As single-digit temperatures grip upstate New York, senior advocates are urging people to check on older neighbors. At the Rensselaer County Senior Center, an otherwise frigid winter day starts with lunch, conversation and a warm room full of familiar faces.
“The people we have lunch with, almost on a daily basis. The activities, the camaraderie. It’s so much fun,” said member Madeline Suszko.
Staff say the center offers more than just a meal. It provides recreation, socialization and a daily check-in for older adults who might otherwise be alone during dangerous cold snaps.
“If we don’t hear from them or see them, we ask around and then give a call,” said Gloria Fonda, director of senior services for the Rensselaer County Department for the Aging.
New York has one of the largest older adult populations in the country, with about 3.2 million residents over age 65, according to state aging officials. Advocates say winter can bring two major risks for that group: cold-related health problems and increased loneliness.
“The whole intention was to get our seniors out of their home to be socialized versus being isolated,” said Darcie Casey, commissioner of the county’s Department for the Aging Services. “And it really has made a difference for so many coming through.”
The county’s aging services team helps connect seniors to heating and energy-assistance programs, home-delivered meals and transportation to medical appointments, while the senior center offers crafts, cards and exercise classes to help people stay active and engaged.
Officials say older adults who are not connected to a senior center can find help through local aging offices and the New York State Office for the Aging website, which lists resources for meals, transportation and wellness checks. They add that even a simple phone call or visit from a neighbor can go a long way to help an older person feel safer and less alone during extreme cold.