Many seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible, but they may no longer be able to keep up with the maintenance.

This is where the senior-friendly business list, compiled and vetted through Trumbull County Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavor, or SCOPE, comes in to help.

“We started having so many people walking in the doors of our senior centers that wanted to sell them stuff, whether it’s insurance, whether it’s contracting stuff,” said Mike Wilson, director of SCOPE Senior Services. “So, we stopped all that and said, ‘We’re going to start vetting people.’”

At the same time as the senior center walk-ins, a local seniors Facebook page with approximately 4,000 members was being bombarded with businesses trying to advertise. Some were not reputable. So, the county asked Wilson, formerly the director at the Home Builders Association, to create a list of businesses focused on seniors.

Wilson wants to help seniors in all aspects of their lives, not only home-related projects, so there are more than just home contractors on the list. Other categories deal with alarm systems, various trades and handymen, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation centers, transportation and technology training.

The process to be a senior-friendly business is quite thorough.

“I get copies of their insurances, copies of workers’ compensation or we see copies, also bonding information,” Wilson said. “The easier thing is if they’re certified like a nursing home. So, they’re already certified, we contact them and once they’ve been approved, we put them on our list.”

He also cross references businesses with the HBA or the city of Warren because of certain permit requirements.

From a business perspective, some advantages of being on the list include the ability to display brochures and promotional material at any SCOPE center, as well as having access to SCOPE events and visiting the centers.

“I don’t see any negative aspects for them; it opens up their net,” Wilson explained. “They can gather clients, and it gives them a more positive view to the public. They can do training sessions. We always try to have medical people that will come in and speak at our centers and they’ve already been vetted.”

As the director of Trumbull County SCOPE, he takes a personal interest in preventing seniors from being scammed.

“I’ll sit with them and, since I ran that industry, I will ask questions of the contractors,” he said. “In Champion, I sat with one of our members and started asking questions.”

Wilson walked up the member’s driveway with several contractors. As he talked with them, he turned two away. A third contractor made it into her house. The contractor looked at Wilson and asked the member if Wilson was her attorney. She proudly said, “No, he’s my SCOPE director.”

“When I was doing that, I’m thinking that we need to start looking at some of these people that want to do business with seniors because there’s so many seniors who get taken,” said Wilson.

SCOPE learns about the companies who become part of the list through cold calls from the businesses or suggestions from SCOPE members who have previously hired them.

The senior-friendly business list was created two years ago to help them when they hire a contractor or a service. It is continually updated with new categories and businesses.

To inquire about getting on the list or other list-related questions, contact Mike Wilson, director of SCOPE Senior Services at 330-399-8846 Ext. 206 or email mwilson@fcsohio.org.