To the Editor:
I’m writing to correct some misinformation recently repeated to me by a few area residents who heard community meals for seniors were no longer being served in the Hilltowns

 In fact, LifePath–Supportive Services for Older Adults (formerly known as Senior Services of Albany) has for many years and still provides fresh-cooked community meals for seniors from throughout the Hilltowns at the Town of Berne Community and Senior Center at 1390 Helderberg Trail.

Those meals are open to all Albany County seniors, regardless of their town of residence. While we’ve recently had some turnover in the wonderful volunteer corps that assists us and have dropped Monday meals for the time being, we continue to offer hot, delicious meals there every Tuesday and Friday.

Served at 11:30 a.m., these dietician-approved social lunches include a main course, appropriate starch, vegetable, dessert, and milk, along with occasional entertainment and educational programs. With the generous support of the Albany County Department for Aging, the lunches are provided at no cost to residents of Albany County aged 60 years and above.

While a suggested donation of $3 or more is greatly appreciated, it is never required. First-time attendees are asked to complete a registration form, but can then attend a social senior meal at any Albany County-sponsored location.

LifePath also prepares and serves senior lunches Wednesdays at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center in New Salem and Thursdays at St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church in Voorheesville for those willing to “come down off the Hill.” June’s menu options can be viewed on the LifePath website at lifepathny.org. [They are also printed weekly in The Altamont Enterprise.]

Additionally, despite challenges posed by its remote locations, LifePath has been successfully providing home-delivered Meals on Wheels to residents of Berne, Knox, Rensselaerville, Westerlo, Medusa, and even to Preston and Potter hollows.

In addition to providing essential nutrition services, LifePath organizes periodic classes and programs for seniors that play a crucial role in combating social isolation and connect them with other essential services. For those caring for others, we offer a variety of caregiver-support programs and services, including adult day services for respite.

To help Hilltown residents learn more, connect, and get assistance with some of the many services available to assist our older neighbors, LifePath is hosting a Senior Service Information Open House on Thursday, June 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Town of Berne Community and Senior Center.

LifePath will be providing samples of some of our most popular meals for guests to try, and folks will be available to share information about Meals on Wheels, Community Dining, Caregiver Support, Adult Day Programs, understanding and identifying your best health-insurance options, services for seniors raising grandchildren and more.

We’ll also have experts available to assist seniors in completing applications for HEAP [Home Energy Assistance Program], SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps] and other programs to help them stay warm, fed and healthy.

I strongly encourage your readers to take full advantage of the exceptional services offered by LifePath and our service partners and to help spread the word to others who may benefit from our assistance. To learn more, connect to services, or volunteer to help out at a community meal, attend the open house on June 29 or call or email us at 518-465-3322 or .

Holly Cargill-Cramer

Executive Director

LifePath

Editor’s note: Starting this week, a column called “LifePath in the Helderbergs” will run in our Senior News section, detailing menus and programs offered on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Berne Senior Senior Center at 1360 Helderberg Trail.