Kingston, NY - County Executive Mike Hein visited Gateway Industries, in Kingston, New York, today to announce his plan to expand and improve Ulster County’s Meals on Wheels program. The new Senior Meals on Wheels Plus program will not only include hot meal deliveries to eligible seniors, but support through a new and intensive “Right At Home” service, designed to provide enhanced at home support and advocacy for the County’s most vulnerable seniors.
County Executive Hein saw an opportunity to completely reinvent the Meals on Wheels program, and partner with Gateway Industries to create a better model and keep the County’s investment local, after a decision by the current Meals on Wheels vendor that called for delivering only frozen meals to seniors on a weekly basis. The new, completely redesigned program provides participants the choice of daily hot meal deliveries or weekly frozen meals for more active seniors. It also includes enhanced training for home contact staff to better promote the overall wellness and living conditions for the seniors being served. Additionally, the new program also promotes friendship centers where seniors can visit for group meals, special events, physical activity opportunities and social engagement.
“Our parents and grandparents worked a lifetime to raise their families and build the community we enjoy today. They deserve nothing less than the best and that’s exactly what we plan to deliver,” said County Executive Mike Hein. Not only will our new Meals on Wheels Plus program provide greater choice and serve more hot meals to more seniors, we’re introducing an enhancement that will support our most vulnerable seniors. Working with the professionals at Gateway Industries, we will be visiting “at risk” seniors up to five times per week, whether they are at home or in the hospital, to: help ensure that they are properly nourished; their environment is safe; they are emotionally and medically secure; and their support network is strong. This comprehensive wellness program was crafted with intelligence and innovation, but its source is compassion for our revered loved ones. There is simply nothing like it anywhere in New York State.”
Kelly McMullen, Director of Ulster County’s Office for the Aging
“First, I would like to thank County Executive Hein for his unwavering support for our seniors and everything that we do to serve them. The mission of our department is to ensure that our older residents receive the support and services they need in order to remain independent and at home as long as possible. The new Meals on Wheels Plus program offers an entirely new dimension of care and outreach to our seniors: reducing isolation in the form of meaningful, engaged relationships with persons who can work to ensure that critical interventions occur. This level of involvement and advocacy is designed to help Ulster County seniors experience the healthiest and happiest lives’ possible. I am so gratified that the County Executive has provided us with the leadership and resources to work on this most meaningful and important goal," said Kelly McMullen, Director of Ulster County’s Office for the Aging.
Mohsen Badran, CEO of Gateway Community Industries, Inc.
“Gateway Industries is proud to be part of County Executive Hein’s new program. It allows us to provide an unprecedented level of service to our community’s seniors, while at the same time providing new job skills and economic opportunities for the people we serve. It’s a win-win scenario that is consistent with our mission to ‘assist people in choosing, acquiring, using and maintaining the skills and supports necessary to achieve success and satisfaction in their lives’,” said Mohsen Badran, CEO of Gateway Community Industries, Inc.
Helen Edelstein, Vice President of Vocational and Therapeutic Services, at Gateway Industries, Inc.
“County Executive Hein’s new program takes the concept of human services to a whole new level, because it will provide seniors with assessment and service by highly skilled, professional Care Coordinators, complimented by frequent follow-up with well trained volunteers and drivers who will be constantly checking in with people to make sure that they are secure and well. It’s a smart and integrated approach that will work,” said Helen Edelstein Vice President of Vocational and Therapeutic Services, at Gateway Industries, Inc.
The County Executive will submit the new contract with Gateway Industries, Inc. to the County legislature for their approval at the May, 2015 legislative meeting.
