Living Well 60+ July-August 2014 | Page 11

J U LY / A U G 2 0 1 4 Who You Gonna Call? Kentucky Association of Senior Services has many resources by Jamie Lober, Staff Writer The Kentucky Association of Senior Services (KASS) is a wonderful organization, but many people don’t realize it exists. “There are a lot of people that do not know about the Association simply because they have not dealt with a loved one or parent aging and do not know where to start,” said Autumn Dominski, director of marketing for The Lafayette, a senior living community in Lexington. “Basically, the Association is a group of professionals that provides information or services to help seniors.” The mission of KASS is to distill accurate and truthful information about a wide variety of services important to those aged 50 years and over. The person reaching out to KASS could be an adult child or the senior him/herself. Whoever calls will find a diverse listing of experts willing to share their knowledge. “We have an elder law attorney, someone to help you navigate when you want to place a loved one into a community or if you need home-care resources,” said Dominski. “We have someone that can walk you through each step. There is a home-care agency involved in the Association as well, so it is a team that can provide information to anybody looking for senior services.” It is natural to be unsure where to start because there is so much to discover. “There are things to learn about living wills, trusts and 11 powers of attorney; about what to do with your home when you are ready to move to a community; and what levels of care are out there,” said Dominski. “We have someone that can help with downsizing and decluttering for seniors.” Sometimes as people try to make these big decisions, disputes arise. “We have a mediator in our group, so if families start to disagree on what to do with Mom or Dad, someone can step in and handle family dynamics,” said Dominski. “Families are relieved that there are resources out there that can make planning for their parents’ future easier.” You can build a relationship with the people at KASS or you may just have a few quick issues to address. KASS is prepared to help in either situation. “We provide people with a wealth of information, so it is a one-stop-shop in that sense,” said Dominski. Seniors who turn to KASS love that things are simplified for them. “Instead of searching online for a million different services or trying to read all the information about a benefit, we can get them the information quickly,” Dominski said. “It is rewarding to do what I do day to day to help families fill the rest of their lives with enrichment, safety and fun things to do. I also like meeting the families.” Families are relieved that there are resources out there that can make planning for their parents’ future easier.” – Autumn Dominski, director of marketing for The Lafayette L IBERTYR IDGE Senior Living Community A Non-Profit Faith-Based Community WE OFFER: • Independent Garden Homes • Assisted Living Apartments • Memory Care Neighborhood Apartments 859.543.9449 www.libertyridge.com Final Phase of Garden Homes currently under construction. CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH AND TOUR. LOCATED IN LEXINGTON NEAR HAMBURG PLACE 701 Liberty Ridge Lane Lexington Ky 40509