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Seniors meet and greet at C-GCC
  
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Golden Gathering brings health experts and area representatives together
By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
GREENPORT — Hundreds of area seniors were right on time for the opening of the seventeenth annual Golden Gathering held at Columbia-Greene Community College from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Behind the doors of the college’s main hall were free kidney screenings and flu shots, information about programs and services to benefit senior citizens, and state Senator Steve Saland and state Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, who mingled with the crowd, answering questions and taking comments.
“I’m having a blast,” said Molinaro, adding that access to important resources like these are important, “especially during this economy. It’s a privilege in a lot of ways, and it’s been a pleasure.”
“We’re anticipating anywhere from 350 to 500 people before the day is over,” said Saland. “I can’t count the number of people who I’ve spoken with before (this event).”
Molinaro said he had taken a lot of questions about Medicare and Medicaid. “Some seniors are concerned about being cut or how to access services. That said, we’ve heard everything.”
“We’ve had a few stern warnings… This is an opportunity for seniors to have access to their officials, and the programs that serve them.”
“The vast majority of people want to say thank you and that they appreciate this event,” said Saland, whose assistant took down names and comments in the interest of making future appointments with citizens or connecting them with requested information. “This forum doesn’t lend itself to sitting down for a half hour,” he said.
By 10 a.m., Columbia-Greene Dialysis Center nephrologist and Kidney Foundation volunteer Sarah Wilber said about 40 people had signed up for a free kidney screening.
“We think this is great,” she said. “It’s a really good screening tool. We get to see people right as they come through the door. People are always at risk for kidney disease… this will help.”
Columbia County Public Health Director Nancy Winch said at 11:30 a.m. that 200 seniors had already been given flu shots. “We’ll probably do about 400. It’s going very well,” she said.
Free exams were also available for sleep apnea, stress, and blood pressure, sponsored by local businesses.
Laura Carswell, senior program coordinator at Columbia-Greene Community Action had a booth advertising the organization’s “senior companion” program, which matches seniors with other seniors who would like some care and friendship. It’s a federally funded program in its 19th year.
“It’s a lot of respite work… families who work during the day are concerned for their elderly family members,” she said. “We are losing a lot of our volunteers through the years. There’s a great need for our program and we desperately need volunteers.”
To volunteer, individuals need to be 55 or older, have their own transportation, and meet financial eligibility requirements. Volunteers do get a stipend and mileage reimbursement.
“It’s very well received, and very much needed,” she said.
On the other end of the Columbia-Greene gym, and the other end of the spectrum of services offered, representatives from the state comptroller’s office checked to see if seniors had unclaimed funds.
A representative from the office said that usually, around 20 percent of people will find unclaimed funds in their name or a relative’s. The records for unclaimed funds go back to 1943, and never expire.
Bonnie Newkirk of Finish Line Fitness had a booth advertising the gym’s “senior-cize” program, a low-impact aerobic program. Newkirk said there are about 15 people in the class right now, and most are seniors who have kept up active lifestyles throughout the years.
“We have some people that started later in life,” she said. “In various places, I’ve probably taught senior-cize for 30 years, and I have two people in my class who have been with me since 1984.”
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
Behind the doors of the college’s main hall were free kidney screenings and flu shots, information about programs and services to benefit senior citizens, and state Senator Steve Saland and state Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, who mingled with the crowd, answering questions and taking comments.
“I’m having a blast,” said Molinaro, adding that access to important resources like these are important, “especially during this economy. It’s a privilege in a lot of ways, and it’s been a pleasure.”
“We’re anticipating anywhere from 350 to 500 people before the day is over,” said Saland. “I can’t count the number of people who I’ve spoken with before (this event).”
Molinaro said he had taken a lot of questions about Medicare and Medicaid. “Some seniors are concerned about being cut or how to access services. That said, we’ve heard everything.”
“We’ve had a few stern warnings… This is an opportunity for seniors to have access to their officials, and the programs that serve them.”
“The vast majority of people want to say thank you and that they appreciate this event,” said Saland, whose assistant took down names and comments in the interest of making future appointments with citizens or connecting them with requested information. “This forum doesn’t lend itself to sitting down for a half hour,” he said.
By 10 a.m., Columbia-Greene Dialysis Center nephrologist and Kidney Foundation volunteer Sarah Wilber said about 40 people had signed up for a free kidney screening.
“We think this is great,” she said. “It’s a really good screening tool. We get to see people right as they come through the door. People are always at risk for kidney disease… this will help.”
Columbia County Public Health Director Nancy Winch said at 11:30 a.m. that 200 seniors had already been given flu shots. “We’ll probably do about 400. It’s going very well,” she said.
Free exams were also available for sleep apnea, stress, and blood pressure, sponsored by local businesses.
Laura Carswell, senior program coordinator at Columbia-Greene Community Action had a booth advertising the organization’s “senior companion” program, which matches seniors with other seniors who would like some care and friendship. It’s a federally funded program in its 19th year.
“It’s a lot of respite work… families who work during the day are concerned for their elderly family members,” she said. “We are losing a lot of our volunteers through the years. There’s a great need for our program and we desperately need volunteers.”
To volunteer, individuals need to be 55 or older, have their own transportation, and meet financial eligibility requirements. Volunteers do get a stipend and mileage reimbursement.
“It’s very well received, and very much needed,” she said.
On the other end of the Columbia-Greene gym, and the other end of the spectrum of services offered, representatives from the state comptroller’s office checked to see if seniors had unclaimed funds.
A representative from the office said that usually, around 20 percent of people will find unclaimed funds in their name or a relative’s. The records for unclaimed funds go back to 1943, and never expire.
Bonnie Newkirk of Finish Line Fitness had a booth advertising the gym’s “senior-cize” program, a low-impact aerobic program. Newkirk said there are about 15 people in the class right now, and most are seniors who have kept up active lifestyles throughout the years.
“We have some people that started later in life,” she said. “In various places, I’ve probably taught senior-cize for 30 years, and I have two people in my class who have been with me since 1984.”
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
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