Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues placards and license plates for the disabled. Placards and license plates for persons with a disability may be obtained at local Deputy Registrar agencies.

See the Senior Citizen Information Handbook for more information.

There are many senior citizen recreation centers operating within Franklin County.

A detailed list of these centers can be found on the Senior Citizen Information Handbook.

LifeCare Alliance has several dining center locations throughout Franklin County.

See the Senior Citizen Information Handbook for more information.

Senior Options is funded by the Senior Services Levy and provides "one-stop shopping" for callers needing information, advocacy, or direct access to a wide range of community-based services.

By calling (614) 525-6200, residents of Franklin County can access a system of services and information about community and home-based care for frail seniors. Senior Options maintains contracts with companies and agencies that provide personal care, home-delivered meals, adult day care, medical transportation, and other services that allow our county's older citizens to live independently in their own homes.

Adult Protective Services (APS) are services that prevent, remedy or reduce situations that endanger an older adult. These services are meant to maximize independence and self-direction while preventing unnecessary institutionalization by selecting the least restrictive alternative for intervention.

Per Ohio law, an individual must be 60 years of age or older to receive Adult Protective Services and must be considered a vulnerable older adult. A vulnerable older adult suffers some form of physical or cognitive impairment that prevents them from being completely independent.

APS investigates cases of older adults in the community. There are different agencies that investigate abuse in nursing homes or abuse of developmentally disabled individuals.

The Caregiver Support Program supports caregivers of older adults age 60 and older on a short-term basis. The Program can assist with a variety of services, including in-home respite, adult day care, and durable medical equipment.

Caregiving can be challenging, but support is available to make it easier.

Minor Home Repair strives to minimize the danger of falls and other accidents, enabling older adults to live at hme in safety and independence.

Elder abuse is a broad term that refers to any abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult age 60 or older.

• Abuse takes many forms, and includes hitting, pushing or striking an older adult; yelling at or belittling an older adult; and use of unreasonable constraint/confinement. Abuse can be physical, psychological or sexual in nature and most often occurs at the hands of an adult child or other family member.
• Neglect can be by a caregiver or the hands of the older adult (self-neglect) and involves the failure to provide needed services or items to prevent harm.
• Finally, exploitation is the act of using an older adult’s resources for the benefit of another and can be financial or material in nature.

Adult Protective Services (APS) are services that prevent, remedy or reduce situations that endanger an older adult. These services are meant to maximize independence and self-direction while preventing unnecessary institutionalization by selecting the least restrictive alternative for intervention.

Per Ohio law, an individual must be 60 years of age or older to receive Adult Protective Services and must be considered a vulnerable older adult. A vulnerable older adult suffers some form of physical or cognitive impairment that prevents them from being completely independent.

APS investigates cases of older adults in the community. There are different agencies that investigate abuse in nursing homes or abuse of developmentally disabled individuals.

In Franklin County, you can report elder abuse online at https://aps.jfs.ohio.gov or by calling Adult Protective Services at (614) 525-4348. To make a report in other Ohio counties visit https://jfs.ohio.gov.

To make a report outside of Ohio, visit https://eldercare.acl.gov.

All reports are reviewed by supervisory staff to ensure they meet the criteria for an investigation.

Once assigned, an investigator has three business days to initiate the investigation which is typically done with a visit to the abused person’s home. An investigation can take up to 30 days to complete and involves speaking with collateral contacts and making multiple visits to see the older adult.

Adults, old and young, have the right to refuse help. APS honors the wishes of those that decline assistance except in situations where the adult very clearly lacks the ability to make this decision.

APS works in conjunction with physicians, mental health professionals and the courts when an adult’s ability to make decisions is in question and abuse is happening.

You have the right to know the allegations that have been reported and the basis for the concern. Additionally, all APS clients are entitled to have an advocate of their choice present during any interview. Adults are entitled, by law, to a letter explaining that a report has been received and the intent to investigate.

APS works towards honoring the wishes of the older adult while gathering information from other concerned parties, who may not be entitled to the details of the investigation.

You have the right to make your report anonymously and leave no identifying information. You also have the right to contact APS and provide follow-up information on an open case.

Due to laws of confidentiality, APS may not be able to provide any feedback on the status of an open case. This concerns information on the substantiation status of any allegation.

• be at least 60 years of age
• be a resident of Franklin County, Ohio.
• demonstrate a need for service based upon an assessment of her/his ability to do daily tasks. There must be an indication of an unmet or under met need in order for applicant to be enrolled into the program.

Professionals in law enforcement, social work, healthcare and related occupations should submit referrals online at https://referrals.officeonaging.org. Referrals from all others, including family and friends, can be made online or by phone.

• the minimum requirements stated above are not met
• the applicant appears to be eligible for services from another funding source suchas Ohio's PASSPORT program.

See our Becoming a Service Provider page for information on this process.

• Homecare: Adult day care, Personal Care, Respite, Emergency Response System, Home-Delivered Meals, Homemaker Services
• Transportation: Medical, Expanded, and Escort Lift (ambulette) or non-lift
• Central Order: Nutritional supplements, Incontinence products, Durable Medical Equipment (DME)