Photo by Joanne Beck
After two months of training with retiring director Diana Fox, Jessica Riley has now taken her official seat to lead Genesee County’s Office for the Aging as of May 1.
Riley presented a line-up of requests to the Human Services Committee on Monday for caregiver support, a security contract renewal, meal preparation services, marketing, and funding grants. She said one of her top initiatives is keeping up with an ever-changing world.
“Technology is changing a lot of things that we all interact with on a daily basis, so adapting and adopting new technology practices for our office — something as simple as an online registration form or getting electronic newsletter — and also some of those services that can be provided through technology to guard against social isolation, are some of the new things we'd like to look at,” Riley said to The Batavian.
Is this something the senior community is comfortable with and finds user-friendly?
“It’s actually our community members who are looking for those types of resources. We certainly will continue to provide traditional hands-on resources that we have always provided,” she said. “But if you go to a restaurant and look at a menu, sometimes you have to use a QR code now to actually get it, and there's no other way to get a hard copy menu. So we want to make sure that we're educating and we're helping, and we're driving some of the resources to make those available to individuals as they so choose to utilize them.”
I realize you only just began your position, but there has been a lot of talk about federal cuts especially hurting Meals on Wheels. Has this OFA been affected yet?
“No. So we have not received any notification of any direct loss, as mentioned in Human Services. If you look at the Office of Management and Budget, pass back budget, there is a proposed reduction, but the federal impact from us is, is really not going to make an impact,” she said. “We're really, really happy about that.”
Riley has been with the OFA for about three years. She previously served as the program coordinator for New Kirk Connect central intake, where she supervised the recreation, and as a certified health insurance counselor for the Medicare program.
County officials said she has “contributed across a range of programs — from internal systems and operations to coordinating services for older adults and their families.”
“With a leadership style grounded in both empathy and practical experience, Riley is well-prepared to guide the department as it adapts to the growing and evolving needs of Genesee County’s senior population,” officials said.
While technology is certainly one area of focus, Riley said another main target is “just continuing to provide services as our population grows.”
“We’re going to have the same dollars to serve more people. So that's really what our main goal is, maintain quality services to scale as the population grows, and then also meet the needs of consumers in creative ways,” she said, agreeing that a shortage of home health care aides is an ongoing issue. “They certainly have. As we have more and more people in need of those services, absolutely, and it's a concern in New York state and across the country.”
An interview committee selected and interviewed three "highly qualified individuals" for this position and unanimously recommended Riley. The county Legislature approved her base salary of $77,756, effective March 3.
During the meeting, committee members approved a contract renewal with Arc GLOW for meal preparation services for OFA congregate and home delivery for a total cost of $403,812.15 effective July 1 to June 30, 2026. This will go onto the Ways & Means and full Legislature for final vote.
The Batavian will publish a more thorough interview after Riley has settled into her new role.
