Our fall season is in full swing. To be sure you don’t miss anything, sign up for “Generations,” Westchester’s free, bimonthly newspaper for seniors.  It’s a quick simple process, and you’ll always be in the know.

If you, or someone you know, might require additional assistance to leave home during an emergency, consider registering with the Special Needs Registry. The registry is for individuals with physical or mental disabilities who live on their own. The database will be provided to local municipalities to use in their emergency planning efforts.

Our five-part series on older drivers takes place on Mondays from Oct. 27 to Nov. 24 at various locations and times throughout the county.

We’ve announced the seniors who will be honored at our 26th annual Senior Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon on Dec. 5 – one of our most popular events of the year.

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 are being 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.

Our Medicare Helpline at (914) 813-6100 is open year-round, but it will be especially busy from now through Dec. 31 as we help seniors enroll for their Part D coverage for 2009. We have scheduled a Medicare “Basics” program on Dec. 10. 

The department provides information and referral on senior housing and help for caregivers, such as the Caring newsletter.

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. DSPS co-sponsors the Livable Communities initiative with the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.

We provide information about area adult day care services for medical, psychiatric, and social needs and long-term care and long-term care insurance. 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.

Service providers and others who work with the elderly can read about many of our events in the new Fall 2008 edition of the “Aging Network Newsletter." However, we’re going paperless, and future news about the Department of Senior Programs and Services will now be sent by e-mail. To continue receiving our news, we need your e-mail address. Sign up today so you don’t miss a bulletin.

Seniors should 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.