As Cayuga County’s senior population continues to grow, local officials are focusing on programs that keep older residents connected, fed, and mobile. That’s the message from Brenda Wiemann, director of the Cayuga County Office for the Aging, who joined host Guy Cosentino on a recent episode of Beyond the Front Page to discuss the agency’s expanding role and ongoing challenges.
Wiemann, who has led the department for nearly a decade, said her office now serves roughly 23,500 county residents aged 60 and older — nearly one-quarter of the county’s population. That number is expected to climb to one-third within 20 years.
Meals on Wheels remains essential lifeline
The agency’s most visible service, Meals on Wheels, delivers roughly 65,000 meals annually to about 500 people countywide. Wiemann said the program depends on 80 to 90 volunteer drivers who deliver hot meals five days a week, covering every corner of Cayuga County.
“Unless the schools close or the roads are shut down, we’re out there delivering,” Wiemann said. The meals are prepared by Trio, a Rochester-based vendor, and distributed from the Boyle Center in Auburn.
Volunteer shortages, particularly in rural areas like Locke and Moravia, remain a challenge. “We desperately need drivers in the north and south,” she said. Staff often fill in to make sure no one is left without food.
Transportation still the top concern
Wiemann said transportation has been the county’s number one senior issue since the agency’s founding 50 years ago. In response, the Office for the Aging recently adopted GoGo Grandparent — now called GoGo Transportation — a state-supported pilot program that connects seniors with Uber, Lyft, or taxi rides for medical and personal trips.
Priority goes to residents who need to travel outside the county for appointments in Syracuse, Ithaca, or Rochester. Last year, the office funded more than 350 rides through the service.
“Even people who can drive often aren’t comfortable doing it,” Wiemann said. “This gives them an option.”
The program’s success depends on driver availability, which can be limited in rural areas. Wiemann said the office is encouraging more seniors to try it over the next few months for any local errand, not just medical visits, to gauge demand.
Federal uncertainty and funding flexibility
The conversation also turned to federal funding and the potential effects of a government shutdown. Wiemann said services are stable for now, but disruptions to Medicare.gov could hinder the agency’s work helping seniors navigate the annual Medicare open enrollment period, which begins October 15.
Her staff of 19 — including certified Medicare counselors — typically assists about 1,000 residents each year in comparing and selecting from dozens of coverage plans.
The department operates on a $2.3 million annual budget, funded primarily by New York State (58%), the federal government (12%), and Cayuga County (20%), with an additional $100,000 coming from individual and community donations.
“We’re one of the few departments requesting less county funding this year,” Wiemann said, noting that the 2025 state budget included a historic increase in aging services.
A growing population, a growing mission
Founded in 1975 under the federal Older Americans Act, the Cayuga County Office for the Aging marks its 50th anniversary this year. Wiemann said the agency remains focused on helping older residents “age successfully in the environment where they’d like to age.”
With the senior share of the county’s population projected to grow steadily, she said continued collaboration and innovation will be critical. “Transportation, nutrition, and connection — those will always be at the heart of what we do,” Wiemann said.
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