PINE PLAINS — Dutchess County’s Office for the Aging helped get seniors out of the house for the 34th year in a row through the organization’s annual picnic, providing seniors a chance to socialize and discuss programs available to help them prosper.
The OFA hosted a picnic on Friday, July 24, at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains for seniors residing in Pine Plains, North East, Stanford and Washington. About 150 local seniors attended the picnic. The event was previously scheduled for July 15 but was postponed due to excessive heat.
At the picnic, seniors were provided lunch from Trio Community Meals while local musician Bob Martinson played songs ranging from “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” Tables lined the tent with resources and information geared toward seniors, such as their government representatives, the Dutchess County District Attorney’s office and the Mid Hudson Regional Hospital Stroke Center. The Medical Reserve Corps also provided free blood pressure screenings and medication disposal.
Approximately 20% of the population in Dutchess County is over the age of 65. The Office for the Aging, run by director Todd Tancredi, seeks to support this large group by creating programs and raising awareness for issues that face this population, such as loneliness, mobility and cognitive decline.
“The whole intent is just socializing more than anything. The idea is for them to see old friends and make new ones,” Tancredi said. “That’s the name of the game, keep them from being isolated and alone and depressed, and then it just spirals down from there.”
County Executive Sue Serino is also very involved with the OFA and previously served as chair of the Aging Committee in the New York State Senate. “My son always teases me because Serino and Senior have the same letters,” Serino said. “He says it was my destiny.”
Serino also presented the town of Stanford a microgrant for $6,000, allowing them to become a Purple Heart Town to honor the town’s veterans with signage, flags and plaques. There will be a dedication ceremony on Nov. 11.
The OFA provides many programs similar to the picnics with the goal of supporting the elderly. The organization recently launched a partnership with SilverShield which allows seniors to call, text or email the program to assess the possibility of a scam. They also partner with Go-Go Grandparent in order to provide rides for seniors who cannot drive so they can live independently at no additional cost.
“I want to make sure they know that we’re here,” Tancredi said. “We’re gonna help them as they get older, through their senior years.”
