Mary Siegrist gives her husband, Harold, some medicine Thursday morning at their home while Lawrence City Commissioner Boog Highberger looks over information that Mary Siegrist gave him. Highberger was on a tour to find out more about senior independence.

As a case manager for the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, Rex Ellebracht pays regular visits to Harold and Mary Siegrist.

Ellebracht and the couple, who are in their 80s, talk about the services the agency provides, set up emergency plans in case something were to happen to Mary, who is a caregiver to Harold, and navigate through the Medicare system.

But Thursday morning’s visit wasn’t typical. Ellebracht brought a visitor: City Commissioner Boog Highberger. The couple and the city commissioner had never met.

“You don’t know this, but he was your staunch supporter,” Mary Siegrist said about her husband as she greeted Highberger. “We even went door-to-door.”

Throughout the week, case managers at Jayhawk AAA brought policymakers and senior advocates into the homes of their clients throughout Douglas, Shawnee and Jefferson counties. The tricounty agency works with older adults, caregivers, providers and policymakers to help seniors.

The idea of Thursday’s visit was to give their guests a better idea of whom the agency serves and what their needs are.

Mary was prepared to share what it was like to live in Lawrence and be a senior citizen. She had handouts on the different agencies she and her husband have used, made a list of the dozens of medications they use and had plenty of stories on hand.

“They really care,” Mary said of the agency. “They don’t give you the idea of, ‘Oh, I wish they would stop talking so I can get out of here.'”

For the past few years, the Siegrists have used Jayhawk AAA. Mary takes care of Harold, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and a host of other health problems.

Last month, a Meals on Wheels worker noticed that Mary didn’t look well when the noon meal was dropped off. The worker called for an ambulance immediately. Mary ended up spending time in the hospital, which prompted the question of who should take care of Harold in her absence, Ellebracht said.

So, Ellebracht said the agency is working with the couple and their family to come up with an emergency plan.

Along with visits from Ellebracht, the Siegrists are aided by a woman who does household chores, which is a program under Jayhawk AAA. The couple also have help from countless friends and neighbors.

Despite the assistance, the couple are planning to soon live part-time with their daughter in Malden, Mo.

Before Thursday’s visit with the Siegrists, the group of policymakers, advocates and Jayhawk AAA employees talked about the growing concerns with seniors.

Jocelyn Lyons, management team leader of Jayhawk AAA, said seniors want to stay in their homes longer and put off nursing homes.

Also, she said, communities need to start preparing for the growing population of seniors. And that means making improvements to the transit system, sidewalks and even public signs.

“We need to address the infrastructure of the city. Not only what appeals to families with children, but also to older populations,” Lyons said.

The four Jayhawk AAA case workers based in Lawrence work with more than 200 seniors in Douglas County.

Funded with federal, state and local dollars, Jayhawk AAA provides services to anyone older than 60. For more information on the agency, call (800) 798-1366.