Health & Wellness Event Held For Migrants

The Migrant Health Program received additional funding during the third quarter of the 2004 that was to be used specifically for outreach and education in the migrant community.

COI put plans in motion to sponsor the first "Migrant Health and Wellness Fair" and began by seeking partners to work together to provide health and education opportunities to the farm workers and their families. Interest in the project was overwhelming.

"We called on several of the other migrant-related agencies in the county to participate in this event, and the response was beyond our expectations", states Anne Massar, Program manager. "Several initial meetings were planned with the group, followed by outreach and advertising the event throughout the community. It is extremely important to bring health services and education to a place where it can be easily accessed, and at a time that is good for them to gather together. Most will not leave their worksites during the day." COI's Migrant Outreach Specialist played a large part in getting the word out to the farms and to other family members.

COI partnered with many other programs, including Migrant Head Start, who hosted the event at their school site in Fredonia, and the Migrant Tutorial, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the County Health Department, Partners for Prevention, Brooks Memorial Hospital, WIC, MOMS, Facilitated Enrollment, AIDS Community Awareness, Nutritional Education and Outreach Program, and NYS troopers Car Seat Program to make this a successful event.

The project was very well attended with over 80 migrant workers and family members participating. All participants were very pleased with the positive results of this project, and look forward to planning something similar in the near future.

Brooks Hospital Nurses Conduct Health Screening with Fair Attendees

COI Offers Family Respite Program

The COI Alzheimer's Community Service Program is sponsoring a family respite program, free of charge, to those who qualify for this service. Respite care is a form of temporary relief for the family care giver. On average, family providers spend 70 to 90 hours per week caring for their loved one.

Through the use of respite services, you may reduce your stress level and ease the way in allowing you to become a better care provider. It may also delay the placement of your family member into a long-term care facility.

The respite program has been established to enable families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to obtain needed respite care services at no charge, for a limited time.

Respite services are provided through the employment of a personal care aide to provide

in-home services through our licensed home care agency. Aides are trained in caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease.

Eligibility requirements include the diagnosis of a dementing illness, such as Alzheimer's Disease, and residency in Chautauqua County. Telephone interviews are conducted to determine eligibility, followed by a home visit, nursing assessment and development of a plan of care.

On-going caregiver education is encouraged and a support group meets every month in Dunkirk. Educational sessions are free of charge, as are the respite services. For more information, please call 366-3335.

The Alzheimer's Family Respite Assistance is funded by the NYS Dept. of Health.