AmeriCorps Seniors, a program dedicated to connecting people aged 55 and older with meaningful volunteer opportunities, is thrilled to invite residents of all ages to the upcoming Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 14. This event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Genesee County Office For The Aging, located at 2 Bank St., Batavia.

The AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Fair promises to be an enlightening and engaging event, open to all members of the community who wish to explore the world of volunteering and community service. Courtney Iburi, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Director, will be available to help guide and connect people to volunteer opportunities. She is committed to finding the perfect volunteer opportunity to match your interests, skills, and passions.

What to Expect 

• Diverse Volunteer Opportunities: AmeriCorps Seniors partners with numerous local organizations to provide a wide array of volunteer opportunities. This event is your chance to learn about these opportunities and how you can get involved.
• Perfect Match for You: Finding the right volunteer opportunity that aligns with your interests and skills is crucial. At the Volunteer Fair, you will discover how AmeriCorps Seniors can help you find the perfect volunteer match that not only fulfills your desire to give back but also utilizes your talents effectively. 
• Support and Recognition: AmeriCorps Seniors offers valuable support to volunteers, including supplemental liability insurance while volunteering and various training opportunities. We also make it a point to celebrate our volunteers at an annual recognition event, acknowledging their contributions to the community.

AmeriCorps Seniors is committed to providing meaningful ways for individuals to purposefully serve their community, creating a positive impact on the lives of others. 

The first 50 attendees will receive a special gift package containing an insulated tote, notebook, and pen. A drawing for exciting prizes will also be held for every attendee who visits each attending table. For more information about the AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Fair or any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 585-343-1611.

Office for the Aging with be distributing Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons again this year! This is expected to begin after July 1st, but not before then.

In an effort to keep socially distant, all the distributions will be held outdoors wherever possible. Please bring your own pen to sign for the booklet.

We will be circulating flyers around the county, announcing the distribution locations. There will also be announcements on WBTA, ads in the local newspaper, Pennysavers and online media outlets.

Don’t forget to check the Office for the Aging on the Genesee County website and Office for the Aging’s Facebook page. For additional information, please call our office at (585) 343-1611.

New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), in collaboration with state agencies and other partners, has created a series of videos on how to complete and submit applications for benefits for older New Yorkers and other eligible individuals.

The New York State Department of Health on Tuesday posted online the most up to date information regarding those who are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.  

Those who are eligible now includes a broader category of essential workers and seniors who are 65 years and older. The eligibility was previously 75 years and older.

Eligible essential workers and seniors should use the online tool to find a location as well as call the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline for scheduling vaccination appointments at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

Finally, and most importantly, Genesee and Orleans counties' health officials are urging patience as the supply of vaccine is extremely limited in the GLOW region and across New York State.

Currently there is only limited amount of doses of the vaccines available in both counties while the number of residents and essential workers now eligible to receive the vaccine is approximately 50,000.

The Muriel H. Marshall Fund for the Aging at Rochester Area Community Foundation is introducing new ways to connect with the great services it supports for older adults in Genesee County. 

A new website, askmarshall.net, shares how the Marshall family of programs supports healthy aging and also provides easy access to resources for aging well. Whether you’re older yourself, care for someone who is, or want to be a part of what makes aging in our county different, ask marshall is the place to start. 

Older adults also can get answers and connect to helpful resources through the new ask marshall helpline at (585) 815-7979 or by sending an email to:   askmarshall@co.genesee.ny.us

Over the past 20 years, guided by the vision of Roxanne Marshall, the Marshall-funded programs have helped thousands of older adults remain independent, engaged and supported as they age in Genesee County. Whether online, by phone or email, ask marshall — makes it easier to connect with these programs wherever you are, whenever you like.

The Muriel H. Marshall Fund for the Aging, was established in 1998 with a $7 million bequest from Roxanne Marshall, who grew up in Batavia. The fund was named in honor of her mother, whose later life experiences helped shape Roxanne’s vision to promote quality of life in later years. Roxanne’s bequest and vision were entrusted to Rochester Area Community Foundation.  

Because of the Foundation’s diligent fund management and leadership, along with guidance from a team of Genesee County residents, the Marshall family of programs has grown over the years to meet a wide range of local needs. 

Since 1999, the Marshall Fund has distributed more than $8.3 million in 225-plus grants to support older adults in Genesee County.

The Le Roy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility has begun limited in-person visits by families and friends.

“We are immensely pleased to have reached this major milestone," said Samantha Vagg, administrator of Le Roy Village Green. "Our health care heroes worked very hard to comply with all the necessary New York State, CDC and county health department requirements in order to offer limited visits.

"The visits have delighted our families and raised the spirits of our residents. Everyone is so excited to see their loved ones again.”

The in-person outdoor visits began July 28 and they are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Appointments can be made for 30-minute increments and they are limited to two visitors.

No visitation will take place in resident rooms except for medical necessity or end-of-life services. Le Roy Village Green recognizes that some residents and their families may wish to continue safer forms of visitation such as online chats, which will continue.

