Back in January, Director of Finance Paul Buber told the Schuylkill County Commissioners that the Office of Senior Services had an extra $318,000 to carry over from 2018.

It’ll be put to good use. During a meeting Wednesday, Deanna Orlowsky, who directs the Office of Senior Services, outlined amendments to annual contracts with providers who assist the county’s seniors with services ranging from in-home meals to personal care.

The largest contract increase is with Diakon Child Family & Community Ministries of Allentown, which will see a contract cap increase of $130,094 to a new cap of $1,238,318. Through Diakon, vendors provide services such as in-home meals, as well as health and wellness programs, including Apprise and Volunteers Serving Seniors.

Apprise is Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The state Department of Aging created Apprise to help residents understand Medicare and other health insurance benefits, and assist residents in making informed decisions about their health care options.

“We got additional funds from the state,” Orlowsky said, explaining the carry-over from 2018. “Diakon is a central and northeast coordinator (of programs for seniors) and they hadn’t gotten an increase for many years.”

Diakon’s efforts will be boosted by a $102,000 senior community center grant. Orlowsky said the funds will be used for all five of the county’s centers. The money is earmarked for technology improvements such as computer training for seniors and the installation of an electronics system which will allow teleconferences, center to center, on topic important to seniors.

Contracts were also re-established for several area providers:

• Fee for Services contract with the Tamaqua Area Adult Day Care, with new rates of $62.08 full day and $31.04 half day for adult day care services. The contract cap is $213,010, and will remain the same through fiscal year 2021-22.

• An FFS contract with Lori’s Angels, Schuylkill Haven, for 12,000 hours of personal care services at $20.40 per hour with a contract cap of $244,800 (a cap increase of $4,800).

• An FFS contract with Compass Rose Care, Minersville, for 10,000 hours of personal care services at $20.40 per hour with a contract cap of $204,000 (a cap increase of $4,000).