March 13, 2025 -- Lackawanna County and Lackawanna College will continue a scholarship program that covers tuition for students who work as caregivers, while helping to ensure that older residents get the help they need in their daily lives.

The Lackawanna County Caregiver Scholarship, funded by the county Area Agency on Aging, pays full tuition at Lackawanna College for any student who works at least 15 hours a week as a home care worker. The program trains workers, who do not need prior experience to qualify. Duties include household chores, errands, meal preparation and companionship for participating county residents 60 or older.

To be eligible, students must enroll part time or full time in any Lackawanna College program or major, including continuing education, certificate programs, or associate or bachelor’s degree majors.

Affiliated agencies that employ the eligible care workers are Allied Services, GHG Homecare, Caregivers America, Interim Healthcare, CMHC Inc., MedStaffers and Telespond Senior Services.

The AAA devised the program to help reduce the number of older residents on a long waiting list for home care. Free tuition also is an incentive for students to enter the field, mitigating long-term labor shortages that limit access to home care. In addition, the $70,000 scholarship program benefits taxpayers because home care is far less expensive than other forms of assistance.

“This is money well spent to ensure that older county residents get the help they need, while making college affordable for young people who otherwise might not consider this field,” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan said. “Lackawanna College is a great partner in meeting this critical need.”

Application information is available from Lackawanna College at 570-842-1506, or [email protected].