Our Members Are Advocacy in Action!

The Oswego County Office for the Aging worked alongside the mayor and city councilmembers of the city of Oswego to proclaim May "Older Americans Month." They will collaborate on events this year, all in the spirit of "Age My Way," this year's theme for Older Americans Month. Article in Oswego County Today from May 10, 2022. 
 
Several Livingston County residents recently graduated from the Aging Mastery Program (AMP) offered by the Livingston County Office for the Aging. The AMP was developed by the National Council on Aging. Read the entire article at Livingston County News (April 29, 2022). 

The benefits of home-delivered meals beyond making sure people are fed in St. Lawrence County was recently captured in the media. Staff, volunteers, and clients were interviewed about the HDM program in NCPR's piece titled In St. Lawrence County, Meals on Wheels delivers more than meals during the pandemic.

The Chemung County Department of Aging is offering BINGO in an innovative way - at the drive-in! On two different dates in May 2022, the Department is offering the popular game at the County Fairgrounds where numbers will be announced using FM radio picked up by their car radios. Read more in MyTwinTier's article by Cormac Clune: Chemung County Department of Aging announces Drive-In Bingo.

Tompkins County Office for the Aging is on the path to improving homecare services in the county by directly hiring homecare workers. Tompkins County wants to hire home health aides to address backlog of elder care needs (Megan Zerez, WSKG). Directly employing workers lowers the barriers created by transportation and uncertainty of hours and will hopefully increase service to people in the farthest-flung parts of the county. 

In coverage celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the National Senior Nutrition Program, not only were the congregate and home-delivered meals programs of the Livingston County Office for the Aging covered, but also were their partnerships with the local venison coalition, their farmers market voucher program, and effort to serve older adults with pets through a pet food drive. Senior Meals Program: Feeds a need among older adults (Brendan McDonough, Livingston County News). 

The Fulton County Office for the Aging signed up recipients for donated meat through the Venison for Vets program which was offered in their county for the first time this year. Deer friends: Venison for Vets donation campaign shows community spirit in Fulton County (Andrew Waite, The Leader Herald).

A New Pilot Program for Columbia County Seniors is allowing older adults to stay at home while receiving critical homecare services and relieving the strain on family caregivers. The program connects people with assessments for in-home support, technology to communicate with providers and monitor health, and more. 

St. Lawrence County's Office for the Aging partners with the County Youth Bureau to send valentines to older adults. St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau starting Valentine’s Day card drive for older adults (Hailie Addison, NNY360).

The NYC Department for the Aging partners with Sing for Hope to offer a month-long celebration of Black artists and culture. SING FOR HOPE Celebrates Black History with Four Weeks of Live Virtual Programming (Steph Wid, Broadway World).