Pro Seniors, a nonprofit founded in 1975, has had a tremendous impact on older Ohioans with legal and long-term care problems through its three programs: legal services, long-term care ombudsman, and Ohio SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol). Pro Seniors operates a free Legal Hotline to help older Ohioans in resolving their legal problems. Pro Seniors’ long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for seniors and ensure that they are being treated with respect in their long-term care situation. Using a team of volunteers, Ohio SMP helps seniors prevent, detect and report identity theft and health care fraud.
In its 40 years, Pro Seniors has helped more than 110,000 seniors with legal problems, has made over 15,000 visits to long-term care facilities, and has recovered over $36,000,000 in retirement benefits. Pro Seniors has worked tirelessly to educate Ohioans by conducting community education presentations to 166,000 seniors, their families and caregivers, as well as professionals who help older persons. Pro Seniors has been an invaluable resource of accurate information, distributing over 106,000 legal and long-term care educational materials, including an extensive collection of pamphlets.
To celebrate these accomplishments and 40 years of protecting Ohio’s seniors, Pro Seniors is honoring four Seniors Who Rock at an anniversary event today. The honorees include: Marty Brennaman; Sr. Rose Ann Fleming; the Honorable Nathaniel Jones; and Mary Meinhardt. Each honoree is over 70 years old, is an inspiration for their achievements, and has remained active as a senior citizen.
Brennaman has been the iconic radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds on the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network since 1974. Fleming, an attorney, is special assistant to Xavier President Michael Graham, S.J., and an NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative for Xavier University, working with the men’s basketball players. Retired Judge Jones has had a distinguished career that includes serving as general counsel of NAACP and on the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Meinhardt is a dedicated advocate for seniors, serving as a volunteer guardian for Cincinnati Area Senior Services and board member of EPIC House and Pro Seniors.