Offices seeing increased need from seniors
Fulton, Montgomery counties’ OFAs both getting more requests for mealsBy KERRY McAVOY / The Leader-Herald
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GLOVERSVILLE - Bev Clifford spent her quiet Thursday afternoon putting puzzles together with a little "help" from her cat, Samantha, and awaiting her lunch delivery from her favorite driver, Pam Lehan.
She is one of the first people to get her meal in Fulton County, about 15 to 25 minutes after the drivers leave the Kingsboro Catering/Lexington Center facility.
Clifford has been using the home-delivered meal service from the Fulton County Office for the Aging for about two years, with her husband joining her for the last year. For five days a week, she gets a hot lunch delivered to her tiny studio apartment.
"We love it," Clifford said. "We'd feel so bad if it ever went away."
She enjoys the days when breakfast foods are served for lunch, and says her favorite part is getting the milk that comes with her meal, even though she has to keep the straw away from her playful cat.
"I like the chili. I like everything," Clifford said, laughing.
Clifford said she has been trying a variety of different foods that she has never experienced before, such as mashed sweet potatoes.
"I've been trying everything. I never really had vegetables or anything like that," Clifford said.
Fulton County Office for the Aging Director Andrea Fettinger said the county home-delivery program is working at capacity with more than 500 clients in Gloversville who use the service.
"We have not had [a wait list] in a long time," she said.
The city and town of Johnstown also have sizable numbers of seniors who get home-delivered meals, Fettinger said.
Director Cliff Balder said in Montgomery County, there is a list of between 60 to 65 senior citizens who are awaiting several OFA services.
"The demand is bigger than our resources," Balder said.
He said seniors are living longer and using services for an increased period of time.
Montgomery County has the third highest elderly population in New York state, with about 23 percent of the population older than 60 years of age.
"It's only going to get worse as time goes on," Amsterdam 2nd Ward Supervisor Barbara Johnson said.
Fettinger said her office is not seeing a large baby boomer increase yet, because many still are active and there is a large number who still are working. She said most baby boomers are able to meet their nutritional needs and therefore do not need home-delivered meal service.
"My main concern is that we keep up the level of meal service," said Amsterdam Town Supervisor Tom DiMezza during a committee meeting in November.
Balder said it costs about $6.95 per meal to feed a senior citizen, but many of the county's food contracts are expected to increase in the coming year.
The department will sign new contracts in April and with food prices increasing, Balder said there likely will be an increase in costs.
The system works on a priority. Those who are homebound, without a caregiver, or in a situation where they can't cook for themselves, are put on the list first.
Fettinger said, however, that if the funding for the program is cut at all, some people may be dropped down onto a waiting list.
"That situation could be next year, based on the funding we receive," she said.
Fettinger said the process of getting onto the route is not as simple as calling up and putting one's name on a list. She said it involves an in-depth review of the seniors living situation, financial needs and the amount of help they have.
"When our folks are assessing for home-delivered meals ... they assess for other things that are available," Fettinger said. "So if they need a new health insurance plan or help doing laundry or a ride somewhere, we get them the information."
Fulton County OFA Nutritional Services Manager Valerie Apholz said reviews are done every six months to see if needs have changed or people need a change in their meal delivery or type of meal they receive.
Should a senior not qualify for the home delivery, Fettinger said the OFA uses the New York Connect Central Assessment Office to find help so they are not without food and to make sure they are getting taken care of.
Apholz said the OFA tries to get people into a series of community meal sites that are spread out throughout the area.
These congregate sites are in Gloversville, Johnstown, Mayfield, Perth and Northville all offering a place to get a hot meal.
Balder said Montgomery County also has a strict criteria for receiving home-delivered meals, and if a person doesn't qualify they are referred to a variety of congregate meal sites.
Fettinger said most people in the program get one meal five days a week. If the person's health or situation call for it, they can get two meals a day for five days.
Apholz said the OFA delivers two meals a day to around 50 people who because of their situation can't make it to the grocery store or are unable to cook meals for themselves.
"We also give weekend meals, but they have to be able to warm it up themselves," Fettinger said.
Fulton County OFA works with Kingsboro Catering, which operates at Lexington Center to prepare the meals. The group also works with a nutritionist to plan out a week's worth of meals that incorporates a wide variety of vitamins and to prepare several meals for special needs such as diabetic, renal and high protein/high calorie.
When deliveries are made, Apholz said, warmed up slate stones are wrapped in tinfoil to keep the meals warm.
"We try to get all the meals out by 12:30 [p.m.] or quarter of 1," Alpholz said. "But sometimes the meals don't reach people on the far edges until 1 p.m."
Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com
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sighing
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12-23-08 9:33 PM
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Yup ipaymyway, they're probably the same ones who borrow their grandma or grandpa's handicap sticker so they can park close to the store while they RUN in! It's too bad the OFA has such a long waiting list for this important and much-needed service. One would think that the state would step forward and throw more money the Meals on Wheels way. But, noooo....they rather spend $21,000 for an antique, custom-stitched Turkish carpet for the not-so-often-used Executive Mansion than feed those who are in need of a good meal on a daily basis.
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gvilleraised
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12-22-08 2:57 PM
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This is a public program needed for the people who did their job. I know my mother was happy to see the person comong with her meal. If you need to cut cut from the person who won't work not the person who has worked and needs the contact once daily and a good meal.
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ipaymyway
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12-22-08 12:25 PM
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im happy these services are available for these people that need it. its to bad that scum low life are taking advantage of other services. our tax dollars and donations could do so much more for these people that worked their whole life and expected social security to help them finish out their lives. shame on the welfare scum that take the food out the mouths that are in need. merry christmas to the rest of you!!!
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