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For some older adults, remaining in their own home can depend on something as simple as having help with bathing, laundry or preparing a meal.

That assistance will continue under a Lake County program in 2027.

Lake County Commissioners voted November 10 to award the county's non-medical in-home care contract to the Lake County Council on Aging, which is based in Mentor.

The program helps qualifying Lake County residents age 60 and older who need assistance with everyday activities.

What kind of help is available?

Depending on an individual's care plan, services may include bathing, grooming, light housekeeping, laundry and meal preparation.

Eligible participants receive services at no charge, although voluntary donations may be encouraged.

The program allows up to four hours of personal care each week, but the actual amount depends on individual needs, eligibility and available funding.

The new contract begins January 1, 2027. Not everyone over age 60 automatically qualifies, and enrollment or immediate service cannot be guaranteed.

For Mentor families helping aging parents or loved ones remain independent, knowing this assistance exists could make an important difference.

⬇️ Could someone in your family qualify? Visit our website for the specific eligibility requirements, financial limits, services covered and how to contact the Council on Aging in Mentor to request assistance.

For Mentor residents, the appointment maintains the city's representation in countywide narcotics oversight as the department moves forward under its new leadership.

The holiday season is arriving at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor! Santa returns today, Friday, November 13, bringing family photo opportunities and special holiday events through Christmas Eve.

Families can visit Santa in the Dillard’s concourse from November 13 through December 24. Reservations are encouraged to help avoid long waits, but walk-ins are welcome. Today's opening hours are 2–7 p.m.

The mall also has two special Santa experiences planned:

Planning a visit? Great Lakes Mall is located at 7850 Mentor Avenue. Photo packages are available for purchase, and Santa’s hours vary by date.

🎄 View Santa’s schedule, photo options, and reservations.

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Start with the task you need help with, then ask what the provider allows.

Someone you trust offers to help sort out an online bill. “Just send me your password,” they say. It sounds like the quickest solution—but you may only want help finding a statement, not someone taking over the account.

Before sharing a login, decide what help you actually want.

If you’re comfortable managing the account yourself, you might simply sit together while you sign in and review the bill. You keep control of any payment or changes. Someone helping you understand the screen does not necessarily need their own access.

For ongoing help, ask the provider: “Can this person have separate access, and what would that let them do?”

The answer matters more than the feature’s name. Gmail, for example, lets an account owner appoint a delegate who can read, send and delete email. That’s useful for managing an inbox, but it is broader than permission to find one message.

A “trusted contact” on a brokerage account means something different. The firm can contact that person in certain circumstances; the designation does not authorize them to trade or manage your money.

Help today also differs from planning for later. Apple’s Legacy Contact feature concerns access to certain data after death. It does not give someone everyday account access or unlock passwords stored in iCloud Keychain.

For financial help if you become unable to act, discuss appropriate legal documents with an attorney and ask the institution how it handles them.

Start with one account. Write down the help you want, the option the provider offers and what remains to be arranged. Keep passwords and security codes off that list.

The goal is to make help easier to give while keeping the boundaries clear—to you, to your helper and to the company holding the account.

⬇️ Use our account-access question list to compare your options and make a practical plan, one provider at a time.

Last year's playoff meeting ended with an unforgettable Mentor comeback. Now the Cardinals and Canton McKinley are preparing for another Friday night showdown with their seasons on the line.

No. 3 Mentor (9–2) hosts No. 7 McKinley (9–3) on Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium in a Division I regional semifinal.

The Cardinals won last year's meeting 25–24 when quarterback Brogan Jones delivered a touchdown pass with just 20 seconds remaining, then ran in the winning two-point conversion.

This time, Mentor enters on a four-game winning streak, including last week's impressive 45–14 victory over Strongsville.

Sophomore quarterback Corbin Bissett accounted for four touchdowns, senior Brogan Jones threw for 128 yards, and Ryan Orsog rushed for 96 yards.

McKinley arrives following a 27–22 upset of second-seeded Austintown-Fitch. Quarterback Braylon Crook accounted for three touchdowns, while running back DeMarlo Rozier Jr. rushed for more than 150 yards.

The biggest challenge for Mentor? Containing McKinley's dangerous rushing attack while keeping its own two-quarterback offense moving.

The Cardinals are 6–0 at home this season and have won all six previous playoff meetings with the Bulldogs.

Friday's winner advances to the November 20 regional championship against St. Edward or Hudson.

⬇️ Mentor's defense made a remarkable turnaround against Strongsville—but can it repeat that performance against McKinley? See our full game preview for the eye-opening numbers, players to watch, and three matchups that could decide Friday's winner.

Lake Catholic’s boys hockey team has two games scheduled at Mentor Civic Arena this weekend, giving local fans a chance to catch the Cougars close to home.

Lake Catholic faces Olmsted Falls on Friday, November 13, at 7:45 p.m. The Cougars return Saturday, November 14, for a 4 p.m. matchup against St. Edward’s Gold team. Saturday’s afternoon start offers an earlier option for families planning a trip to the rink.

Both games appear on Lake Catholic’s official calendar, where fans can check for schedule updates before heading out.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Retirement is supposed to be your golden years, but somehow you still end up managing bills, passwords, paperwork, and a filing cabinet full of documents labeled “IMPORTANT” that nobody has opened since 1997.

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