by Gina Greco
Over thirty community members from Old Forge and surrounding areas attended a meeting to brainstorm program ideas that would enable the aging community to live as independently as possible.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, August 5 at Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church in Old Forge.
It was hosted by The Senior Health Activities Recreation Program (SHARP), CAP-21, The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc., and The Health Foundation for Western and CNY.
“We want to develop these projects collaboratively, in partnership with those who are most directly affected by what goes on as they work and live in the community,” said CAP-21 Executive Director Nick Rose.
The meeting was led by Gary Wolfe, now retired from Erie County Office for the Aging.
Wolfe asked the group to finish this sentence:
“One specific thing that would make it more likely for a person to independently remain in the community as they grow older is…”
Suggestions included affordable housing, home health aid, in-home assistance, lower taxes, grocery and prescription drug deliveries, summer and winter outdoor services such as plowing and mowing the lawn, Lifeline, free legal advice, home mail delivery, an urgent care facility, book delivery services, and help with financial and billing problems.
The need to interact with community youths was discussed.
Ruth Brussel described activities promoted by Linda Heistman of SHARP.
“[She] has us going to the school to read to elementary students. I thought that was a great way to interact with the youth,” Brussell said.
Community member Marie Adams thought it would be beneficial to keep regular hours for affordable transportation in and out of town.
It was said that wide usage of the Community Transportation Services (CTS) van is making an expansion necessary.
Community member, Jean Kull agreed and said that the traffic needs more control.
A suggestion for a nursing home in the community was made by Ruth Brussell.
“There are so many people from Raquette Lake, Inlet, Eagle Bay, Big Moose, Old Forge, Thendara area in the [Sunset] Nursing Home in Boonville. I want to see a nursing home in this community,” she said.
“If we can’t get a nursing home, at the very least maybe an assisted living facility,” Nick Rose said.
Councilwoman Mary Brophy Moore suggested a free full-time activities and social program.
Reverend Jim Ulrich agreed, adding that musical opportunities would benefit local seniors.
Ulrich said a sizable younger population would be valuable.
“I think it would help immensely with a lot of these ideas. We need more younger adults and children in the area,” he said.
“We need more jobs for them. It means more kids for our schools and people to work in emergency services,” he said.
It was said that the establishment of a nursing home would help by creating jobs.
SHARP coordinator Linda Heistman said affordable housing is also important for attracting young people and families.
“A lot of people don’t have the time to volunteer because they are working two jobs to pay to live here,” she said.
CAP-21 Office Administrator Kristin Frymire suggested day and evening care centers; respite centers.
She also suggested that education workshops would benefit those not up to date with the internet use and other modern technologies.
The ideas resulting from the session will be assembled and used in forming a community road map. This will lay out the steps necessary to enable seniors to live as independently as possible in the community.
Starting August 17th, those interested can rank the discussion online at http://conceptsystemsglobal.com/herkimeroneidacountyactioninitiative/sort/rate.
More information is available by emailing jsquadrito@foundationhoc.org or wolfeg@roadrunner.com.