Published on March 17, 2026
Franklin County Board of Commissioners I Office on Aging
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a contract extension Tuesday to keep a quiet but consequential program running: providing mattresses and bedding to older adults who do not have safe or adequate sleep conditions.
The Office on Aging extended its agreement with Mack Mattress Outlet Incorporated for another year, through March 18, 2027, at a total not to exceed $150,000. The program covers not just mattresses but full bedding, including covers and linens, for seniors experiencing financial hardship or unsafe living conditions.
Laurice Cohens, Chief Financial Officer for the Office on Aging, explained how the program reaches people. When a senior calls the Office on Aging at 614-525-6200 or receives a home visit, staff conduct a full needs assessment that covers everything, including sleep conditions. The question might come up directly, or it might surface through conversation about an ailment or discomfort. Bedding needs can also be identified through caregiver and kinship programs, not just initial intake.
Cohens confirmed that seniors do not need to already be receiving services to qualify. Any Franklin County resident can call and be assessed. As Cohens noted, the county went from 70 degrees on Sunday to 21 degrees on Tuesday. A bed is not enough if there is nothing to sleep under.
The resolution supports Goal 10 of the Franklin County Rise Together Blueprint and passed with all three commissioners voting yes.