Senior benefits in Grant County, Oregon

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon (CCNO) is the Area Agency on Aging that serves Grant County. Its services include family caregiver support, in-home caregivers through Oregon Project Independence (OPI), meal sites and home-delivered meals, medical rides, regular check-in phone calls for seniors who live alone, options counseling, legal help referrals for people over 60, and free short-term loans of medical equipment such as wheelchairs. The Grant County office is not a community center; for meal sites and the senior center, Grant County's own Senior Programs office in John Day can help. Call the Grant County office at 530 E Main St #6 in John Day (please call first) at 541-575-2949.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) gives qualified low-income households a once-a-year payment to help with home heating, no matter the heat source (wood, natural gas, electric, propane, oil or pellets). In Grant County, Community Connection of Northeast Oregon takes applications and has a priority system for seniors and households with a disabled member. After you apply, a coordinator calls to set up an energy appointment, which can take up to 45 days. If you have a shut-off notice, call your local office right away. Call the Grant County office at 530 E Main St #6 in John Day (please call first) at 541-575-2949. Funding is limited.

Estimated bill savings: $250–$1,750 a year

Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day has a confidential financial assistance program for patients who have trouble paying, with or without insurance. To apply, complete a Financial Assistance Application with information on household income, assets and family size; you will usually hear back within 30 days of a complete application. Uninsured patients can get a 25% self-pay discount by paying within 30 days of the first statement, and payment plans are offered even if you do not qualify. Call the Billing Department at 541-575-4156.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

The People Mover, run by the Grant County Transportation District, is a curb-to-curb ride service open to anyone. Its buses and vans are equipped for riders with special needs, and drivers are trained to secure wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Drivers do not help riders into or out of their homes, so riders who need that help should bring a care attendant, who rides free. Dial-a-ride service is expanding to all of Grant County. Call 541-575-2370 for fares and to schedule; the office is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year