A variety of needs of senior citizens has been advanced by Allegany County residents, from transportation to housing, increased handyman assistance and community knowledge about services, during a public hearing on deficiencies in aids for older adults.
The comments came during a free Older Adults Wellness Day Friday at Genesis Bible Church in Scio, with some 60 seniors gathering for lunch, a public hearing about services, educational sessions, and free items and information from community agencies about their offerings.
A significant gap emerged immediately during the hearing portion of the event when a show of hands near the start indicated only some 20 percent of those gathered participate in a flagship agency service involving home-delivered meals on wheels or congregate lunches each week at eight sites across the county.
Another question distracted Anita Mattison, director of the County Office for the Agency (OFA) and facilitator of the hearing, and Board of Legislators Chairman Brooke Harris, who both indicated amazement at the small percentage, from delving into reasons for the small participation.
Over 4,200 assisted
According to data distributed at the gathering, the OFA assisted 4,299 individuals last year in some manner, or more than 40 percent of the county’s ages 60-plus population, which now numbers some one-out-of-five county residents.
Meals provided at community sites totaled 14,018 last year, or an average of 270 a week, with home-delivered meals over six times that at 93,266, or an average of some 360 each weekday, which includes “blizzard boxes” of three meals each for use when weather interrupts daily deliveries.
Funding concerns
Harris expressed concern about funding for local services in coming years due to potential cutbacks in federal and state budget allocations which would shift greater financial burdens to the county to maintain the same services.
He urged seniors to contact higher government lawmakers about concerns, saying that “we (local government) officials don’t count” when it comes to requesting funds but communications from individuals as to needs can make a significant difference.
The OFA spent a little over $3.4 million last year in providing services to the senior population in the county, according to Mattison, with just under a third coming from county taxpayers, some 47 percent from the state and about 12 percent from the federal government. The remaining $246,160 was derived from contributions to the agency.
The largest number of contacts involved information and assistance at 25,072, followed by health promotion at 5,274, caregiver services totaling 1,824, transportation at 1,511, Medicare insurance counseling at 1,367 clients with 4,393 contacts, and in-home contact and support totaling 618.
Other services included 11,083 hours of housekeeper/chore, 3,672 for homemaker/personal care, 1,996 of case management, 74 hours of legal services and 229 units of personal emergency response (PERS).
Primary focuses
Priority services, including some which are contracted, involve nutrition, non-medical in-home services, transportation, health and wellness, caregiver services, health insurance counseling, information and assistance, and legal assistance, according to the report.
Among issues raised by individuals attending the hearing include:
– Transportation for long distances, such as to medical appointments in Buffalo and Rochester, lack of bus routes on weekends, and some seniors refusing emergency transportation to the hospital because they have no way to return home.
It was noted that there are 241 volunteer drivers who help the OFA but rides must be scheduled five days in advance because transporters aren’t available on a continuous basis.
Jose Soto of Ardent Solutions, which oversees the county bus system, said the organization has been approved for a Dial-a-Ride grant but it is still waiting for funds to be received several months after the award was announced.
He said money isn’t available currently to expand bus services to the weekend, saying that the system currently operates 50-to-55 hours a week during weekdays.
– Housing: A hearing participant said there seems to be less senior disability housing available in Allegany County than in the area where he lived previously.
Harris said the county recognizes the need for more housing and is working to obtain it but the cost of construction and funding making it a “slow process.”
– Public information: Several examples were provided about the need for more information being provided about services and where to obtain it.
– Technical assistance: Mattison said that OFA currently is interviewing for a technical position, with the new employee being able to assist seniors with internet, cell phone and other applications, with more information to be forthcoming.
– County salaries: A concern was raised in regard to increases in county salaries, with Harris responding that the county needs to be competitive to draw the quality workforce it needs to provide services.
The OFA currently has 53 employees and more than 200 volunteers.
– Handyman assistance: Mattison said the OFA has volunteers who will provide some free assistance for seniors, but doesn’t get into plumbing, electrical or significant repairs. It does have lists of providers which it makes available but doesn’t recommend specific individuals or businesses.
During workshops, a representative from the state Division of Consumer Protection provided an hour of extensive information about the ongoing number and types of scams which are being perpetrated, with senior citizens being primary targets.
She warned the audience to be on high alert for anything suspicious, noting that new ones are being created on a daily basis.
County Emergency Management Director Scott Golden also provided information on protection against various types of incidents, particularly weather, noting that Allegany County is in the second highest tier in the state for federal disaster declarations, primarily floods, over an extended period of time.
It also was noted that the number of tornadoes have been increasing and that incidents of winter weather emergencies also have occurred.