By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Despite voter approval of a tax increase last year, more than 500 elderly residents in Hamilton County are waiting for in-home help that can keep them independent.

Hamilton County's senior levy raises $18.2 million a year, most of which goes toward services such as housekeeping, bathing, transportation, hot meals and day care.

But it's proving to be too little money for the growing demand, said Arlene de Silva, chief operating officer of the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio.

At any given time this year, an average of 6,392 Hamilton County residents were receiving services, she said. That's a 6 percent increase from 2002. Half of the clients are at least 80 years old and need more intensive services.

Hamilton County commissioners, surprised by the waiting list, have agreed to spend an extra $972,000 in 2004 to provide services for all elderly residents who need it. They also spent $1 million in 2001 to help eliminate a waiting list of about 1,000.

"Leadership at the Council on Aging did not interpret that as an ongoing directive, and we did," Commissioner Todd Portune said in explaining the county's decision to give the nonprofit agency more money next year.

"We've got senior citizens - more each year - who need help but don't want to leave their homes," Portune said.

Commissioner Phil Heimlich, a conservative Republican, said he is committed to keeping pace with demand.

"We decided as a policy that if we need to use non-levy funds, we're willing to do that," Heimlich said.

All elderly who meet the health guidelines can get services. Those who don't qualify as low income pay as little as 5 percent of the cost of their services, depending on their income, de Silva said.

The local program is a supplement to Passport, an Ohio program that provides the same services but only for the neediest seniors.

Hamilton County's services cost an average of $300 a month per client, de Silva said. That's a fraction of the cost of a nursing home, where Eugene Swagler might be without the Council on Aging.

Swagler goes to adult day care twice a week, giving his wife Shirley respite from the effort of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.

"Taking care of my husband, it's sometimes an all-day affair," she said.

The Swaglers' grown children live in the area, but she hates to rely too much on them. "I don't know what I'd do without (elderly services)," Shirley Swagler said. "When I voted for it, I never thought I'd need to use it."

Waiting list

Number of elderly people waiting for help with in-home services:

• Butler County: 342

• Clermont County: 95

• Hamilton County: 500

• Warren County: 0

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E-mail candrews@enquirer.com