After about six months operating under the direction of the Department of Economic Security, the Area Agency on Aging office in Joplin has new leaders in most top positions.

Carolyn McLaren, formerly the ombudsman and coordinator of family caregivers with the agency, was named director of the Region 10 office in April.

McLaren takes over an office that manages eight senior centers in McDonald, Newton, Jasper and Barton counties, employs 68 people in those counties and operates on a $2.2 million annual budget, all aimed at helping older residents.

"I've been with the agency for almost nine years, so I'm not a stranger to this office," McLaren said. "I've felt for some time that the Area Agency is one of the best kept secrets in the area and one thing I want to do is let people know we're here."
One of the eight centers managed by Region 10 is the Carthage Can-Do Center.
McLaren said Carthage's center is benefiting from an agreement between Four County Elder Advocates, a group that provided fund-raising support for seniors, and the Area Agency, which saw the Elder Advocates group reimburse the agency more than $142,000.

That was money that an audit found had been diverted from the agency and needed to be returned.

McLaren said the money will be used to supplement meals served at the Carthage Can-Do Center and help deliver frozen meals to people in rural Jasper County.

"Because of the increase in the cost of gas and the use of corn for ethanol, food prices are going up and a lot of folks can't afford to eat," McLaren said. "This money will be used to supplement donations used at the Carthage center. It sounds like a tremendous amount of money, but with food and gas prices, it won't last long, especially when we go way out in the county."

McLaren said the agency has several new people in top administrative positions.
She said Karen Fritchey, formerly with The Joplin Globe, has come to the agency as community services director; Pam Madole, formerly with Generations at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital, is the new family care director and Stephanie Denham, who has been with the agency for 12 years, was named nutrition director in January.

"I'm excited about this new staff and I'm excited about the possibilities," McLaren said. "We're hoping to increase this program, and in the process, find out what we can do that seniors can enjoy."