While the title “director” is new to me, I am no stranger to Delaware County Office for the Aging and NY Connects.
I have been a part of the OFA team for eight years. My time at OFA began in April of 2017, when I was hired as the NY Connects specialist. Shortly after that, in July of 2017, I was offered and accepted the NY Connects coordinator position. I worked as the NY Connects coordinator until Jan. 1, 2024, when I accepted the position of deputy director. On July 23, I was officially appointed as the director of Delaware County Office for the Aging and NY Connects.
Over the course of the past eight years, I have been able to work with each program offered at Office for the Aging, as well as other programs available throughout the state. I have familiarized myself with the rural nature of the county and the needs of the population we serve. I have dedicated my career and my personal life to helping those in need and making a difference in the well-being of others. I have raised my family to do the same. In fact, all three of my children, ages 18, 15 and 13, have volunteered for Office for the Aging in some respect, and two of them have worked at OFA through the summer youth program. My oldest daughter, who is now 18, has worked as a summer intern with OFA since she was 14. My husband has been a dedicated, volunteer fireman since 2011, and has volunteered for OFA for several years as well.
Personally, I was born and raised in Delaware County. I graduated from Walton Central School in 2004, and from Central State University in 2023 with a degree in humanities. The coursework for my degree included several psychology classes, social work, philosophy and critical thinking, leadership and ethics classes. Prior to taking a position at Office for the Aging, I worked at the Arc of Delaware County from 2005 to 2011. In the winter of 2011, I decided to stay home and raise my children until school age.
As I step into the role of director, I am excited to lead the OFA team in assisting the older adults of Delaware County. I look forward to implementing innovative approaches to expand on the programs that currently operate from within the agency. I also look forward to exploring additional resources that may be available to those we serve. I believe that as a team, we will be able to continue to grow and support the community, building on the agency’s past accomplishments and achieving greater goals in the future. I am eager to redefine the outlook that we have on aging and implementing a positive view of aging. Positive aging focuses on resilience, growth and adaptability, rather than just physical health. By redefining our attitude on aging, we can shape our aging experiences. A positive mindset leads to better health and life satisfaction.
Aging doesn’t just mean “getting old.” Aging is a process that happens over several years. It begins the moment we are born. Every one of us is aging. We may be at different stages, but it is happening, and it is inevitable. We cannot stop it or slow it down. What we can do is celebrate milestones, be thankful that we get to continue the aging journey each day and have a positive outlook on the process. We can embrace it with optimism and intentionality. We need to focus on our strengths, prioritizing emotional, social and spiritual growth.
The beliefs that we hold about aging can significantly shape our experiences. Why not shape those experiences into great ones?