The Geauga County Department on Aging is seeing an increased demand for its services, with one in three county residents now age 60 or older, Director Jessica Boalt told Geauga County Commissioners March 31.
The Geauga County Department on Aging is seeing an increased demand for its services, with one in three county residents now age 60 or older, Director Jessica Boalt told Geauga County Commissioners March 31.
The department aims to support positive aging by promoting health, wellness, safety, independence and dignity for residents 60 and older, Boalt said.
“So, in all the services that we have, we always look at those five key items and say, are we meeting this goal in what we are doing,” she said. “Should we do this service? Does it touch on this?”
Programs and services include adult daycare, assistance with daily living, meal programs, legal assistance and medical transportation, among others, she said.
The department served 2,470 individuals last year through its four senior centers, Boalt said.
In most counties, senior centers are not operated by the department or county government, she later added, noting municipalities typically manage their own facilities.
Boalt said she has spent recent months working with two other counties interested in modeling their services after Geauga County’s.
“I think one positive to having the structure we have, it is very interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary,” she said. “When we have an individual at the senior center who may need some home modifications, we all work together.”
Among the department’s offerings, the congregate meals program has had an upward swing over the past three years, serving 851 clients with 16,030 meals last year, she said.
“In fact, since I have been with the agency, we have been serving more individuals and more meals than our agency has ever served at the senior centers,” Boalt said.
The chore and home maintenance program also remains popular, serving 1,465 clients last year, she said.
“Many individuals meet with our social services department — over a thousand clients — to talk about housing solutions, financial planning, as well as during Medicare season, (it’s) a very important time during open enrollment where we can try to save individuals money on their Part D drug prescription plan,” she said.
Department staff helped Geauga County seniors save $198,714 on prescription costs last year, Boalt said.
Looking at broader trends, more than 30% of the county’s population are seniors, she said.
“One in three individuals are age 60 and over,” she said. “That is only going to trend upward for a period of time.”
As the population ages, demand has increased for in-home support, meals, home safety services and transportation, she added.
In 2024, the department provided 1,800 trips to medical appointments. That number rose to 2,600 in 2025, she said.
More residents are also choosing to age in place rather than move to assisted living or other long-term care facilities, she said.
Looking ahead, the department plans to maintain and strengthen its core services, expand volunteer engagement and partnerships, make efficient use of funding and grants, and prepare for continued growth in demand, Boalt said.
In other business, County Administrator Amy Bevan asked commissioners for guidance regarding a Berkshire Schools Safe Route to School grant.
At a previous meeting, Berkshire Schools Director of Professional Learning and Community Outreach Vanessa Povozhaev asked commissioners to serve as the applicant and fiscal agent for a grant aimed at improving student safety around Berkshire Schools, including adding sidewalks.
Commissioners previously expressed concern about their office’s capacity to administer the grant, and no action was taken.
Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri said he had heard commissioners had prior involvement and that someone had signed documents.
Bevan said any involvement was not in an official capacity.
Commissioner Jim Dvorak said he attended prior meetings about the grant and signed an acknowledgement that the district was seeking funding, but nothing further.
Commissioner Carolyn Brakey suggested Berkshire instead ask Burton Village or Burton Township to administer the grant.
Bevan said there are significant legal concerns with the county serving as fiscal agent.
“I think the legal opinion that’s already been rendered, just off a limited view of the documentation does not put the commissioners in a good position in terms of liability and risk when, like Commissioner Brakey said, there are other potential applicants that, at a lower level, could benefit more directly from this particular project,” she said.
Bevan said she would speak with Povozhaev about the county declining to take action on the grant.
