New Investment Opportunity Promotes Independent Senior Living in Herkimer and Oneida Counties

The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties is seeking applications for a new investment opportunity to support programs and projects that promote independent senior living in Herkimer and Oneida counties. Applicants must propose a new solution or an enhancement to an existing program that advances seniors’ self-determination and relates to a need identified in the “Community Assessment of Senior Needs for Herkimer and Oneida Counties” study.

The assessment was commissioned by The Community Foundation in partnership with the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York to better understand the unique needs of seniors in the two-county area. Nearly 250 seniors, service providers and community members in Herkimer and Oneida counties participated in focus groups and surveys. Through the assessment, seniors identified medical needs, financial assistance, help at home and service accessibility as being essential to independent living, but not fully addressed through existing services.

“The assessment reinforced what many in our community already know – we have a significant number of well-established and successful programs and services for seniors in our counties. Our goal is to bring greater awareness to these existing services, and to identify opportunities for new or expanded services that would address an unfulfilled need,” said Jan Squadrito, senior community investment manager at The Community Foundation.

Applications will be accepted throughout 2017 and can be requested by contacting Jan Squadrito at jsquadrito@foundationhoc.org or 315-731-3728.

A PDF of the community assessment is available for download on The Community Foundation website at www.foundationhoc.org/seniorstudy.