187th District

Senior Expo Sept. 28

State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-187th, invites senior constituents, along with their family members and caregivers, to a Senior Expo 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28 in Lower Macungie Township.

This free event, which is co-sponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network, will be held at the Lower Macungie Township Community Center, 3450 Brookside Road.

Dozens of exhibitors from local, state and federal agencies, along with a variety of senior-focused organizations, are expected to participate and will offer information about programs and services designed to meet the needs of older residents. There will also be free health screenings, a light lunch and door prizes.

Mackenzie also hosts a “Senior Day” on the third Friday of every month when older residents can stop by the Lower Macungie Township district office, 3402 Brookside Road in Macungie or the Northwestern district office, 6806 Route 309, Suite 200A, in New Tripoli, for help in filling out applications for state programs available to them. Call the district office to schedule an appointment at 610-965-9933 for Macungie, 610-760-7082 for New Tripoli or toll free at 1-833-933-3675.

Another program of interest for older adults is the property tax/rent rebate program, which provides eligible seniors and people with disabilities with a rebate based on the property taxes or rent paid during the previous year. The deadline to apply for a rebate for the 2022 tax year is Dec. 31.

Another program open to older adults is the reduced vehicle registration fee program. Retirees with a total income limit of $19,200 could be eligible for a reduced vehicle registration fee of $10 per year through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Pennsylvania also offers low-cost prescription assistance programs for older adults called PACE and PACENET. Eligibility requirements for the two programs vary slightly, but the underlying requirements are an applicant must be age 65 or older, be a Pennsylvania resident for at least 90 days and not be enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program.

For more information, contact the respective district office of Mackenzie.

The 187th legislative district includes Alburtis and Macungie boroughs; Lower and Upper Macungie townships, Heidelberg Township, Lynn Township, Washington Township and Weisenberg Township.