Gardiner looks to inform, aid elders with Senior Living Expo

The Gardiner Liveable Community Committee presents the Senior Living Expo, which will offer exhibits, info and advice for seniors on Tuesday May 14 at 2 p.m. in the Gardiner Town Hall. (photo by Lauren Thomas)

It’s tough to know exactly what services Ulster County and Gardiner offer to senior citizens. People might be doing without pet assistance, senior home care services, senior discounts and other stuff already available to them through government programs.

That’s a situation the Gardiner Living Community Committee members hope to alleviate on May 14 with their Senior Living Expo.

“We’ve been providing information for people to stay in their homes. The first thing we did when we formed was come up with a booklet – which we just revised – about all the resources for seniors,” explained Joe Katz. “Now with this expo, we’re bringing all of the resources to Gardiner.”

Back in 2011, the Gardiner Living Community Committee (or GLCC) started as a way to inform seniors about Ulster County’s “Aging in Place” program – as well as other helpful information. But they found that their Gardiner Senior Citizen Resource Guide might not be enough. Even with that help, the committee members found that the elderly in the town didn’t always know where to turn for assistance.

“The two biggest things is they don’t realize — and we don’t know — who the people are who need the service. You can’t reach them by computer, because most of them aren’t computer literate,” Katz said. “We also want to get across to people who are not necessarily seniors, but who know seniors who need help, to bring them out.”

In fact, Ulster County provides a wealth of services – as do other local groups – which include legal assistance for seniors, classes, food pantry access and household assistance. People from the county Office of the Aging, Jewish Family Services, AARP, the Alzheimer Association, LLI of New Paltz, the Gardiner Animal Hospital, the town assessor and the local library will all have booths at the Senior Expo to talk about what they offer.

“For example, transportation is available for doctor appointments,” he said. Certain grocery stores also do home shopping delivery for seniors. Katz noted that people don’t always know that.

People can pick up the new 2013 senior citizen resource booklet from the event, but it is also distributed to local churches, food pantries, the library and at Town Hall.

Gardiner’s Senior Living Expo runs from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. at Town Hall on May 14. Gardiner Town Hall is located at 2340 Route 44/55.