NWKAAA
The family of Evelyn Engel has made a financial contribution to the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program operated through Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging in Hays.
This donation will be used to increase awareness and access to the program in Logan County, where Evelyn was a resident for 70 years.
As everyone is aware, travel costs have increased, and this will allow staff to offer face-to-face service to those residents in Logan County who are not able to travel long distances.
Additional services will be offered as well, such as completion of prescription assistance applications to reduce out of pocket costs for more expensive prescription drugs. Prescription assistance can be offered in the way of Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), which are created by pharmaceutical companies to provide free or discounted medicines to people who are unable to afford them.
Evelyn benefitted from such a program and her family would like to pay it forward to other beneficiaries who could benefit from these programs.
Phone and videoconference options will be offered to any individuals not able to meet face-to-face.
Evelyn’s son, James Engel, stated, “Prescription costs became a major concern for my mother, and it was a relief to discover that programs existed to alleviate her financial burden. In honor of my mother, we are partnering with Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging to educate Logan County seniors about prescription assistance programs and assist with completion of related paperwork.”
Agency director Michelle Morgan said, “We are excited about expanding and growing Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas in Logan County. The generosity of Evelyn’s family helps us to assist more older Kansans in the Logan County area. Many seniors must choose between purchasing food or medications. By providing both awareness and application assistance to lower prescription costs, this donation will help beneficiaries to afford both necessities. We are appreciative of the Engel family’s generous support.”
Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging (NWKAAA) is part of a national network of agencies created in 1973 by the Older Americans Act. It is a private, non-profit organization with the responsibility of administering Older Americans Act programs in the 18 counties of northwest Kansas. Designated as the single point of entry, the NWKAAA serves as the unbiased, trusted source for older Americans and their caregivers. Whether it is information on available options, in-home services, nutrition services or insurance counseling a senior only needs to make a call to the local Area Agency on Aging office to connect them with the resources needed to help them remain independent in their homes and communities. Additionally, as a grassroots organization, advocacy for senior services is a high priority of the Area Agency on Aging. For more information, contact the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-432-7422 or 785-628-8204.