SOSMagJulySeptember2020

Serving Our Seniors Report to the Community 2,187 Calls to Serving Our Seniors for Assistance 11,653 Actions Taken to Provide Assistance Nutrition 6,842 Rural Hot Home Delivered Meals 560 Meals Served at Rural Luncheon Group (due to Covid-19) 220 Food Boxes funded for older adults during Stay At Home Orders/Stay Safe Guidelines Affordable Transportation 260 Transportation Clients 2,074 Subsidized Rides throughout Erie County 47 Out of Town Trips to Health Care Appointments (Trips suspended March 17, 2020 due to Covid-19) 39 Individuals used Out Of Town Transportation to Health Care Appointments Priority Programs 6 New Ramps Installed 134 Ramps in Service throughout Erie County 17 Handyman Services Services to Support Independent Living at Home Education Offered Medicare Education 164 Individual and Group Counseling Sessions Dear friends, Covid-19 has provoked unexpected changes in the way that we live and the way Serving Our Seniors renders its services to you. As I direct the agency into the future, we are not going to let our guard down. I hope you won’t let your guard down, either. Serving Our Seniors will operate as though we are all susceptible to contracting the Covid-19 virus now, through July 2021. Serving Our Seniors staff are required to honor 6 foot of social distancing and wear masks to protect both staff and clients. On page 13 is a10 question survey. Please answer the questions so we can learn how to best help you maintain your functional independence and your health during this unpredictable time. Return the survey using the envelope provided. Be sure to read the “Calendar of Events” and “How Covid-19 Makes ZOOM Commonplace”. The ZOOM article explains why we all need to become more comfortable using technology. We believe over the next 12 – 14 months, using smart devices will be unavoidable for health care, Medicare Part D counseling appointments and it may also be the only way to safely socialize with friends and family come fall/winter. With vigilance, we will get through this safely. Stay well, Sue Daugherty February 2020 – April 2020 3