The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Clinton group aims to help seniors stay in their homes
CLINTON — Fannie Koller’s lawn was out of control and her hedges, she said, were “in deplorable condition.” Yet this 85-year-old was finding it difficult to keep up with the yardwork.
“I was doing it about 15 minutes each time I went out there,” Koller said. “My back just wouldn’t take it and I would just do a little bit at a time and have to quit.”
Now she is enjoying spending time in her yard and tending to her flower gardens, thanks to the Clinton Community Assistance Team (CCAT) program.
“I’ve been going out and sitting on the ground and I can work out there for about an hour without my back giving out,” Koller said. “I’ve been cleaning out flower gardens.”
The goal of the CCAT team is to help senior citizens stay safe in their homes while maintaining independence and a better quality of life.
Whether it is dusting, preparing meals, pet care, lawn mowing, raking leaves, playing board games, transportation to doctor’s appointment or grocery shopping, CCAT is ready to pair a community volunteer with local senior citizens to assist with daily chores.
For Steve Craco, this opportunity came at a perfect time in his life.
“I’ve been in retail all my life, 51 years,” said Craco, who is assisting Koller with her yardwork. “I didn’t have an opportunity to do anything outside. I’m retired and I have the time to do it.”
Under the auspices of the Clinton Police Department, CCAT is partnering with Manchester based UR Community Cares to provide a digital platform linking community members, who may need an occasional helping hand, with volunteers who can be of assistance.
Volunteers and seniors, in need of assistance, can sign into UR Community Cares [https://urcommunitycares.org/] to create a profile.
The police department will recruit, train and credential volunteers. UR Community Cares will provide the criminal background checks of all volunteers and recipients of the services, as well as connect volunteers to community requests.
Clinton Police Chief Vincent DeMaio is excited to launch this program locally.
“The idea of this whole group, to form this group, was a nexus of many parts of the community coming together for a common purpose,” he said. “That purpose, helping our seniors age in place, in their homes.”
DeMaio said the community volunteers will be assisting the senior citizens, “doing little things that they can’t do themselves, that allow them to stay in their homes and be independent.”
“It’s not a heavy lift for our volunteers involved, but just the littlest acts of kindness make the biggest differences,” he said.
Created two years ago, the nonprofit organization, UR Community Cares, is involved with some 100 towns across the state, with over 500 participants.
The website can be accessed through five other languages, in addition to English. These are Arabic, Chinese (simplified), Hindu, Portuguese and Spanish.
“We want it to be an inclusive way for people to get involved,” said Michelle Puzzo, president and co-founder of UR Community Cares.
There will be assistance available to anyone who has difficulty accessing the website.
“We’re going to be helping seniors sign up, get on the list to get help and will be working to see exactly how much tech help that they need,” said David Melillo, director of Clinton Human Services.
“I think the big thing isn’t access, but for a lot of older people it’s learning how to work with something they haven’t done,” he added.
After being accepted into the program, every community volunteer will be issued a T-shirt with the CCAT logo on the upper left side and an identification badge.
Community organizations and businesses in town that are involved include Clinton Human Services, Families Helping Families, People’s United Bank and Rotary Club of Clinton.
“The Rotary motto is ‘Serve Above Self,’ said Linda Gworek, a member of the Rotary Club of Clinton. “So, seeing what this project was going to be doing, it’s like an extension of our motto. It’s the right thing to do.”
The Rotary Club of Clinton, along with Families Helping Families, is assisting with the program financially. Funding is needed for technology, background checks and insurance.
Gworek has already signed up to do yardwork.
“I noticed some needed some weeding,” she said. “I like yardwork, I’m all over that.”
Volunteer Barbara Corcoran is looking forward to transporting a senior resident to an upcoming doctor’s appointment.
She said this program is way overdue.
“You have people in the community that have a need, you have people that can fill that need, so why not marry them,” she said.
“We’re all going to be in that situation in our life, we’re all going to be there,” she added. “Wouldn’t you want to know that there will be someone there for you? It just seems like a no brainer.”
Volunteer Lynn Hidek can’t wait to start volunteering, along with her husband, Ron Frattini.
“We’re going to concentrate on transportation and companionship,” said Hidek.
“We’d love to see if there are people who would love to play cards or Scrabble,” she added. “Just stop the loneliness, that would just a wonderful thing.”
Melillo said a very important benefit of the program is “it’s going build relationships. The relationships it builds will be, I think even more important than the work that gets done.”
Koller is thrilled to have made the connection with Craco.
“I’ve become so dependent on the organization and Steve, I don’t know what I’d do without him now,” Koller said.
She is at a loss for words when asked how important Craco’s assistance is to her.
“He is so good,” she said. “I have all my own equipment and I showed him where everything was, once, and that was the last assistance her needed. He’s just so dependable and really does a good job.”
Koller is effusive when she talks about CCAT.
“I had a little trouble making contact, in the beginning,” she said. “But, boy I’m glad I didn’t give up.
“If you can’t do it yourself,” she added, “there are some very dependable people who will come and do it for you.”
⏩ Clinton Police Department, 170 East Main St., Clinton, 860-669-0451, townofclinton.com, Facebook Clinton CT Police Department; UR Community Cares, 860-430-4557, URCommunityCares.org.