The Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging has posted an online survey to help direct their resources. The survey will help agency officials develop their strategic plan, an outline of where resources and priorities will be focused in the next four years.
Mary Phan-Gruber, deputy administrator at the agency, said much of the money coming to them is from the state lottery. She said because they are spending public dollars, the public should have a say on where money is directed.
"The more that we know about what people need, what particular issues or ways that we might target those issues and meet those needs, the better job that we can do in using those public resources, lottery dollars, and public funds," Phan-Gruber said.
Phan-Gruber said any adult can participate in the study. She said results will help them adjust services based on where they are needed most.
"We are currently starting new kinds of wellness programs, financial literacy programs, other kind of programming that really can help people as they're thinking about their later years and thinking about quality of life in the future."
Phan-Gruber said people who want to offer suggestions, but don't want to fill out the online survey, are welcome to attend one of two public forums hosted by Allegheny County Department of Health and Human Services. The meetings will be held at the Human Services Building at One Smithfield Street April 23rd at 6:00 PM and April 25th at 1:30 PM.