Council on Aging honors those who make life better for older adults

Caregivers, volunteers, students and professionals who work to make life better for older adults were honored at the 38th annual dinner of Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA). The dinner was held March 17 at Sheraton Cincinnati North, in Sharonville.

The awards and winners are:

President's Award

• Tracey Collins, Executive Director of Cincinnati Area Senior Services
• Jack Maybury, President of Derringer Food and Vending Services
• Hamilton County Commissioners (Board of County Commissioners as of September, 2008: then-president Todd Portune, David Pepper, and Pat DeWine)

Collins, Maybury and Hamilton County commissioners were instrumental in the effort to help seniors who were affected by the massive power outage following the windstorm last September.

The power outage was especially hard on homebound older adults and people with disabilities - particularly, those with lower incomes living in senior apartment complexes. Their buildings were dark, their elevators didn't work, they couldn't go anywhere, and they needed their Meals on Wheels.

Home-delivered meals are part of Council on Aging's mission to help seniors remain safe and independent in their own homes for as long as possible.

Derringer, located in Fairfax, is Council on Aging's major producer of home-delivered meals. Cincinnati Area Senior Services (CASS), with offices in Queensgate and senior centers in Avondale, Mt. Auburn and Over-the-Rhine, is a major meals delivery provider. Both organizations - led by Collins and Maybury - went to extraordinary lengths to get meals and shelf-stable foods to older adults in need.

Through the efforts of Collins, Derringer, Council on Aging, and other meals delivery providers, meals were delivered for several days not only to regular program clients, but to all residents of subsidized senior apartment complexes who needed food. CASS alone delivered 5,000 meals beyond their normal 4,300 per week. Their parking lot became a distribution center and all staff pitched in to help.

For their part, Hamilton County Commissioners rapidly adopted a resolution allowing the release of funds from the Hamilton County Elderly Services levy, in order to make sure that all needy seniors who could not get to food pantries were able to get meals.

The Derringer Company also donated warehouse space and staff time to organize and deploy scores of volunteers who packed some 5,000 boxes of shelf-stable foods which were delivered to seniors.

Outstanding Senior Citizen Award
Patricia Chaney, of Bridgetown, volunteer for seniors and caregivers

This award honors individuals who - after reaching the age of 60 themselves - have made significant contributions to improve the lives of older adults.

A retired nurse, Chaney has spent more than 10 years volunteering with the Network of Care, the Caregiver Assistance Network of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church.

She helps with health screenings, transportation, counseling and caregiver support groups. Even more - she's not only personally involved, but recruits other nurses for the cause.

As a fellow volunteer said, "Pat's spirit of service is outstanding, dependable, compassionate and mixed with a marvelous sense of humor. She's a friend to everyone."

Outstanding Caregiver Award
Rudy Bors, of Monroe, Ohio

For many years, Bors cared for his wife, Katie, as she struggled with Alzheimer's disease. At the time of her diagnosis, they were living the retirement life of their dreams in Florida.

In the words of Kathy Yerkes of Mount Pleasant, who nominated Bors for this award: "The look of love in Rudy's eyes as he spoke about Katie was truly magical. His smile was his way of reassuring everyone that he could take care of her. He fed her, bathed her, dressed her, spoke for her and when she could no longer walk, he carried her. Sadly, Katie passed away…but I don't think any woman in the world could have been more loved by her husband than Katie was by Rudy."

Outstanding Caregiver Award
Arlene Moore-Lee, of College Hill

Moore-Lee is a home health aide who was nominated by her employer, Comfort Keepers. Home heath aide can be a demanding job and Moore-Lee has met the challenges.

But she may have met her match with Miss Esther, a client with whom caregivers didn't last long. Miss Esther's apartment was full of roaches and she refused to give up her favorite chair, which just happened to be the roaches' favorite chair too.

Neither was Miss Esther keen on letting caregivers help her with personal hygiene.

Moore-Lee turned on the charm and her considerable skills of gentle persuasion. When Miss Esther's broken table was replaced and she seemed delighted with it, Moore-Lee convinced her that her old chair no longer matched the table. Out it finally went, and the roaches too.

Moore-Lee got more donations of furniture and clothing for Miss Esther and, in many ways, helped her to once again enjoy life.

Then one day, Moore-Lee visited and found Miss Esther had died in her sleep.

According to Trish Ingram of Comfort Keepers, "Because of Arlene, Miss Esther's last months were wonderful. Arlene uses that same concern, compassion and sensitivity with all her clients and they are lucky to have her as a caregiver."

John Wycliffe Fleming Youth Award
Amelia Middle School

Amelia Middle School collaborated with Amelia High School to present a Seniors Fair last winter and they really put their hearts into it. They organized everything well and put a lot of thought into doing what seniors would enjoy.

They served hot soup and other food, lined up a wide array of organizations with informational booths, and arranged entertainment by senior singing and dancing groups.

Their nominator, Cher Litchfield, said: "I attended the event with my 80-year-old grandmother and she really had a great time. The students and staff at Amelia did a tremendous job."

Community Service Award
Kathy Lehr, Clermont County Communications Director and her staff at the Clermont County Office of Public Information

For years, Lehr and her staff have promoted Clermont Senior Services through the county's video news magazine, Clermont County Today.

Clermont Senior Services feared the program would suffer because of the slow economy. They turned to Lehr for help. She and her team responded in a big way through every possible communications channel. Lehr even encouraged her son Ryan's Glen Este High School basketball team to host a Senior Night to collect gifts and cash donations!

The result? An overwhelming community response. County departments, businesses, churches, civic groups, youth groups, and families all pitched in.

Clermont Senior Services was able to match 187 seniors with donors, assemble 180 gift bags, provide more than $2,000 in gift cards and add $4,710 to the senior emergency fund. A dozen new volunteers also came on board and the county treasurer's office pledged to conduct several supply drives for the pantry throughout the year.

About Council on Aging

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults and their families.

Since 1974, COA has been designated by the state of Ohio as the Area Agency on Aging for Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties. COA plans, coordinates, funds and administers programs for an area that is home to more than 252,000 adults age 60 and older.

COA promotes choice, independence, dignity and well-being of older adults through a range of services that help them remain in their homes for as long as possible. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults.

For Answers on Aging:
Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
175 Tri County Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45246
513-721-1025 Toll-free 1-800-252-0155
E-mail: info@help4seniors.org
Website: www.help4seniors.org

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