Monticello, NY - Sullivan County Office for the Aging (OFA)’s annual public hearing followed by the 7th annual Senior Safety Day was held Wednesday, October 18, 2017 in the Ted Stroebele Recreation Center. The hearing, led by OFA Director Deborah Allen, reviewed current services provided by the Office for the Aging, introducing other OFA staff, with an opportunity for public comment. Bonnie Lewis, RN of Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC)’s Caregiver Resource Center (CRC) coordinated the Senior Safety Day event with OFA which hosted over 100 guests! A small health fair showcased 23 agencies representing services useful to seniors and their caregivers. Lunch and door prizes were included for attendees.
John Hauschild, Sullivan County fire coordinator 53-1, presented “Home Fire Safety for Older Adults”. The seniors, learning that they have an increased risk of dying in a fire, asked many pertinent safety questions relating to their current home settings. John had engaging displays of overloaded extension cords, fire extinguishers, and burnt cookware, plus interactive demonstrations on safely putting out a stove fire and reacting to smoke detector alarms in the night. Many left the room reminding themselves to check the batteries in their smoke detectors or to buy new ones if theirs were over 10 years old, as home heating season begins.
Kelly Soller, Office for the Aging’s HIICAP coordinator and aging services specialist, provided “Medicare 101” to a very attentive crowd, knowing that open enrollment lasts October 15 to December 7. Kelly provided an overview of the choices seniors should consider during open enrollment, what’s new in 2018, and how to obtain assistance. She strongly encouraged the audience to reach out to the Office for the Aging for appointments to review their current Medicare health and drug coverage and make changes, if needed, to their coverage during open enrollment. The Office for the Aging can be reached at 845-807-0241.
This program is supported by the NYS Office for the Aging Caregiver Program and the Alzheimer’s Association of the Hudson Valley. The Caregiver Resource Center is a co-partnered program between Cornell Cooperative Extension and Office for the Aging of Sullivan County and is supported by a grant from the NYS Office for the Aging’s Caregiver Program.