Genesee County Office for the Aging

Although healthcare aides aren’t always available to tend to people in their homes, Diana Fox says there are sometimes other ways to address their needs.

And Genesee County’s Office for the Aging has found that way through bathroom remodeling. A $125,000 grant and a trusty contractor have made it possible for fragile seniors to be more independent, she said during this week’s Human Services meeting.

“We have worked with this company. for several years, I really liked them; we're really pleased with the work that they did. And we're very happy to be able to come back with them. The the cost in terms of the average cost for a shower is a little bit higher than it had been, and the average is about $15,796. With the $125,000, that would allow us to do about eight of them a year,” Fox said Monday during the county meeting. “And it's funded through unmet needs, which is there's no cost involved in that. And unmet needs pay for things that when there aren't enough aides, we can leave people on the waitlist for an aide. And when we are able to do things like modify the bathroom so that they could get themselves clean, and they can stay in their home instead of having to leave to have that done.”

People often find out about the program when someone calls seeking help for a parent, and OFA will conduct a home visit assessment to determine what the senior may need as part of daily living or is lacking, she said.

“That's pretty much how they find out about it. It's first come, first serve. We really haven't had any problems. But there's always the potential that they tell their friends to hey, I want to get that shower. We talked a little bit about the case management program and things like that. So I'm sure from time to time it's mentioned. There is a qualifying income. We can also, if they don't meet that, there may be a cost share involved in it. And it's not eligible for people who, if they're on Medicaid, then that would be a whole separate something,” she said. “So last year we did nine; it was a big year. This year, we've already done two showers in February and two in March from last year's funding, and in 2022, we have done five, and in 2021, we did two. So it's definitely something that's increasing.”

They passed the resolution, which will go on to the full Legislature for a final vote on April 10. It grants the OFA to work with Caring Environments J&H, Inc. of Clarence to provide tub/shower modifications using the OFA’s targeted home and community-based funding. 

This funding of $125,000 allows for certain services that maintain or promote the independence of older adults who meet eligibility criteria. These services include but are not limited to, the removal of physical barriers (such as changing out tubs for walk-in showers, providing raised toilets, grab bars, etc.) and wraparound services such as purchasing/renting, maintaining, and repairing appliances.

According to the resolution, due to the lack of personal aide services for those eligible for such services, tub/shower modification has been identified as a need in Genesee County and is in greater demand with the increasing number of older adults in our county needing in-home and community support services in order to remain in the home of their choice; and WHEREAS, the Committee on Human Services and Ways and Means does recommend approval at this time, and WHEREAS, this initial contract is effective April 14, 2024 –April 13, 2025, with renewal options for two additional one year periods. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Genesee County Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to execute the necessary documents to award the contract to Caring Environments J&H, Inc. 4365 Ransom Rd. Clarence, NY, 14031, to serve as an installer at a cost not to exceed $125,000 for the period of April 14, 2024-April 13, 2025.

Unmet Needs grant funds offset the costs of this program, for which there is no county match. The costs are in the approved 2024 county budget in the Homecare and Maintenance/Equipment lines.

A second amount of $22,500 to the same company was also approved to be passed on to the Legislature for a stair and wheelchair/vertical lift program. 

“So basically, it’s the same thing, same company, same funding stream through the unmet needs grant only. This is for stair lifts and wheelchair lifts. And the average cost of those is about a little over $5,000. So, with $22,500 put into this line, we do an average of four. We have two pending for the year 2024. Last year, we only did two, we didn't do any in 2022, and we did one in 2021, so it's not nearly as popular,” she said. “I don't know, just a differing level of what somebody needs. This has more to do with, I’m thinking, that they've been able to actually get into their home. So, again, it’s the same process, a case worker will go out, make an assessment, see what they need.”

Legislators didn’t have too many questions, but an important observation.

“So it’s keeping people in their homes for longer,” Legislator Brooks Hawley said. 

Press Release:

The highly anticipated Employment Fair for People with Disabilities will take place from 1 - 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Genesee County Office For The Aging, 2 Bank Street in Batavia.  

