Our fall season is in full swing. On Oct. 2, our Caregiver Resource Fair will offer practical help and support to people caring for an older relative or friend.

The annual Golden Harvest Dance is set for Oct. 7 at the Westchester County Center featuring the Milt Gerver Orchestra. Reserve a table and put in your lunch order by Thursday, Sept. 25. The Golden Harvest Awards breakfast will also be held Oct. 7 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

Legal experts will give free advice on topics ranging from elder law to power of attorney documents and wills vs. trusts at the ninth annual Senior Law Day on Oct. 16. The deadline for reservations is Oct. 6.

Our 26th annual Senior Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon on Dec. 5 is one our major events of the year. Be sure to complete a nominating form to name a person you feel merits Hall of Fame recognition and tell us why.

DSPS is a major sponsor of Project Lifesaver – a pilot program – which is one of Westchester County’s most important initiatives of the year. In this program, transmitter bracelets have been given to 100 local seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and are prone to wandering. Should the person become lost, specially trained and equipped county police officers can locate them using a radio signal transmitted from the bracelets.

The department provides information and referral on senior housing and help for caregivers; likewise for area adult day care services for medical, psychiatric, and social needs and long-term care and long-term care insurance. We’ve scheduled a program on Medicare “Basics”  for Oct. 21.

Acquiring information about long-term care options can be challenging. That’s why the county encourages its residents to check out New York Connects help line.

You may want to check our listings of senior clubs and centers and senior nutrition sites or learn more about our Campaign to Stop Elder Abuse. The county recently announced Senior Crime Busters, a one-hour elder fraud protection education program that provides tips on how seniors can stay safe and avoid financial exploitation.

Our new Home Repair and Energy Assistance Directory offers a wealth of information for income-eligible seniors.

The Livable Community Connection program has been up and running with great success. Its aim is to help seniors “age in place” in their own homes. DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter is spearheading the initiative and recently won a national award, acknowledging her leadership in this area. DSPS co-sponsors the Livable Communities initiative with the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.