Read more: Local, Economy
OSWEGO -- Like just about everything else these days, the senior nutrition program in Oswego County is being hit by the economy, budget cuts from Albany, higher food costs and the price of fuel. Never the less, nearly everyday, Oswego County Opportunities make sure folks get a meal at eight nutrition sites across the county.
The "Meals on Wheels" program is another matter. Meals on Wheels, which takes food to hundreds of homebound seniors, is being cut back. Oswego County covers 968 square mile, much of it rural and remote. Because of rising costs, Oswego County Opportunities has already consolidated eight Meals on Wheels routes, so about 200 seniors may only receive a few deliveries a week. Now they're planning to eliminate anyone who lives more than a mile off their established routes.
"We cannot deliver that meal." Director Amy Roland told Action News, "We would provide it. We would drop it off at a post office or a town hall but we could no longer deliver it to their door."
Deana Lackey depends on Meals on Wheels. Her life with husband, John has changed drastically. He suffers from Alzheimer's disease and needs round the clock care. "I am homebound completely." she said. Lackey says she appreciates the home deliveries because, "I'm not able to go out and get these things for him."
Deana lives within the new one mile limit from an established route. She and her husband will continue to benefit from Meals on Wheels but Deana worries about the dozens of other homebound seniors who may live too far away. "I don't know what's going to fill that void now because people are in need, people like me, what are they going to do?"
Driver Dave Schneider, who delivers the meals, also worries for those who may be cut from the program. "I'm the only contact they have every day and it's not only our job to bring them food, but also check on them physically and see how they're doing."
It's a catch-22. Homebound seniors, too isolated to qualify for a home delivered meal, may now find themselves even more isolated from the rest of society.
Director of Oswego County's Office of Aging, Larry Schmidt is thinking of another alternative... delivering five frozen meals once a week to those living beyond the mile limit.
