Valley Seniors Talk 'Aging In Place' - Valley Independent Sentinel

SEYMOUR – With some 28,000 people aged 65 and older living in the Valley, it’s important to have the services and support they need to safely age in place during those golden years.

That’s what a panel of community leaders talked about Wednesday (Nov. 19) with 40 seniors who attended an “Aging in Place in the Valley” learning session hosted by the Valley Community Foundation.

The 90-minute event took place at the Seymour Community Center and featured a panel that included TEAM, Inc. President/CEO David Morgan, Mary McNelis, director of the Seymour Community Center, Jessica Kristy, director of Naugatuck Valley Health District and Lisa Trupp, NVHD health educator.

VCF President/CEO Sharon Closius said the senior population in the Valley is growing.

Out of some 140,000 residents living in the Valley, 20 percent of them are 65 and older. Helping older adults stay in their homes, and age in place in the healthiest way possible, is what Closius and the panel said is a major focus.

The audience learned the Valley is chock full of many opportunities and services designed just for them. Whether it’s a free Thanksgiving meal, light housekeeping, participating in dance and exercise classes at their local senior center, getting heating assistance, taking a trip to the casino, hitching a ride to run errands, getting free COVID testing kits or free meals delivered right to their doors, there are numerous resources for Valley seniors.

There are also challenges that seniors face, the panelists said, like not having family members around, a lack of transportation and limited finances. But that’s where the various community agencies, like TEAM, NVHD and senior centers come into play. They are there to help in any way they can, according to McNelis.

“Aging in place means so much more than just staying at home,” McNelis said. “It’s about having a purpose, health and wellness support and social conversation.”

Morgan said seniors, in their golden years, can often face social isolation and depression, something he said can be more devastating than other chronic health conditions. That’s why a program like TEAM’s Meals on Wheels works not only to provide homebound or disabled seniors with daily, nutritious meals, but the drivers serve as a source of friendly conversation and also have eyes on seniors in case of an emergency.

Last year alone, Morgan said TEAM served more than 104,000 meals to 400 Valley seniors.

TEAM is also a resource for seniors to receive incontinent supplies, rides to medical appointments, help with yard work and, on a more limited basis, repairs or sometimes a replacement of their furnace or boilers.

“The Valley will never be overlooked,” Morgan said.

Kristy and Trupp said in addition to the numerous resources for seniors offered by NVHD, including workshops on managing chronic pain and how to prevent falls, there are many volunteer opportunities available for seniors like being part of an emergency preparedness team.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, we’re here for you,” Kristy said.

Former Ansonia Mayor Nancy Valentine, and chairwoman of VCF’s board of directors, attended Wednesday’s program and brought some of her friends to learn about the resources available to them.

“I brought eight of my friends with me, because when we first met, we were all married women and now we are all widows, living alone in our homes,” Valentine said. “We need to think about what our barriers are and how to stay safe, and where we can turn when we have all these questions. We have it all here in the Valley and we need to utilize those services.”

The audience was also given numerous pamphlets and flyers packed with important phone numbers to reach out for all types of assistance.

Here are some resources for seniors:

Ansonia Senior Center: 203-736-5933

Derby Senior Center: 203-736-1484

Seymour Senior Center: 203-888-0406

TEAM, Inc.: 203-736-5420

Agency on Aging of South Central CT: 203-785-8533

Medicare: 1-800-633-4227

The Elder Justice Hotline: 860-808-8555

United Way Infoline: Dial 2-1-1

BHcare Mental Health Services: 203-736-2601

Ansonia Police Department (non-emergency): 203-735-1885