Employees of the Chenango County Area Agency On Aging are in the waiting room located at 5 Court Street in Norwich. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NORWICH — The Chenango County Area Agency on Aging (CCAAOA) is located at 5 Court Street in the Chenango County Office Building and offers home and community based programs that provide older adults with access to a well planned coordinated package of in home and other supportive services designed to support and supplement informal care.

Agency Director Heather Felter said, “My job is to help navigate the services for the community and see what we can offer.”

“The overall goal is to help older adults stay in their own homes and communities as long as they can and provide access to and availability of appropriate and cost effective non medical support services to maximize their ability to age in their community and provide publicly financed care,” Felter said.

Erin Confer is their nutrition expert and she coordinates with local partners for in home delivered meals and they also offer delivery to eight different senior centers. Over 250 volunteers help distribute 1,200 to 1,300 meals a week. Additional support comes from First Transit as they pick meals up from the kitchen and drive them to the senior centers,” she added.

The senior center programming includes; Bingo, evidence based programming ( how to prevent falls, how to manage chronic disease, increase activities and manage mental health and programming for care givers), and health promotion and wellness education.

“The agency coordinates with Achieve to bring seniors into congregate sites to socialize, eat a meal and have the chance to visit with someone so they’re not alone in their home. Some people that live in Norwich walk to the center,” said Felter.

Previous area resident Kathy Shelton said, “It was really hard when my dad came to live with us. He needed so much more care and I had no idea where to reach out and find help. My friend told me about home delivered meals and the senior center but I needed more help than that.”

“By the time I figured who to call and get help, I was exhausted. I was working full time and taking care of my dad around that. If it wasn't for another friend telling me about the agency and how they can support my situation, with home aids coming in to sit a couple hours, I wouldn't have known. We received both in home care and meals and that alleviated me of a lot of extra work after my full time job,” Shelton said.

Felter explained the agency also offers support with legal services including wills, deeds, and support getting affairs in order; application support for home modifications and repairs for items such as safety and general ease of movement to and from, like a wheel chair ramp or walk in tub/shower; phone discounts, internet discounts, home delivered meals, medicaid assistance and programs for caregivers.

“So many people are caregivers, while trying to maintain a full time job, parenting, and trying to navigate resources. Respite care is provided,” Felter said.

“Respite services care is for the caregiver that needs the break. When taking care of an aging parent or other family member, it can be a 24/7 situation and does take its toll. The respite care giver comes in to take over for a couple of hours, allowing the caregiver to get out, take a walk, shop, and relax,” said Felter.

The New York Connects program offers services for the elderly helps with filling out applications for SNAP, HEAP, and Medicaid. Mostly these programs are for ages 60 and above.

New York Connects Outreach worker Mindy Cole said, “Just today, a gentleman came in and was concerned about his mail. After talking with him for awhile, I could see he just needed someone to listen to his concerns. I realized he was anxious and offered an Aid to visit his home. I explained how possibly they can help with the mail, house cleaning and other things and also let hime know we have a center right around the corner from his place, so he could visit with others. He was generally excited about it and looked forward to new people to talk to; he was relieved.”

Outreach worker Bridget Corcoran works with ages 60-plus for medical open enrollment. She is one of five workers that supports the need.

Corcoran said, “Some days I receive 20 messages a day. I prioritize the emergency calls first. People hear about us by word of mouth. One person tells their friends and their friends tell another and then it’s a trickle effect. I try to encourage people to take advantage of the programs offered as this is what their tax dollars paid into.”

“The state realizes it’s better to keep the elderly in their homes and they’re happier plus it saves the state a lot of money. With the programs supporting heir needs, and aids services offered, the cost savings is extreme,” Corcoran added.

Felter added, “The longer someone can stay within their own home and community, the average cost is under $40,000 a year. Once you cross over and need long term managed care, the cost is closer to $100,000 a year. So, if we can be that gap to mitigate some of that, to keep people in their homes longer, in their communities and safe, that is a bonus for all.”

Coordinator of Services for the Aging, Ted Diorio, started his employment with CCAAOA about two weeks ago. He’s in training and this week learning about Medicaid. He’ll help oversee outreach workers, program aids, and the programming with the agency and New York Connects program.

Diorio said, “ I taught at BOCES for about ten years. I have a lot of learning ahead of me and heard about this job, applied and so here I am. I’ll be coordinating between different agencies to offer people what they need to make their lives easier.”

Budget Technician Ellen Cleveland crunches all of the numbers and keeps the budget in check. She explained how she finds different funding streams to pay for portions of someones salary.

“Most of the streams have specific regulations as to the type of service they’ll pay for but because Chenango County Area Agency of Aging workers do a little bit of everything, this makes it easy to find the pay for that service,” Cleveland said.

Felter also explained Health Insurance Information and Counseling Assistance Program (HICAP) is sponsored by the New York State Office for Aging. All outreach workers are certified to help assist in navigating the complicated health care system. From April 26 last year April 26 this year, they served approximately 1,900 clients. Previously they helped 592 people navigate through the Health Insurance program.

“I think our agency plays a vital role to help keep older adults in their homes and in their communities longer and safe. It means we’re connecting and maintaining bonds for families and giving them a peace of mind,” said Felter.

Funding comes from the state, grants, and taxpayers. Some programs are at no cost to taxpayers.

For more information or support call 607-337-1770. You an also email chenaaoa@co.chenango.ny.us and visit the website at www.co.chenango.ny.us/aaoa