Senator Valesky to Hold Free Senior Fair on October 14 in Madison County

Syracuse - Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) is hosting a Senior Information Fair at the Rusty Rail in Canastota on Wednesday, October 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Experts from local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies will provide important information on health care, in-home services, health insurance, prescription assistance, housing, and local services, as well as offer giveaways. All residents in Sen. Valesky’s district are invited to attend this free event.

Rite Aid will offer flu shots (with insurance card and co-payment). Other organizations will offer blood pressure checks and other health screenings. Tim Horton’s will provide refreshments.

“Madison County is home to dozens of organizations and agencies that can directly benefit seniors, but seniors may not be aware of all of the services available,” Sen. Valesky said. “This free Information Fair is a means for seniors and their families to connect with the experts and groups that can offer assistance and information on issues of importance to them.”

Attendees will be able to speak with representatives from the agencies listed below. New this year at the fair are organizations that are actively looking for new volunteers. These organizations are noted with a double asterisk.

ACR Health: MLTC ombudsman & ARD facilitated enrollment

American Red Cross Madison-Oneida: Disaster preparedness

Argentine Health Partners - Take Shape for Life: Conducting “Well Being Evaluations” and calculating BMIs. Giving away a copy of “Discover Your Optimal health” by Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen.

ARISE

ASW and Associates

**BRiDGES: Giveaways related to STOP DWI

CABVI

Cancer Services Program of Oneida, Herkimer & Madison County

Community Action Partnership - Nutrition Outreach and Education

Catholic Charities of Oneida/Madison Counties: Safe Harbor, RHY

CCE, Southern Tier SNAP-ED, Eat Smart New York

Central NY Library Resources Council

**Chenango Canal Association: Promoting “History Happened Here,” an audio self-tour on the summit of the trail between Woodman Pond in Hamilton and Oriskany Creek in Solsville. Smart phone owners can scan the QR code and hear a 2-minute recording about a historical event at that location.

**Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum: Offering ½-off coupons to the site.

**Community Action Partnership

Connect Medical Products: Offering a free month of Medical Alert Service. Promoting new therapeutic shoes for diabetics.

**CRIS (Community Resource for Independent Seniors)

Crouse Community Center: Information about outpatient rehab for PT, OT, and SLP.

Fidelis Care New York: Information about Fidelis Care At Home, a managed long-term care plan.

**Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum

Greater Cazenovia Chamber of Commerce: Offering restaurant and shopping guides, maps to tourist attractions, CASA newsletters, and senior information from Chamber members.

Harding Nursing Home

Hazel Carpenter Home: Giving away a WalMart gift card.

HealtheConnections: Offering jar openers.

Helping Hands

Hospice of Central New York

Karing Kitchen

Kinney Drugs

**Literacy Coalition of Madison County

Loretto Housing

Madison County Board of Elections: Voting machine demonstrations and voter registration.

Madison County Department of Health

Madison County Department of Social Services

**Madison County Head Start

**Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc.

**Madison County Reads Ahead

Madison County Recycles: Giveaways and information about recycling.

Mid York Library System

National Grid

National Kidney Foundation of CNY: Kidney risk assessment, including BMI and blood pressure screenings

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate New York Chapter

NYS Comptroller's Office of Unclaimed Funds: Unclaimed funds lookup.

NYS Division of Veterans Affairs

NYS EPIC

NYS Office for the Aging

NYS Office of the Attorney General

NYS Taxation & Finance

Office of the Madison County Sheriff

Oneida Family YMCA: Information about enhanced fitness and pickleball league.

**Oneida Healthcare: Information about new lung cancer screening tool and 3D digital mammography

Oneida Healthcare ECF

Oneida Housing Authority

Oneida Public Library

Oviatt Hearing & Balance

Prudential Financial

Rite Aid: Flu shots (with insurance card, cash, or check)

Senior Choice Advantage: Information about new United Healthcare plans for 2016

Senior Companion Program

Seniors Helping Seniors

St. Elizabeth Health Support Services, Inc.: Information about respiratory and durable medical equipment

**Stone Quarry Hill Art Park: Offering a free Senior Membership to the Art Park ($25 value)

Syracuse VA Medical Center and Madison County Veterans Service Agency: Information about VA health care and veterans’ benefits.

The Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing Chittenango: iPad presentation, welcome bag

**The Opportunity Shop

**The Salvation Army

The Ward Law Firm

United Healthcare

United Healthcare Community Plan

**Victims of Violence

VNA Homecare Options, LLC

**Volunteer Services Alliance

For more information about the fair, call Sen. Valesky’s office at 315-478-8745 or email valesky@nysenate.gov.