A focus on Office of the Aging and Veteran Services pays off
Goals set for 2022 by the Steuben County Legislature’s Health and Education Committee were met or exceeded, according to committee Chair Legislator Carol Ferratella, R-Riverside.
“The benefit of setting goals each year encourages us to think outside the box, and results in finding ways to improve and better understand issues within our committee,” Ferratella said.
Ferratella said key objectives in 2022 included making more information about the county Office For the Aging services available, tracking staff numbers in health and education-related services and improved outreach to veterans in Steuben:
- The county OFA has developed and published five informational videos on pertinent topics for senior and caregiver communities in Steuben. Efforts included transforming the OFA’s Fact Sheet into video/audio formats for easier access to learn about the department’s services. The new formats can be easily shared and linked to throughout all county channels.
The videos are located at https://www.steubencountyny.gov/249/Getting-Answers and include:
- Home Care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xufJ2J5IV9M
- Healthy Eating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQAp81uFtRA
- Transportation Options: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKfV1NHBTBw
- Easy Rider Transportation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbW8TBMrciE
- Falls Assistance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22zLt8wB9F4
- The committee also has received ongoing reports of job vacancies in health, human services and agencies under its oversight. At year end, 56 openings were identified, eight of which were last occupied prior to January 2018. Twelve of the positions are recent vacancies of which two could be considered management or senior level positions.
- Assist veterans who have transportation issues traveling to the Veterans’ Services Building in Bath through outreach events.
- While there were no outreach events in 2021, in 2022 some 36 outreach community and veterans’ events reached approximately 650 veterans. In addition, the Veterans Services Agency (VSA) hosts regularly schedules meetings in Hornell and Wayland.
- The VSA also recently distributed a flyer to local municipalities outlining its services and encouraging veterans to participate.
