Typically, an umbrella is a shield from the rain. But soon the word umbrella will take on a whole new meaning for Colonie.
A new program called Umbrella of Colonie is scheduled to launch in the next couple of weeks, according to Executive Director of Colonie Senior Service Centers Ed Neary.
The program that we’re going to be offering will be called Umbrella of Colonie, modeled after the Umbrella of the Capital District, he said, `We’ve looked at other programs nationwide, and there are a lot out there for folks that have retired.`
The idea came to Neary in light of the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, also known as the Berger Commission, which recommended the closing of several hospitals and nursing homes.
`We’re trying to react to the Berger Commission. The Berger Commission came out, and most of the press on that was the consolidation of hospitals and downsizing where seniors can go. The issue becomes keeping them in their homes longer,` said Neary.
Neary said that Umbrella of Colonie will be a program senior citizens throughout Colonie can enroll in by paying an annual membership fee of $250. With their membership, seniors are able to call the program and request a maintenance man to come to their house to make small repairs.
`The membership also provides for, early on in process, a 17-point inspection of their home. The intent is to take a look at their home and see if there are any issues that need to be attended to and repair any issues that need repairing.
The handymen look for things like clutter, fire hazards and obvious repairs, and try to get rid of things seniors can slip and fall on like scatter rugs,` said Neary.
One of the more unique aspects of the program are the repairmen themselves.
According to Ron Byrne, co-founder of Umbrella of the Capital District, the premise of the program is seniors helping seniors.
`The seniors helping seniors concept is really the bedrock idea here. What we have is young retirees helping other retirees to restore their homes,` said Byrne. `When people move into retiring, sometimes they’re looking to sort of give back, be charitable and to help people in their community. It gives them an outlook.`
He also said that the reason the seniors work well with other seniors is that their lives mirror each others.
`The fact that [the handymen] are retired is a wonderful thing. They get it, what it’s like to live on a fixed income, that marriage of seniors helping seniors is the secret ingredient.`
The handymen themselves do get paid $12 per hour, however, Byrne said, most do not do it for the money.
Morgan Edward, 71, one of the repairmen currently working with Umbrella of the Capital District, from Loudonville, said he does not do it for the money, but because he feels that he is doing something good for other people.
`You feel like you’re doing something really good,` said Edward, `You go into some of these houses and you see the man is really frail, but the wife is on the verge of Alzheimer’s so you see he’s got his hands full with her, and he can’t handle the handy things.`
As for the money, Edward said, `I keep a notebook of everybody I worked with. It has their name, date, place and how much I got paid. I kind of figure I’m breaking even, but I also figure I’m giving back.`
Neary described the seniors of Colonie as the `eyes and ears` of the community.
`There is a real opportunity in the program for the handyman to inform or advise or educate the wealth of other services that are out there,` said Neary.
Edward said, in his almost two years of experience with Umbrella of the Capital District, he never really has had seniors reach out for a companion while he was performing repairs, but that he has spent more time at certain jobs than he had expected because he got caught up in conversation. He also said he has regular jobs that he goes to, including lawn clean-up.
`This time of year, the big jobs are lawn clean-up. I’ve done about five this week,` said Edward, `Some of the inside type jobs we see closer to fall or winter. I put a handle on the dishwasher, I’ve done kitchen cabinets, putting new hardware on them. One lady had a washing machine that was overflowing and she couldn’t figure out why.`
He continued, `There’s a lot of gutter work in the fall, I bring a ladder a lot of times for that. I put in stair rails for people that have arthritis and are having a hard time walking the stairs without support.`
Edward said most of the time, the seniors who call Umbrella are actually in need of the services. But other times, people use the service when they do not need it, said Edward.
`What I don’t like is when I see very wealthy people taking advantage of Umbrella as a cheap way out. I did one woman’s house, raking something like 40 bags of leaves and had to drag them up the hill and they had a huge lot. They could have afforded a lawn service. I made about $96. I recommended to Umbrella not to service them,` said Edward, `Some people will try to get their cheapest way out of everything. You don’t feel like you’re doing much good at a place like this.`
But overall, Edward said he feels that his work has benefitted people throughout the Capital District, and he is confident that it will continue to do so for Colonie.
When Edward, a senior himself, is not repairing windows, raking lawns or installing new light bulbs, he tutors Asian students in English and assists at his church’s local food pantry.
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