Home Is Where The Help Is

Within the next five years, Putnam County will experience a 70 percent growth rate of residents over the age of 60 with one out of every four county residents being eligible for Social Security.

Office for the Aging officials reported last week the county’s over- 85-year old population will also double, necessitating a variety of housing options for seniors.

One of these is assisted living that combines independence, choice and privacy along with personalized and supportive care in a residential setting.

On Friday morning, elected officials joined representatives of the health care industry at a news conference in Patterson where the Plaza at Clover Lake announced its pending state licensure to become Putnam’s first assisted living provider.

Susan Bey, executive director of the Plaza, an organization that for the past 12 years has been operating as an independent senior resident facility, told the gathering that once the approvals are received from Albany, the Plaza at Clover Lake will provide services to those whose “needs exceed the type of care adult homes are licensed to provide. Residents must have a stable medical condition and must not require around-the-clock skilled nursing. The new program will allow seniors to age in place using on-site home care services to address their personal needs.”

Bey said the assisted living service was the “best possible environment for an in- dividual in need of supportive services in order to remain independent as they age but are not ready for a traditional nursing home.”

June Offerman is president of the Southeast Senior Citizens group. She called the announcement long overdue: “We seniors are growing in numbers like never before. My group welcomed seven new members just last week. An assisted living facility will allow families to visit regularly. Aging in place allows seniors to stay healthy—both mind and body.”

County Executive MaryEllen Odell applauded the announcement as well: “Assisted living facilities allow families to stay together while giving our elderly much needed independence.”

Odell described Putnam County as a “small community with a big heart that is all about family. The new program will allow families consisting of many generations to live together.”

Patterson Supervisor Michael Griffin described the initiative as a “win-win. My mother has been a resident here at the Plaza for the past two years. She has a new lease on life thanks to the Plaza’s dedicated and caring staff.”

Sheriff Don Smith told the gathering that in law enforcement, “we are most concerned about two populations—our youth and our senior citizens. The new facility will make Putnam County more complete.”

State Senator Greg Ball praised the Plaza at Clover Lake as well for becoming Putnam’s first assisted living program: “Independent living combined with basic health care assistance provide well being and dignity for those who need some extra help in their daily lives.”