The event presents an opportunity for job seekers to connect with leading companies, organizations, and not-for-profits to explore a wide range of career options. Don’t miss out on this fantastic chance to kick-start your professional journey!  

Take the first steps towards a fulfilling career!  It's best if you prepare your resume ahead of time, dress professionally, and bring your true self to impress potential employers.

This event is proudly supported by members of the Genesee Region Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities including the Genesee County Office for The Aging, Ace Employment, Genesee County Career Center, Genesee County Mental Health, and Independent Living of the Genesee Region.

Inclusivity and accessibility are our top priorities. Coverage for childcare costs and transportation may be available. We are here to assist with any accommodations you may need.

Please Pre-Register with Ashley Dunham from Independent Living of the Genesee Region in advance at 585-815-8501, ext. 414 or adunham@wnyil.org. 

Schedule:

• 1 - 2:15 p.m. - Learning Time: Instructions in civil service testing, practice interviews, job searching, and instruction in reasonable accommodations.
• 2:15 - 2:30 p.m. - Break Time
• 2:30 - 4 p.m. - Meet the Employers: This is your opportunity to meet with employers who are hiring!

Press Release:

In an effort to protect our community's vulnerable citizens from financial scams, the Genesee County Office for the Aging is proud to announce a collaborative event that equips residents with the knowledge and tools to guard against elder financial fraud. 

Event Details: 

• Date: Oct. 23
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Location: Genesee County Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St, Batavia

Join us for this crucial presentation, supported by law enforcement agencies, M&T Bank Financial Crimes Unit, and AARP, where you will gain insights into the latest scams employed by criminal organizations to target elderly individuals. This event will educate you about the evolving tactics of scammers and provide essential guidance on how to protect yourself and, if necessary, what steps to take if you have fallen victim to a scam.

We urge all interested participants to pre-register by calling 585-343-1611 to ensure your spot at this informative event. The presentation will be conducted by professionals from Homeland Security Investigations, the US Secret Service, M&T Bank, and AARP. 

In a world where financial scams are rising, knowledge is your best defense. We encourage all Genesee County residents, especially seniors, to attend this event and arm themselves with valuable information that can help protect their financial well-being. 

For more information, please contact: Jill Yasses at 585-344-2550 ext. 5931

If Office For the Aging staff thought the word caregiver was a buzzword before now, it has grown in even more prominence now that the National Family Care standards have gone into effect. 

That means “all caregivers need assessment in addition to the care receivers,” OFA Director Diana Fox said Monday, one day after the standards took hold. 

She gave a review of how that’s going and what it looks like during the Human Services meeting.

“So we took on the position as part-time and full-time in order to be able to pick up that additional. We’re not sure how many additional people we’re having. But we do say caregiving is a huge part of what we do. In terms of the demographics that we serve, a lot of folks in our community are right in the middle of their caring for children, caring for older adults, and finding resources and getting support is just a big part of what we do for them.

“We also do a lot of services directly for people who have the need for care, whether it's someone who has dementia or Alzheimer's and those types of things. We have a grant that helps services for those groups and education and direct services for respite,” she said.

County Legislator Gordon Dibble asked for a definition of caregiver. Fox said it’s someone who does something for another person, whether it’s giving your mother her daily medications, or also helping her dress for the day and cooking her meals, driving a loved one to doctor appointments, cleaning the house, or performing day-to-day care for someone with extensive emotional and physical needs.

These new standards now mean performing an assessment on each caregiver, no matter what he or she does for the other person, as a check-in to see how that person is doing, Fox said. Because caregivers can often get so busy and caught up in providing for the needs of someone else, they may neglect taking care of themselves, and it takes a toll on their own well-being, she said.

As if on cue, the OFA is hosting a Shaping the Future of Aging Services public hearing this week to obtain input and better understand “what matters most to you” in terms of agency services and what the community needs to support aging residents effectively.

That hearing begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the office, 2 Bank St., Batavia. That will be followed by a program, You are the Help Until Help Arrives, that will provide participants with skills for what to do during moments of crisis to help save someone’s life.

