BISMARCK, N.D. – The N.D. Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division is hosting statewide public hearings to review comments received from a recent online survey addressing programs and services that help older individuals and adults with physical disabilities remain living independently in their homes and communities.

 

Individuals are invited to participate in these meetings.

 

Wed., March 26, 2014

 

  • Valley City, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Valley City Senior Center, 139 Second Ave. S.E.

 

Mon., March 31, 2014

 

  • Belcourt, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Turtle Mountain Retirement Home, Hwy. 5 and St. Ann’s Road.

 

Tues., April 1, 2014

 

  • Surrey, 12:45 to 2:15 p.m., Surrey Senior Center, 301 Second St. S.W.

 

Wed., April 2, 2014

 

  • Williston, Noon to 1:30 p.m., Williston Senior Center, 18 Main St.

 

Thurs., April 3, 2014

 

  • New Town, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Northern Lights Building, 710 Ninth Ave. N.

 

Mon., April 7, 2014

 

  • Dickinson, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time), Villard Terrace, 22 Fourth Ave. E.

 

“The comments we gather will help us update North Dakota’s State Plan on Aging, which describes our priorities and the services we support with our federal Older Americans Act dollars,” said Jan Engan, Aging Services Division director.

 

The Aging Services Division funds a variety of programs and services including a toll-free information phone line and website, home-delivered meals, meals at senior meal sites, senior legal assistance, assistive safety devices like grab bars and seat lifts, blood pressure screenings, foot care, medication set-up, options counseling, and the senior companion program. The division also funds the Family Caregiver Support Program, senior employment and training, dementia care, long-term care ombudsman services, and protective services to vulnerable adults at-risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

 

Public hearing sites are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who need auxiliary aids to participate in the meetings or who have questions should call the department’s Aging and Disability Resource LINK toll free 855-GO2-LINK (855-462-5465) or ND Relay TTY 800-366-6888.

 

 Individuals unable to attend the public hearings can submit written comments by May 7, 2014, to the N.D. Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division at 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 6, Bismarck, ND 58501.

 

Additional public hearings are scheduled in late April and early May for Bismarck, Ft. Yates, St. Michael, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, and Fargo. Following the completion of the 12 public meetings, the draft state plan will be finalized in June and then submitted to the federal Administration on Aging for approval.

 

Engan said in federal fiscal year 2013, about 23,300 North Dakotans age 60 and older were served by programs funded under the Older Americans Act.

 

###