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County advances pilot respite program and authorizes vehicle purchase for in-home aides
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Summary
Supervisors approved a pilot respite program to open social adult day sites in Canaan and Chatham and authorized an Office for the Aging vehicle purchase to support in-home personal care aides; the committee discussed volunteer training and grant funding.
The Public Safety Committee approved a pilot respite program designed to expand daytime supports for older residents and caregivers and carried a resolution authorizing a vehicle purchase for an Office for the Aging personal-care aide.
Speaker 7 outlined a plan to open respite locations in Canaan and Chatham, initially operating one day per month and coordinated with existing social adult day resources so sites run on days the Social House is closed. The pilot would be free to county caregivers, use volunteers alongside two contracted caregiver coordinators, and rely on training and a provider directory from NYSARC and other state partners.
"We would open up a location in Canaan and a location in Chatham in partnership with faith-based churches that have agreed to work with us on this project," Speaker 7 said, describing partnerships and a plan to expand into the southern county if the pilot succeeds. The department reported $20,000 in available grant funding for the project and said another $10,000 (from leftover grant funds) would upgrade kitchen and nutrition services; the speaker also noted a possible additional $15,000 grant from an assembly member but said that award was not yet in hand.
Separately, the Office for the Aging asked the committee to authorize a vehicle purchase using ISEP funding to support a personal-care aide who transports clients for in‑home supports; the motion passed. Committee members discussed whether an electric or hybrid vehicle might be eligible for rebates and confirmed the vehicle should have all‑wheel drive for winter accessibility.
The committee carried the resolutions to implement the respite pilot and to authorize the Office for the Aging vehicle purchase; staff said they will pursue the additional grant funding and report back on volunteer training and program schedules.