As the agency approaches its 50th year, the clock is ticking louder for everyone, and Fox has been reminding folks that Baby Boomers will be hitting 65 by the year 2030. That means potential health issues and service needs for seniors will be at an all-time high, she said.  

Older folks aren’t going anywhere, though, as they are taxpayers, volunteers, consumers, home-buyers, and — as county Legislator Gary Maha added — voters. They will have needs, requests, and voices and be a large chunk of the community to be factored in for most everything.

“We want to keep older adults in our community because they are taxpayers, they are volunteers, they have a lot of value in our community. So we don't want to lose them to another community because we don't have enough for them,” Fox said.

In her annual report, Fox listed OFA’s priority needs, which included:

Sustainable funding to maintain capacity to serve the influx of aging baby boomers. Without such funding, her staff will not be able to keep up with demand for information and assistance, caregiver support, community-based services, or long-term planning, Fox said. She has requested an increase of $50,000 for 2024, which would take her annual budget from $1,421,578 to $1,472,458. 

Overall support to provide information and assistance to help constituents manage the complicated health insurance system and rising health care costs resulting from increased premiums, prescription costs, and the onset of chronic health conditions as they age. Office for the Aging’s wellness and recreation programs, efforts to address social isolation challenges, and services that include a review of health insurance options and eligibility for financial and in-home services programs all contribute to overall health and financial wellness, keeping out-of-pocket costs contained.

Full spectrum continuum of care — meaning independent, supportive, assisted and/or assisted and skilled — and middle-income senior-specific housing options. 

Explore the impact of the opioid epidemic on older adults. 

“We have begun to identify the growing needs related to opioid use. Much of the impact is related to the need for grandparents to raise their grandchildren and the impact on the often unreported financial exploitation and even thievery of older adults by their children/grandchildren to support their addiction,” she said. “We attend the Opioid Task Force and are working with GCASA, DSS, and other providers to identify local need and determine potential strategies to help support older adults in the process. We also participate in the Enhanced Multi-disciplinary Team (E-DMT) that addresses elder abuse and financial exploitation.”

New York State is seeing a bump in older adults that will continue to increase over the next decade, she said, with a 30 percent increase from the current senior population, according to a recent report from the Fiscal Policy Institute.

And perhaps not surprisingly, one of the most significant trends happening amongst older adults is the desire to remain at home and therefore receive services in the home, which is why locally and statewide, there has been a shortage of home health aides, Fox and state OFA officials have said. 

How has that shifted the offerings for folks?

“Doing things like modifications of homes where we can, if we can keep somebody in their home is a huge cost saving, as opposed to putting them into a higher level of care. But we also do a lot of things like housekeeping, incontinence supplies, and laundry service, which really talks about the needs for someone being able to remain independent,” Fox said. “So through some of that unmet needs funding that came through the state, we ended up with a large portion of that, just because my predecessor did a really great job of keeping track of all the people we had. And I don't think … that's ultimately going to go away simply because those people are waiting for home health care. And while they're waiting, sometimes they're going to a higher level of care. Sometimes they are, in fact, maybe they're moving away, and there just aren't enough home health aides to be able to go around. And that was before the pandemic, and I don't think that's going to change; that trend is still continuing to happen.”

Reservations for the public hearing and life-saving program are encouraged and can be made by calling 343-1611. Walk-ins are also welcome for both events.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging is thrilled to announce a unique event that combines a crucial public hearing with an informative life-saving program titled "You are the Help Until Help Arrives." This dual-purpose event will occur at our office at 2 Bank Street, Batavia, on Wednesday, October 4 starting at 2 p.m.

Public Hearing: Shaping the Future of Aging Services
The Public Hearing, which precedes the life-saving program, is a vital opportunity for the community to influence the future of aging services in Genesee County. Your input is needed as we prepare our next four-year plan for submission to the New York State Office for the Aging. The Genesee County OFA wants to understand what matters most to you regarding our services and what the community needs to support aging residents effectively.

