A few weeks ago, Pennsylvania’s Department on the Aging and Council on Aging released the results of a survey of older adults, taken during lockdown (www.bit.ly/RRseniorcdc). They wanted to know how seniors were coping. Were they eating? How were they staying in touch with family? How often were they leaving home, and why?

It matters because older adults are heavily impacted by COVID-19, more likely to die (eight out of 10 of those who have passed away are age 65 and up), and more likely to be hospitalized, according to the CDC.

The survey found out the following:

Getting groceries: Older adults leave the house about twice weekly to buy food.

Getting medication: They are leaving to go to the pharmacy too, though many local pharmacies are offering drive-through or delivery of medications.

Socializing: Family, places of worship and senior centers were the main ways seniors connected with others. Many lack access to smartphones or computers that would let them communicate virtually.

“The Wolf Administration and the Department of Aging are keenly aware that food access, community connections and social isolation have and will continue to be issues affecting older adults’ well-being and quality of life,” said Aging Secretary Robert Torres. “The responses drawn by this survey, in real-time during this pandemic, present an opportunity for us to deepen our collective understanding of these major issues and engage with partners to develop thoughtful, creative and effective solutions.”

Even though the country is starting to reopen, seniors and the immunocompromised will likely have to continue being careful.

Here’s a list of resources for seniors in both New York and Pennsylvania. (It’s a work in progress, so if you know of something that isn’t on the list, let us know so we can update.)

Socializing

Senior centers are closed but that’s no excuse to become a hermit. Check out the story on page 10; it’s full of advice from seniors on what to do and how to cope. After all, they remember what it was like before the internet took over the world.

For New York residents

Start with Sullivan County’s Office for the Aging. They coordinate a multitude of senior-related programs.

“The Office for the Aging is still here to help with things like Health Insurance Counseling, long-term supports (NY Connects)… and continuing to connect folks with resources available to support nutrition, legal help and safety,” said director Lise-Anne Deoul. “The ECAC (Emergency Community Assistance Center, in Sullivan County) is here to help.”

For all these services, call 845/807-0925 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most staff are working from home but can be reached through the office number.

Food

The county government center has a list of food pantries available here: www.bit.ly/scfoodpantries.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) in Sullivan County has many food-related programs, including distribution. Call 845/292-6180 and leave a message or email sullivan@cornell.edu.

CCE is working with Sullivan Allies Leading Together (SALT), area school districts, the County’s Emergency Community Assistance Center and others, delivering food around the county in the CCE Sullivan Fresh Market-on-the-Move van, pictured above.

Tusten Hope has free bags of food available for pick-up on Tuesdays between 9 to 11 a.m. (www.tustenhope.com).

Liberty Market in Liberty (845/539-5040) will do your shopping for you. Just order on Instacart, and then pick up your groceries when they’re ready. Start at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/libertymarket.

ShopRite in Monticello (845/794-0777) has senior shopping hours between 6 and 7 a.m. The ShopRite in Liberty has these same senior shopping hours but also offers delivery through Instacart: www.instacart.com.

Instacart deilivers to the following zip codes in Sullivan County: 12701, 12734, 12742, 12747, 12751, 12754, 12759, 12775, 12779, from ALDI, Key Food, ShopRite, Liberty Market and Rock Hill Trading Post. Visit www.Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile app and enter your delivery address.

And of course many restaurants and bars offer delivery. See www.riverreporter.com/whatsopen for a full list.

Medications

Contact your regular pharmacy first to see if they can help you get your meds without risking illness. Ask about curbside pickup or drive-through, special senior shopping hours, or home delivery.

Seniors should check with Medicare Part D (or their Medicare Advantage plan) to see if a mail-order option is available.

Sullivan Pharmacy in Liberty offers delivery within three miles of the pharmacy; other deliveries may be available upon request. Call 845/295-5456

Jefferson Pharmacy in Jeffersonville (845/482-5720) delivers.

Walgreens Pharmacy in Monticello (845/791-1301) has a senior hour every Tuesday from 8 to 9 a.m. Many prescriptions can be mailed.

Walgreens in Liberty (845/292-4114) offers drive-through service. Senior hour is from 8 to 9 a.m.

Amazon/PillPack offers mail-order prescriptions (www.pillpack.com).

Walmart offers mail-order prescriptions (www.walmart.com/cp/pharmacy-home-delivery).

For Pennsylvania residents

Start with the Area Agency on Aging (570/253-4262, www.bit.ly/wcagencyaging). They’ve compiled a list of grocery stores that deliver and note which parts of the county they deliver to. Meal delivery is available for those who qualify.

They also have the “Sponsor a Senior” program where donations help cover meal distribution to seniors at home.

Food

Wayne County has created a network of food pantries and food distribution systems to ensure that nobody goes hungry. For a master list of food pantries, courtesy of Wayne Tomorrow, visit www.bit.ly/wcfoodassistance.

Tusten Hope has free bags of food available for pick-up in Narrowsburg on Tuesdays between 9 and 11 a.m. (www.tustenhope.com).

For a list of grocery stores that deliver, courtesy of the Agency on Aging, visit www.bit.ly/wcagencyaging.

Note that Dave’s Super Duper will deliver to all parts of Wayne County. Call them at 570/251-9530.

Instacart delivers in Wayne County, PA to zip codes 18405, 18428, 18431, 18438, 18456, 18472, 18473 from CVS Pharmacy and Foodtown. Visit www.instacart.com or the Instacart mobile app and enter the delivery address.

And many restaurants and bars will do takeout and delivery. Visit www.riverreporter.com/whatsopen to check the list.

Medications

Contact your regular pharmacy first to see if they can help you get your meds without risking illness. Ask about curbside pickup or drive-through, special senior shopping hours, or home delivery.

Seniors should check with Medicare (or their Medicare Advantage plan) to see if a mail-order option is available.

Stephens Pharmacy (570/253-7700) offers drive-through pharmacy services.

CVS Pharmacy in Honesdale (570/253-1730) offers senior hours on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Many CVS pharmacies offer delivery; call and see if you are eligible.

Brundage’s Pharmacy in Waymart offers home delivery. Call for more information: 570/488-7979.

Amazon/PillPack offers mail-order prescriptions (www.pillpack.com).

Walmart offers mail-order prescriptions (www.walmart.com/cp/pharmacy-
home-delivery).