Dispatch Will Be Discontinued As Office for the Aging at 607-832-5750 of the Post Office Will Not Forward the -Se Your Return Address
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 46 PLATTSBURGH, NY THE 12901 DELAWARE COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING 97 MAIN ST., SUITE 2 • DELHI, NY 13753 VOLUME 45 • NUMBER 6 Website: www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/ofa/ofa.htm • Email: [email protected] NOVEMBER • 2020 BUS SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR NOVEMBER, DECEMBER & JANUARY Th ere are schedule changes for the months of November, December, and January for the Delaware County Se- nior Transportation System due to holidays falling on regularly sched- uled runs. Please make note of the following changes for the bus trips to Oneonta: • Thursday, November 26th trip moved to Tuesday, November 24th 7/16/1954 – 9/10/2020 • Thursday, December 24th trip moved to Monday, December 21st • Friday, December 25th trip moved to Tuesday, December 22nd Bonnie joined the OFA Staff in 1983. Over the past 37 years, she had worked with EISEP, • Thursday, December 31st trip PERS, the Bus, HEAP, the Meals programs and more. Bonnie also started a very successful moved to Tuesday, December 29th Tai Chi for Arthritis program and did so much more. Her kindness, compassion, and • Friday, January 1st trip moved to Monday, December 28th dedication to helping others and her community will be greatly missed. DELAWARE COUNTY SENIOR HEAP 2020-2021 It is hard to believe, but it is that fuel costs. Because the regular HEAP BUS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM time of year again to think ahead for benefit is intended to be a one-time By: Terri Whitney, Director down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. your next heating season. Now is the supplement to annual energy costs time to talk to your heating vendors and not meant to replace personal Since March 16, 2020, the Delaware But there is good news! On October 21, 2020, the bus went back out on the and ask about their pre-pay and bud- payments, individuals should contin- County Offi ce for the Aging senior bus get billing plans. ue to pay energy bills. transportation system has been shut road, beginning a regular schedule of transporting clients to Oneonta for Qualifying seniors can apply for Any individual, age 60 and over, not shopping purposes. the Home Energy Assistance Program Getting seniors back out to do their (HEAP) and receive help with rising See “HEAP 2020-2021” page 3 own shopping has been a prior ity for Office for the Aging. It’s also some- thing that we haven’t taken lightly. UNDERSTAND YOUR COVID RISK One of the agency’s goals has been to get the senior transportation bus sys- WITH THE CV19 CHECKUP TOOL tem operational again and have it run- By: Terri Whitney, Director plete. The series of questions asks ning as safely as possible. To that end, about your health conditions, how proper sanitation procedures and The New York State Office for the many people do you come in contact certain protections have been put in Aging (NYSOFA) and its Director Greg place for the safety of both the riders Olsen are working hard to keep you with, and when do you wear a mask, and the drivers. safe and advocate for the needs of etc. Th e information and the zip code you provide is used to calculate your • A sanitizing sprayer system has older adults. NYSOFA, in partnership with BellAge, Inc. and the Associa- risk of getting COVID-19 based on been purchased that will be used the most current information about on a daily basis to keep the bus ef- tion on Aging in New York, launched the disease and what is happening fectively sanitized. All riders and the CV19 CheckUp tool to help people bus drivers will be required to wear better understand their risk of con- in your area. It also provides recom- facial masks in order to board the tracting COVID-19. Th e CV19 Check- mendations and options to reduce bus. Facial masks must remain on Up online tool is free and anonymous, your risk of getting COVID-19. You WELCOME the riders and the driver while rid- and only takes a few minutes to com- See “CV19 CHECKUP TOOL” page 5 DEAN FRAZIER ing the bus, as well as while they are getting off the bus. Th e bus drivers Please join us in welcoming Dean will have extra masks available for Frazier to the Office for the Aging as those riders who don’t have a mask TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS our new bus driver. Dean will nor- with them when trying to board the By: Terri Whitney, Director contacting diff erent places to try and mally be driving the bus on Th ursdays. bus. No rider will be allowed on fi nd locations that classes can be held He is a lifelong resident of Delaware The Office for the Aging is now the bus without a mask! safely, following all social distancing County and is familiar with the county working toward opening up Tai Chi • Riders must maintain a distance of for Arthritis classes once again. One guidance for COVID-19. and surrounding area. Dean and his six feet from each other while rid- wife are both retired and very much of our volunteer instructors, Andrea It is our intent to off er classes with ing the bus. To accomplish this, the Martell, will be taking the lead on enjoy their five grandsons. Getting total rider capacity for each bus trip only fi ve or six individuals at a time so out and getting to know more people getting this important program up will be five riders, OR a maximum and running. that students can space themselves at is something that Dean enjoys and of eight riders when transporting least six feet apart during classes. this job provides him with an oppor- households of two who can sit in Andrea will be calling all of the tunity to do just that. Dean is looking people that we currently have on our If you don’t hear from Andrea but one bench seat together. are interested in attending a Tai Chi forward to meeting the bus riders of There have been changes made in waiting list to see if they are still in- the Office for the Aging’s senior bus terested in attending a Tai Chi for Ar- for Arthritis class, please contact the transportation system. See “SENIOR BUS SYSTEM” page 2 thritis class this fall. She will also be Offi ce for the Aging at 607-832-5750. 2 • THE D I S P A T C H NOVEMBER • 2020 FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK By: Terri Whitney, Director portance of family. Her dedication to passes and the shock and empti- During our lives we meet a variety family was an admirable quality and ness begins to subside. Life goes of people. These family members, was one reason why she was a perfect on…somehow. friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. fit for working at the Office for the- Ag The most fitting tribute to Bonnie each help to develop who you are as ing. She loved her job and those that that I can think of is to continue pro- a person and the world you live in. she worked with and for. The office viding the services through the Office Some people only pop into our lives was her home away from home and for the Aging as she had done in the now and then while others may be she’d find moments to appreciate her past: with compassion, empathy, ded- a more permanent part of our lives. second home. During the Christ- ication, and heart. The relationships formed with these mas season, I set up a lighted village scene and other lighted decorations in Two of the services that Bonnie di- people are unique, each in their own rectly supervised and took such care my office. Bonnie would often come way, and can impact our lives in so in developing were the senior bus in my office during this time, close many ways. transportation system and the Tai Chi the door and turn off the main light for Arthritis program which she had I have been blessed to have been and just take in the Christmas lights. developed into a program that the working with the Delaware County Then she’d comment about needing New York State Office for the Aging -of Office for the Aging for more than 38 a moment in Terri’s lighted sanctu- years. During my career, I’ve worked ten bragged about. The Tai Chi for Ar- ary. She’d have her moment and then with many wonderful people. I’m so thritis program blossomed into such a would go back to work. Terri Whitney, Director proud to admit that I’ve always con- wonderful program because she put sidered these co-workers to be my We lost Bonnie on September 10, her heart into it. But she looked for guidance has been developed for second family, and why wouldn’t I? 2020. She passed away from a rare, no glory or recognition for all of her those riding the bus. The bus runs I spend 8 hours each day, five days a aggressive form of breast cancer. We efforts. Just seeing the program grow have been altered slightly. A second week with these people. We’ve shared had very little time with her between was all the thanks that Bonnie needed. bus driver has been hired. All of these each other’s highs and lows. We’ve the day she was diagnosed and the Bonnie wasn’t able to do much with things have resulted in the agency be- been a support network for each day she walked out of our office doors either of these programs during the ing able to open up the bus system other.