Life-Saving Program: "You are the Help Until Help Arrives"
Following the Public Hearing, we invite all attendees to participate in the "You are the Help Until Help Arrives" program. Emergencies can happen quickly, and in such situations, immediate actions can make all the difference. In collaboration with Genesee Emergency Management and the Genesee and Orleans Health Departments, this program aims to equip the community with the knowledge and skills needed to save lives during critical moments.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, October 4

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Genesee County Office for the Aging, 2 Bank Street, Batavia

Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 343-1611. Walk-ins are also welcome for both the Public Hearing and the program.

Press Release:

Genesee County residents can learn helpful information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias at a free program in Batavia this week. The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will present “Know the 10 Warning Signs” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 2 Bank St. in Batavia.

 “Early diagnosis gives people with Alzheimer’s disease the opportunity to make key decisions about treatment, care and planning, and the power to make choices about their own health and future,” says Andrea Koch, director of education at the WNY Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “With the recent FDA approval of the drug Leqembi to help people in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, timely diagnosis is more important than ever.”

 Facilitators will discuss how to recognize common signs of the disease; how to approach someone about memory concerns; the importance of early detection and benefits of a diagnosis; possible tests and assessments for the diagnostic process, and free local resources available through the Alzheimer's Association.

 The program is free. Participants are asked to register online at bit.ly/GenOFASept or by calling 800.272.3900.

 Help is available 24/7 for people living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias at 800.272.3900 or by visiting alz.org.

Click here for more information.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging is pleased to announce the distribution of Farmer's Market Coupons (FMC) starting on Thursday, July 6. These coupons provide eligible older adults with an opportunity to access fresh, locally-grown produce at participating farmers' markets in the county.

The Office for the Aging will kick off the FMC distribution on Thursday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at their office located at 2 Bank Street, Batavia. Additional distribution dates at the OFA office include:

• July 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
• July 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In addition to the OFA office, Farmer's Market Coupons will also be available at the following locations and times:

• The Goose in Oakfield - July 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Genesee Country Farmers' Market - Every Friday in July from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• LeRoy Farmers' Market - July 22, 29 & Aug. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Senior Housing locations will also offer coupon distribution, and flyers with the date and time details will be posted at these sites.

To find a complete calendar of Farmer's Market Coupon distribution dates, interested individuals can refer to the Gene-Senior newsletter, visit the Genesee County Office for the Aging's Facebook page, or visit the Genesee County Office for the Aging website. Alternatively, individuals can contact the office directly at 585-343-1611 for more information.

Treating someone struggling with substance use disorder can take many paths, but the road to recovery can become much easier to navigate with the help of specific clinically proven medications.

That premise was brought to light on Wednesday night by six professionals in the substance use field – including two who have experienced the pain of addiction – who participated in a “MOUD Anti-Stigma and Awareness Town Hall” event at the Genesee County Office for the Aging.

The session was sponsored by the HEAL Initiative and Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force, with Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee & Orleans Health Departments, serving as moderator. About 45 people attended.

“I have sustained healthy sobriety for just under three years, and one of the tools I used to get that sobriety in my toolbox of recovery is buprenorphine,” said Reilly Climenhaga, a detox technician at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, who said he has fought the substance use battle in his life for more than 20 years. “My issues and those of many others go much deeper than just the use of a chemical. There are many paths to sobriety for someone addicted to opiates, but I truly believe that using MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) greatly increases a person's chances.”

The Food & Drug Administration has approved buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone to manage opioid use disorder, and those medications are available through local agencies such as GCASA, Horizon Health Services and Rochester Regional Health.

Pettit pointed out that opioid use disorder has been recognized as a chronic disease and these medications work by relieving withdrawal symptoms, addressing psychological cravings and lowering the risk of return to use and overdose death.

“And that is the goal of The HEALing Communities study (a countywide initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health and Columbia University) – to reduce opioid deaths by 40 percent,” he said, noting that data shows that Genesee County has one of the highest opioid overdose death rates in New York.

