West NY News

The Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services (CCOFAS) is preparing for its annual planning meeting, emphasizing community input to shape the future of services for older adults in the county. Established in 1973 by the county legislature, CCOFAS focuses on planning, coordinating, and managing federal and state grants to meet the needs of residents aged 60 and over.

According to data from the 2022 Census, Chautauqua County has a population of approximately 126,027 individuals, with 22% being over the age of 60. This figure surpasses the national average of 17%. The organization anticipates a budget of $5,186,681 for its programs and services in 2025, aiming to serve over 6,500 people. The funding includes federal and state contributions along with local matching dollars and participant contributions.

CCOFAS contracts more than $3.3 million to local businesses and non-profit organizations that provide services to older adults. It operates under regulations from the New York State Office for the Aging and the US Administration on Aging through the Older Americans Act.

The upcoming public hearing will present a draft plan for next year while seeking community feedback before finalizing it for submission to state authorities. "Please join us on November 14, 2024," reads an invitation from Dana Corwin, Interim Director at CCOFAS.

CCOFAS's goals for 2025 include promoting innovative approaches reflective of local needs as per the Older Americans Act; enabling older residents to remain in their homes with high-quality life through home-based services; creating an age-friendly environment; ensuring rights protection against abuse or neglect; empowering active lifestyles through Medicare offerings; integrating COVID-19 lessons into practices; promoting equitable access across all programs; supporting family caregivers through various initiatives.

Core services offered by CCOFAS encompass in-home caregiver support like housekeeping assistance and personal care services alongside nutrition programs such as home-delivered meals or dining options at restaurants or congregate settings. Additional resources include NY Connects - an aging disability resource center providing specialized information assistance along with legal aid addressing issues like housing disputes or age discrimination plus transportation solutions tailored towards senior citizens' needs.

For those unable to attend meetings physically but wishing still participate via email feedback option available until November end: "We will take comments through November 30," states Corwin encouraging wider engagement among stakeholders interested contributing towards shaping future direction taken by this vital service provider within community context where aging population presents unique challenges requiring collaborative efforts address effectively moving forward together collectively achieving shared vision encapsulated succinctly phrase “Excel at Aging Well.”