FREDONIA, N.Y. — Dorothy Merrill, 79, from Chautauqua County has relied on public transportation for years.

"I don't drive anymore. I sold my car a couple years ago and even before that, I got to work and back. I would go to appointments, I would go to the grocery store," she said.

What You Need To Know

  • Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services recently hosted a special expo and conference

  • There were a number of vendors on hand for older adults

  • In addition to the expo floor, there were a number of breakout sessions

Recently, CHQ Transit bused her to Chautauqua County's Office for Aging Services Conference and Expo at SUNY Fredonia.

Merrill went from booth to booth speaking with a number of vendors and making new contacts.

"Well, I think that there's a lot of information that can help people, but they don't know about it. And I think doing this is very helpful," said Merrill.

"Old is relative. Old is what you make it. How many people actually feel like they're 60, 70, 80? If you talk to an older adult, they're like 40 or 50," said Dana Corwin, director of the Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services.

According to organizers, the theme of the event was "flip the script on aging" and worked to connect older adults, caregivers and their families with services, programs and different seminars that allow them the opportunity to age in place at home, as well as be an active contributor to their community.

"They are a force. They are not alone. They are not siloed. [We] empower older adults to know what they can do to remain healthy in the community," said Corwin.

State leaders on hand said many older New Yorkers are not aware of what services are available to them until they actually need them. They say well-attended events like this one show younger generations the importance placed on the value of older adults.

"It's really, really important to end the cycle of ageism and stereotypes because if I'm lucky enough, again, to make it to my 70s, 80s and 90s, I don't want younger people to look at me because of maybe my hair color, or I might have a cane and think that I am not valuable because it is absolutely not true," said Greg Olsen, director of the state Office for the Aging.

Merrill, who says she enjoys aging at home, encourages others to attend similar events in their area.

"I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. Another thing that's nice is I've already ran into people I haven't seen in a while, and I think being out and around people is helpful, too, when you get older," she said.

State leaders also say the event coincides with the 90th anniversary of Social Security, as well as the 60th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act.

They also say older adults make up a million volunteers across the state, providing more than 13 million hours of service, at an economic value of more than $13 billion every year.