Serving Our Seniors Magazine January - March 2026

Serving Our Seniors REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2,454 The number of calls to Serving Our Seniors asking for help. 1,335 Individual older adults who called for help with a question/problem/concern. 218 New older adults calling Serving Our Seniors for the first time. 7,346 The number of rural home delivered meals funded by Serving Our Seniors. 143 Older adults who used weekday transportation funded by Serving Our Seniors. 1,509 1-way trips were taken by older adults who paid a bus fare of $1.50. 10 Older adults used weekday transportation at a reduced bus fare of 50¢ per ride. 205 Of the 2,176 1-way trips were provided to 10 older adults at a reduced bus fare of 50¢/1-way 44 Older adults who used out of town transportation to get to health care appointments. 74 Trips were driven to take the 44 older adults to their health care appointments. 0 Older adult received a gas voucher to afford travel out of town to their health care appointment, when we were short on volunteer drivers. 2 Older adult took 5 trips using our wheelchair transportation for out of town health care appointments. Affordable Transportation 5 The number of small home repairs. 4 New ramps installed. 114 The number of ramps in service throughout Erie County. 179 Medicare counseling sessions (group and individual). 19 Matter of Balance Participants (individuals) 2 Matter of Balance Courses 22 Functional Fitness Participants (individuals) 3 Functional Fitness Exercise Courses Services to Support Independence Nutrition JULY 1, 2025 – SEPT. 30, 2025 From the Director Happy New Year! Another year older, and hopefully another year wiser. You may have noticed this issue of the magazine is a little smaller — due to fewer advertisers — but it remains packed with useful information about health, happiness, and people who make a difference in the lives of others. I had the pleasure of interviewing three local couples who share how they met and what has kept their relationships strong over the years. I hope you enjoy reading their stories. Health is something we learn to appreciate more deeply as we grow older. One comment I often hear from those struggling with health problems is:  “If I had known old age would be like this, I would have taken better care of myself.” To that I say:  it’s never too late to start. Whether you are already in good health and striving to improve, or you have just resolved in 2026 to take better care of yourself, we are here to support you on that journey. Be sure to read pages 14, 15 and 17 to learn how we can help you achieve better health. Serving Our Seniors can help you manage the costs of later life. Whether it’s home repairs, i.e., plumbing repairs, furnace repairs, installing grab bars or railings, housekeeping, dental care, health care, medications (page 7) or disposable undergarments (page 9), we can share the cost with you. Serving Our Seniors is here to cover the portion that is unaffordable for your household. Read how the Serving Our Seniors Advocates can help with the cost of medications on page 7. Happy reading, Sue Daugherty 3