Our 26th annual Senior Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon is one our major events of the year. Be sure to complete a nominating form to name a person you feel merits Hall of Fame recognition and tell us why.

The Department of Senior Programs and Services was a major sponsor of one of Westchester County’s most important initiatives of the year this month when it launched Project Lifesaver – a  pilot program, which is giving  transmitter bracelets to 100 local seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and are prone to wandering.  Should the person become lost, specially trained and equipped county police officers can locate them using a radio signal transmitted from the bracelets.

The department also provides information and referral on senior housing and help for caregivers; likewise for area adult day care services for medical, psychiatric, and social needs and long-term care and long-term care insurance.  Our Medicare Information Line is open year round so contact us.

Acquiring information about long-term care options can be challenging. That’s why the county encourages its residents to check out New York Connects help line. One toll-free phone call provides a wealth of information about long-term care choices for seniors and for disabled adults and children.

You may want to check our listings of senior clubs and centers and senior nutrition sites or learn more about our Campaign to Stop Elder Abuse.  The county recently announced Senior Crime Busters, a one-hour elder fraud protection education program that provides tips on how seniors can stay safe and avoid financial exploitation.

Our new Home Repair and Energy Assistance Directory offers a wealth of information for income-eligible seniors.

Our fall season kicks off with several events, including the Saxon Woods Pool Party and Barbecue on Sept. 10 and the Viviendo Saludablemente (Healthy Living) Conference for Spanish-speaking seniors on Sept. 13.

September is also back-to-school time, but many grandparents who care for their grandchildren do not have funds to buy them notebooks and pencils. The Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services is asking the community for contributions to help these children begin the school year with the supplies they need.

The New York Southern Area Aging Network (NY-SAAN), a DSPS initiative, is presenting a regional conference in Manhattan on Sept. 18. Learn about the speakers and how to register. More information can be found on the NY-SAAN site.

The Livable Community Connection  program has been up and running with great success. Its aim is to help seniors “age in place” in their own homes. DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter, who is spearheading the initiative, recently won a national award, which acknowledges her leadership in this area. DSPS co-sponsors the Livable Communities initiative with the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.