Assisted: 664 the full year (some seniors are helped multiple times throughout the year and are counted in the month in which they are assisted)
2024 food bank referrals: 51
2024 Food deliveries: 24 (we started this program in November)
2024 Number of Seniors (65+) who maintained an independent living situation: 303
2024 Number of individuals with disabilities who maintained an independent living situation: 219
