Annual Initiative Program
In addition to working toward achieving its endowment goal, the Steuben
Senior Services Fund has established an Annual Initiatives Program to pursue
appropriate near-term opportunities for enhancing its mission. The annual
Initiatives Program addresses only those activities which are consistent
with the SSSF mission and are within its immediate resources. 2009 was the
inaugural year of the program.
2009/2010: Pulteney Aging-in-Place Feasibility Study
The
action plan generated by the Pulteney study identified four major
implementation strategies. SSSF then successfully secured additional grant
funds from the Keuka Area Fund and the Southern Finger Lakes Fund of
the Community Health Foundation to implement the following recommendations:
-
Increase
access to and knowledge of transportation services in the Town of
Pulteney.
-
Increase
the availability of non-medical assistance in the Town of Pulteney.
-
Increase
the availability of medical-related, health assistance services in the
Town of Pulteney.
-
Increase
the publicity and information to older Pulteney residents about the
availability of services.
2009/2010: County-wide Aging in Place Feasibility Study
Late in 2009 SSSF secured a grant through the Steuben County Office for the
Aging to conduct a county-wide Aging in Place Study based on the successful
model begun earlier in the year in the Pulteney area. This study was
funded by a Community Empowerment grant from the New York State Office for
the Aging and was designed to identify the factors that will allow people to
remain in their own homes and communities as they age. A final report from
this study is now available on the
Steuben County Office for Aging
website.
2010: Universal Design
Additionally, in 2010 SSSF received a grant to promote the concept of
universal design. Universal design gives specific requirements for
construction such as zero step entrances, doorways and passageways wide
enough for wheelchair access, a bathroom or half bath on the ground floor,
and a room on the ground floor that can be converted to a bedroom as needed.
Also included in the design concepts are reinforcements in bathrooms around
the tub/shower and the toilet area so that grab bars can be installed for
safety.
SSSF will be advocating for Universal Design legislation and will be
promoting the concept with local home builders.
A copy of both
the report for the county and for the Pulteney Aging in Place study are
available on the
Steuben County office for the Aging website or by contacting SSSF at
607-664-2298.
View our video "Endow
Their Future... and Yours" on YouTube.
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