Resources for the Pittsburgh Elderly (Seniors)

Moravia Health is the best choice for home health care, but Pennsylvania seniors require a whole host of services. Here we have provided a list of resources, food banks, exercise classes, and Managed Care Organizations (MCO) for the Pittsburgh region that we believe provides exceptional care. This article’s goal is to give a starting point for Pittsburgh seniors, but not to be exhaustive. Are you interested in resources for the Philadelphia region instead? Click here to view our compilation of places and activities for Philly residents.

Managed Care Organizations (MCO)

It is important for seniors to prioritize their health care, but it can be difficult to do so on fixed and retirement incomes. Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are a response to that, intended to be one-stop shops for healthcare, created in an effort to minimize cost. These organizations, a descendant of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), were created in 1973 and have dealt with controversy regarding their efficacy since their inception. Despite the battles, both political and philosophical, that have engulfed MCOs since their inception 90% of insured Americans are in managed care. In Pittsburgh, there is a myriad of MCOs that we have listed below.

Managed Care Organizations (MCO) for Pittsburgh, PA	Phone Number	Website
Highmark Health	(412) 544-7000	highmarkhealth.org
Great Lakes Physician Practice PC	(833) 444-4577	glpp.com
Metro Family Practice	(412) 247-2310	metrocommunityhealthcenter.org
Tioga Health Care Providers	(570) 724-6474	tiogahealth.org
University Dental Health Services (UDHS)	(412) 648-9100	dental.pitt.edu
Regional Heart Network	(412) 544-6668	ahn.org
Fayette Oncology Associates	(412) 623-5781	hillman.upmc.com
UPMC Mercy Medical Staff Treasury	(412) 232-7955	upmc.com
Laurel Management Services	(412) 647-2345	susquehannahealth.org

Food Banks

In 2019, nearly 7% or ~5 million seniors (over 60) experienced food insecurity, according to Feeding America. In addition to the viral images of lines at food banks in 2020, due to the coronavirus, a study from Northwestern University revealed the Covid-19 crisis exploded those numbers to 13.5% of seniors (over 60). Specifically, Moravia Health has embraced its responsibility to the community through a continued relationship with the Latin Hispanic American Community Center with a weekly food drive in Harrisburg. In Pittsburgh, there are numerous resources are available, some of which are listed below.

Food Banks for Pittsburgh	Phone Number	Website	Address
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank	(412) 460-3663	pittsburghfoodbank.org	1 North Linden Street Duquesne, PA 15110
North Hills Food Bank	(412) 366-7477	northhillsfoodbank.org	845 Perry Highway Pittsburgh, PA 15229
Northside Common Ministries Food Pantry	(412) 323-1170	ncmin.org	1601 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15212
CHS Food Pantry	(412) 246-1688		370 Lawn Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213
JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry	(412) 421-2708	link	828 Hazelwood Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Senior Physical Activity

We all know the old maxim, health is wealth. And as with most things, the best investments show their worth over time. Recommended by the CDC, seniors should prioritize aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. While many physical activities exist for seniors to participate in, the CDC targets 2.5 hours of heart-raising activity weekly, with muscle-strengthening activities scheduled biweekly. In Pittsburgh, there are numerous groups and regular activities available, some of which are listed below.

Exercise Classes	Phone Number	Website	Address
Vintage Senior Services (Silver Sneakers)	(412) 361-5003	vintageseniorservices.org	421 North Highland Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206
YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh	(412) 227-3800	pittsburghymca.org	Foster Plaza 10 680 Andersen Drive, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15220
X Shadyside Gym	(412) 363-9999	xshadyside.com	5608 Walnut Street Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Walk With Ease – AgeWell Pittsburgh	(412) 422-0400	agewellpgh.org/walk-with-ease	info@agewellpgh.org