Dr. Samantha Gray, PhD, an advanced practice clinician at Horizon Health Service’s Batavia location and an adjunct professor at the University of Buffalo, emphasized that MOUD not only helps with substance use disorder but also with the mental health aspect that usually is a key part of the treatment process.

“Over at Horizon, we are an integrated clinic. So, we assess for both substance use and mental health,” she said. “For those of you who are familiar with this population, those two things generally go hand in hand.”

Randi Johnson, a physician assistant at GCASA who works at the agency’s detoxification facility and Albion outpatient clinic, said MOUD, despite what people may think, is not a matter of trading one drug for another.

“I think we've probably all heard that at one point or another. But the important thing to remember is that we are treating this like a disease,” she said. “So, if you go to your primary care physician, you have high blood pressure, you have diabetes, you have any number of other common complaints, we're going to give you a medication to help treat that.

“The beauty of MOUD is that we can use this to take away any withdrawal symptoms for patients. This allows them clarity … it gives them a good baseline that they can function at, so that they can work with the counselors to change the behavioral aspect of this.”

Johnson said she has utilized buprenorphine micro-inductions – a gradual process -- to successfully initiate many patients on buprenorphine.

For Daniel Hauck, a clinical supervisor at Hope Haven Inpatient Rehabilitation, RRH Chemical Dependency unit in Batavia, medication for opioid use disorder has evolved over the years, leading to his acceptance of the practice.

“As I’ve seen it evolve, I've seen that there's better access to those medications. And as we really see better outcomes, it becomes much easier to engage a patient who feels hopeless in that moment, to actually be willing to come into that first appointment and come back to that second appointment,” he offered. “Oftentimes, that hopelessness comes from times where they have tried and feel like they failed.”

Hauck, along with panelist Kate Gregory, a licensed master social worker who manages the chemical dependency unit at RRH and Hope Haven, said they have made great strides in expanding services locally.

Gregory said it was a matter of figuring out how to serve patients better by developing immediate access.

“We launched a community-based care where we were able to go out and really serve patients, where they are literally meeting patients where they're at -- figuring out how not to let the EMR (electronic medical record) stop us from getting creative, and instead really expanding our services to meet the patient at any stage in their recovery,” she said.

When RRH added peer recovery advocates, that was a game-changer, she said.

One of those peers is Scott Davis, who also took part as a panelist at the public forum. Davis is in his second year as a recovery coach and certified peer advocate with RRH and is in recovery after many years of substance use.

In and out of legal trouble, including stints behind bars, Davis said that MOUD as prescribed by a physician was a key factor in his recovery.

“When I went to inpatient (treatment) in 2019, fentanyl was everything in my life,” he said. “I had cravings in rehab but I chose to go to a higher dose (of MOUD). I talked to my doctor, he had a plan, and when I got out I went to the Atwater (Community Residence) halfway house.”

It was there that Davis said he finally found the support system he needed, and eventually went to work for GCASA as a peer, before joining RRH as a recovery coach.

The panelists also shared their thoughts about the stigma attached to substance use disorder – perceptions among friends, family members and the community that can affect a patient’s self-worth.

“I think that, as a mental health or addiction therapist, it’s really important to just acknowledge that that exists. That validation alone can be huge,” Gregory said. “It’s also really important to infuse the culture of your agency with the right language and with the right education and with the right trainings and expectations around what creates a welcoming environment for people.”

She acknowledged the differing views of community members, and said that continuing education through public forums such as this town hall meeting will help to change perceptions.

Johnson said a major hurdle is that patients tend to believe the negative things that are said about them.

“As much as the community stigmatizes them at times, they come in and they believe that so wholeheartedly,” she said. “And so, one of the conversations I usually have with my patients, because almost every single one of them will come in and say I failed my urine test today, that it’s not pass or fail. We have that education in the visits with them because I don't want them to feel like one use constitutes a failure.”

Disclosure: Mike Pettinella is the publicist for GCASA.

About 45 people attended the two-hour session that explored the issues surrounding medication for opioid use disorder.