Randy Benkosky assists senior citizens in Armstrong County in various areas of their long term care.
by David Croyle
Senior citizens have many options when it comes to home care services.
Randy Benkosky has been the Aging Care Manager for the Armstrong County Area Agency on Aging for the past 22-years.
“I come into the consumers’ homes to try to provide for them some in-home services, whether it is light housekeeping every other week, help with bathing, home delivered meals in certain areas,” Benkosky said. “They come out once a week and there are seven frozen meals. It’s a good deal for those who can’t get out to at least get something good to eat.”
His office also has a confidential and free program that provides protection and helps to resolve issues in a person’s long term care.
“Ombudsman” is a Swedish term meaning consumer advocate/consumer representative. I am an advocate for the rights of residents, whether they are in a dom-care setting, a personal care home setting, or a nursing home. If any of those people have a complaint, or someone files a complaint on their behalf, we are bound by law to go to that facility and talk to that person to see if they want our involvement.”
Benkosky said some residents prefer not to have his office become involved.
“If they do not want our involvement, they say no, it does mean no. But if they do want us involved, we try to help them as best as we possibly can.”
Benkosky said his office can also provide services to individuals or couples that are still in their home but cannot fend for themselves as they once could.
“We’ve had husbands and wives, who are getting our in-home services, that now the wife can’t do things and perhaps the husband has never learned how to do some cooking and other stuff. We will provide assistance for them. But we will also do it to help elevate the caregiver’s problems and take some of the stress off of them.”
To inquire about the Ombudsman program, call Benkosky at 724-548-3290.