Story and photos by Carol Montana
MONTICELLO – Over 50 people attended a forum at the Ted Stroebele Recreation Center in Monticello on October 21. Sponsored by Sullivan County TRIAD, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and the Sullivan County Office for the Aging (OFA), the open forum was the beginning of what will hopefully be ongoing discussions on empowering Sullivan County to build successful aging-friendly communities.
It is the goal of such communities to allow older adults to live safely, independently and with dignity in their own homes, and with the appropriate support services.
The forum was opened by CCE’s Bonnie Lewis, R,N, Caregiver Resource Center Coordinator. She explained the concept of aging-friendly communities, and presented a PowerPoint presentation showing demographics of the senior population now and in the coming years, and migration to and from Sullivan County. Lewis also spoke about the importance of social and civic engagement and programs that foster independence.
“Older New Yorkers want to live independently and age with dignity in their communities,” said Lewis. “It isn’t so much what can the community do for me as much as what, as a community, are we going to do for each other to make sure that we all are treated with respect, dignity and security.”
Lewis introduced the crowd to the concept of a livable community, “affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, that facilitate personal independence and engagement.”
The importance of volunteering was also stressed. Lewis said that “there are lots of opportunities out there to make your retirement much more meaningful.”
Lewis then introduced Joanne Macklin, Executive Director of the NYS Coalition for the Aging and Statewide Caregiving & Respite Coalition of NY.
Macklin also presented a slide show and talked about successful community-planning initiatives in Broome, Clinton, Orange, Schoharie, Allegany and Westchester Counties, as well as Ithaca, Albany, parts of the Adirondacks, New York City and other areas.
“Most of these initiatives have been going on for over 10 years. So this is not a fast process. If you’re just starting your activities here in Sullivan County, don’t give up.”
Following Macklin’s presentation, OFA Director James Lyttle opened a public hearing. Discussions included budget cuts, health-care reform, the lack of assisted living and adequate transportation in the county, Medicare Part D, and several other topics. “The county has requested we cut $136,138,” said Lyttle.
“This is your turn for us to listen to your comments about our services and programs,” said Lyttle.
Priscilla Bassett, co-chair of the Senior Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) asked, “We all know how absolutely imperative are the services offered by the OFA. Now, where in the world are you going to find $136,000 to be cut, because we already know as the years and weeks go by, we have more and more seniors arriving on the scene. …”
President of the Monticello Senior Citzens and SLAC co-chair, Roz Sharoff said, “I think it’s obscene. There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t refer one or two people to your office, and to ask you to cut money from the very people who need it, it’s outrageous.”
Legislator Leni Binder responded that “The county is not cutting because it wants to. … We can stand here and we can complain and we can scream … the county and the state and the country are in a downward spiral. … We have to start lobbying the federal and state government to cut the tax exempt situation. If we even cut a fraction of our tax exempts, places that are tax exempt a whole year when they’re in operation six weeks of the years, thousands and thousands of acres, we wouldn’t have a budget deficit. … Certainly no one is going to cut all the senior services. … I do not have the answers. … Everyone is in the exact same situation.”
Minnette Kramer, Legislative Aide for Assemblyperson Aileen Gunther suggested the following: “If everyone in this room would help somebody in one way or another, and ask a friend to help someone … and keep it going, the OFA would have a lighter load. Please think about a neighbor, a friend … help them. It makes you feel so good to do something for somebody. It’s good for your mind, it’s good for your body. It’s a healthy thing. Try it.”
The public hearing ended with Tula Brown, Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) Coordinator giving an update on new provisions and new costs for Medicare Part D.
To find about the services of the the Sullivan County Office for the Aging, call 845-807-0241 or visit SCOFA on the Internet.
The Catskill Chronicle 
[…] Towards that goal, Bonnie Lewis, Caregiver Resource Center Coordinator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County has been tasked with having “the TRIAD group … bring together people who are active to look at doing an assessment on how you can help people to remain living in the community.” In fact, a forum was held last month seeking input on that very subject. See the Chronicle story on "Empowering Sullivan County to Build Aging-Friendly Communities." […]