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Adirondacks Tri-Lakes
Mercy Care for the Adirondacks About While Mercy Care for the Adirondacks (MCA) is a relatively new organization, established in 2007, it is the evolution and renewal of a 100-year-old mission of the Sisters of Mercy in the Tri-Lakes region of the Adirondacks. The mission of MCA is to enhance in every dimension the fullness of life of elders and their caregivers living in their community independently. MCA’s mission is implemented through:
(b) The extending of advice, referral, and assistance to elders and to their caregivers; (c) The development of elder-friendly communities which encourage the participation and civic engagement of older adults; and (d) The promotion through education and advocacy of a fullness of life for older adults in the communities of the Adirondacks.
The assessment of readiness for aging in place will begin in September, 2009, and be conducted by volunteer committees in each of the Tri-Lakes Communities. MCA will coordinate the planning process on the regional level to identify the potential for resource sharing and collaborative planning among the communities. Each community will create a Community Empowerment Action Plan and may initiate appropriate interventions over the course of year.
2008 – MCA strategic plan developed, including Aging in Place 2009 – Partnership with IDEA Center 2009 – Receipt of NYS Office for Aging planning grant
Mercy Care provides friendship volunteers, parish nursing, companion respite care, referrals, and education and advocacy programs in its service area. Service provision may be expanded pending the findings of the current planning process.
The Tri-Lakes region in heart of New York’s Adirondack Park includes three communities, Lake Placid [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Placid,_New_York], Saranac Lake [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saranac_Lake,_New_York], and Tupper Lake [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupper_Lake_(village),_New_York]. The villages and towns of which they are a part were founded in the early to mid-1800s to exploit iron and timber resources, and to provide services to tourists. The region was home to the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics. During the last century, mining and timber activities gradually phased out and the towns became tourist destinations because of their convenience to skiing, boating, fishing, camping, and other outdoor pursuits.
Over 16% of service area residents are over age 65, compared to 12.9% in the state as a whole and 12.4% nationally. The average median household income is $29,882, about 71% of the national average. The catchment area population is rural, poorer, and significantly older than State and national averages:
Total Population 2,638 5,041 3,935 11,614 Population age 65+ 439 754 673 1,866 % of population age 65+ 16.6% 15% 17.1% 16.1% Median Household Income $28,239 $29,754 $31,654 $29,882 % of population age 65+ NY State -- -- -- 12.9% % of population age 65+ National -- -- -- 12.4% Adirondack Best Practices
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This Google Earth image shows the location of the two Adirondack Park communities working with the IDEA Center on rural aging in place: The Tri-Lakes Region of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake, and the Sacandaga Watershed Region on the Park’s southern border. These community action models are fundamentally different: one is spearheaded by a local non-for-profit engaged in elder issues, funded by a faith-based organization with NYS planning monies, while the other was initiated by a voluntary, membership group of concerned citizens of all age groups with no funding from outside sources.