Nutrition

The Nutrition Program provides senior citizens with noontime meals, Monday through Friday, which supply at least one third of the recommended daily nutrition allowance. Meals are served at six sites throughout the County. The Congregate meal serves to break the loneliness, isolation, and poor nutrition cycle by giving the elderly the opportunity to socialize with their peers. Operations of the Nutrition Program include supportive services such as Transportation, Escort Service, Information and Referral, Health and Welfare Counseling, Shopping Assistance and Outreach. In addition Leisure and Recreational Programs are also provided. The Service is targeted to those who are low income, minority, isolated, frail, handicapped or homebound.

Home-delivered meals are provided to the frail and homebound elderly unable to participate in the congregate meal. Payment for both home-delivered and congregate meals are voluntary, with a contribution requested. No one is denied a meal due to his or her inability to pay.

Community Services Bill

The Community Services Bill, which was signed by the Governor in May 1979, provided the first State funding for the provision of services to the older residents of the State. The objective of the program is to assist elderly persons to remain in their home and to participate in family and community life. State monies are provided to assist counties in improving the cooperation and coordination among the providers of community services, which can help the needy elderly. Services will be determined locally, but must:

• Increase the capacity of recipients to remain in their homes and community as long as possible
• Assist recipients to return to their homes from residential facilities
• Include activities to advocate that recipients receive other services available to assist them

National Family Caregiver Support Program

On July 1, 2001 a new program was created "National Family Caregiver Support Program" Title IIIE. This program offers supportive services to those caring for elderly persons. Some of the services include:

• Respite Services: Adult Day Care, Homemaking/Personal Care, Housekeeping/Chore, Home Health Aides, and overnight Respite Care at Residential Facilities
• Support Groups: Caregivers and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
• Home delivered meals
• Lifeline

Through the array of services offered under the program, the goal is to give the caregiver a break from the caregiver role. This is important in keeping the loved one home as long as possible.

Community Services for the Elderly Program

In July, 1986, New York State enacted legislation to increase the Community Services for the Elderly Program to provide Area Agencies on Aging with gap-filling and expansion funds for non-medical, in-home care services for the elderly, so the elderly could remain in the community. The Department is responsible for implementing a countywide home care plan, which assesses program needs and develops a plan of new gap-filling or expansion programs which are to be funded through services monies.