HERKIMER, N.Y. — The Herkimer County Health Department and local hospitals are working to address the health needs of residents.
They’re holding community focus groups and have sent out surveys.
Carolyn Lewis, the director of Legislative Affairs and Grants at Bassett Healthcare Network, said what they’re finding isn’t surprising.
“Mental health and substance abuse continues to really be on the rise as a challenge that needs to be addressed,” Lewis said. “
We’ve seen through other initiatives, you know, access to daycare so that people can work. Reliable transportation, access to healthy foods are sort of rising to the top,” she said.
Lewis added that Herkimer County has a population of people that are often overlooked.
“Trying to address sort of aging in place, and how we recognize, and tackle social isolation for our older populations, really is a key issue,” she said.
Herkimer County Public Health Director Christina Cain said the community focus group has learned the older population is having trouble with transportation.
“When you live in a rural area, and when you have seasons like we do is just exacerbates that issue, especially on top of the fact that as a rural community, transportation for everybody is kind of a lacking resource,” Cain said.
The State of New York has recognized the need for transportation and grants typically follow suit.
Herkimer Next is working on connecting community partners to bring public transportation to the area.
Herkimer Next Executive Director Michele Hummel talked about how big the transportation issue is.
“It’s really the biggest thing. It’s housing, its food, it’s access to medical care. It’s the number one thing we’re lacking in Herkimer County,” Hummel said.
Hummel added that Herkimer Next is already working on acquiring grants to get the wheels in motion for public transportation but feels everyone in the county needs to get on board.
“I think it’s something that every single organization, every single resident in Herkimer County, needs to address and start to focus on. And that’s how we’re going to bring it to light,” Hummel said.
The Herkimer County Health Department and local hospitals are working to address the health needs of residents.