New York health officials banned outside visitors to nursing homes on March 13 as part of an effort to contain the coronavirus. Early in the ban, LeRoy Village Green offered virtual visits on tablets.

In July, state health officials announced that nursing homes could resume in-person visits if they met a number of criteria, such as remaining without COVID-19 for at least 28 days, a threshold set by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

In-person visitors must adhere to multiple health precautions.

“This resumption of limited visits does not mean that we are relaxing our precautions in any way," Vagg said. "Our staff will continue to follow rigorous safety protocols and all visitors will be required to do so as well."

Rules for in-person visits include:

• Face masks covering both nose and mouth for residents and visitors, as well as social distancing of six feet. No touching of residents, hand shaking or hugging is allowed;
• Visitors may be required to use hand sanitizer, wear additional personal protective equipment and they will be instructed on good hygiene prior to a visit;
• No resident can have more than two visitors at a time;
• Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult;
• Screening of visitors includes a temperature check, health questions and travel questions. Le Roy Village Green will maintain records of the screenings.

All visitation areas will be cleaned and disinfected after each use, using an EPA approved disinfectant. Any resident in a 14-day quarantine or observation period will not be allowed visitors, except for end-of-life visits. Non-medical appointments are still prohibited.

It will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at One City Centre in Downtown Batavia.

"We want to see our loved ones," said Oakfield resident and organizer Beverly Noody. "It's not about their living conditions or problems with the local facilities, it's about not being able to visit them."

Although the Finger Lakes Region is in Phase Four of reopening under New York On PAUSE, a regionalized plan to flatten the COVID-19 infection rate, organizers are pushing back on what they say are officials' continued insistence to keep seniors under lockdown.

They disagree with the continuation of the mandate put forth by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state Department of Health, and the nation's Centers for Disease Control.

"It's been six months with no end in sight," Noody said.

For example, if they test everyone at a facility on Monday, and an employee receives a positive result, including the possibility of a false positive, they quarantine everyone for 28 days, well beyond the 14-day period it's believed infected people might be able to spread the disease. 

"We have small facilities here -- can you imagine at places three times as big, what that means?" Noody asked. "They'll never be able to have visitors. It's an impossible standard."

The lack of visitation, along with not offering group activities, outside activities, music programs, church services, etc., has taken a toll on the residents and their families, according to organizers.

"It's depressing," Noody said. "Can you imagine that same thing every day? They are encouraged to stay in their room. All they have is TV."

Staff will trim men's hair, but not the ladies'. She's not sure about whether they trim their nails, something family members often took care of.

Seeking change and greater awareness of the situation, those rallying to "Save Our Seniors" will be distributing flyers and "letting people know that these residents need to have their rights back," says Dana Kelley, one of the organizers.

People who share this view are encouraged to speak up, show up and tell others, Kelley added.

Questions? Call Beverly Noody at (585) 356-7581.

There is now a waiting list for the Senior Farmers’ Market Coupons.

Please call 343-1611 to be placed on the list. You will be informed of the date and location of when we will be handing them out.

If you have mobility concerns, you may send another person on your behalf. Please provide this person with a note. 

You must be on the list to receive a booklet of coupons.  

First come, first served.

Walk-ins at Office for the Aging on Bank Street in Batavia will not be accepted.

Beginning on July 7, Office for the Aging will be at the Genesee Country Farmers’ Market every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. and every Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the months of July and August.

We will also be at the Le Roy Farmers’ Market every Saturday in July from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  This will begin on July 10^th.  

If you live in Senior Subsidized Housing, please check with your site manager and/or look for our flyer announcing when we will be at your location.  

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Coupons are for income-eligible individuals 60 years of age or older. You may receive one booklet per person in a household who qualifies. Individuals may provide a note allowing another person to pick up their booklet.  

 2020 Income Guidelines:

• Household of one = $ 1,968/mo.
• Household of two = $ 2,658/mo.
• Household of three = $ 3,349/mo.

Maureen Estabrooks, Office for the Aging’s coordinator for the program, noted, “New this season! If you cannot come to a distribution site and you do not have someone as your Power of Attorney, you can provide a handwritten note naming another person (a proxy) to pick up a booklet on your behalf.

"This person may also be a proxy for other seniors as well. The note must be signed by the senior and presented by the proxy to the Office for the Aging staff at the distribution site.”  

Please note that Farmers Market Coupons are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. A waiting list will be established if necessary.  

If you have any questions, please call Office for the Aging at (585) 343-1611.

In these uncertain times we at Tops Friendly Markets feel the need to address the concerns of our most vulnerable population, our seniors 60 years of age and older.

We've heard you and therefore, effective Thursday, March 19, and until further notice, Tops will open its doors for this select audience only, allowing them to shop from 6 – 7:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.

Rest assured we will not be asking for identification as we trust the community will not abuse this privilege. Tops also has curbside and pickup delivery as an alternate shopping solution.

Please visit Topsmarkets.com to shop online.