NEW COUNTY SENIOR CENTER WILL BE AMONG THE FINEST IN STATE AND REPRESENTS DRAMATIC STEP FORWARD IN SENIOR SERVICES, SAYS MCLAUGHLIN
Rensselaer County opened a new senior center in downtown Troy on Wednesday that county officials say will be among the best in the entire state, fulfilling a promise made by County Executive Steve McLaughlin.
The new county senior center was opened with a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday at City Station on Sixth Avenue, with seniors and county and local officials, led by McLaughlin.
The new county senior center replaces the longtime county senior center on Third Street and features state-of-the-art services and equipment. The new senior center features an expanded kitchen that can provide hundreds of meals daily for home delivery, grab and go and dining at the center.
The center also features a room for movie and video screenings, golf simulator, coffee bar, areas for reading, meetings and instruction. A tele-health room, arts and crafts room and lounge with seating capacity for large groups and other accommodations and conveniences are also included.
McLaughlin had discussed the new county senior center in Troy during his 2022 State of the County address and progress continued through last year and the first months of 2023. McLaughlin had discussed changes and expansions to accommodate seniors who are more active.
“The new Rensselaer County Senior Center in Troy will be a dramatic step forward in ourservice to our seniors. The new county senior center in Troy will be a comfortable, accessible and inviting place our seniors will look forward to visiting and the county will be proud to operate,” said McLaughlin.
“We believe the newest county senior center in Troy will be among the best in New York State, if not the entire country. We cannot wait for seniors and the public to see it on Wednesday,” added McLaughlin.
The new county senior center in Troy was constructed at a cost of $1.7 million on property leased at City Station on Sixth Avenue. The new county senior center includes approximately 9,300 square feet.
Following the opening of the new county senior center in Troy, the county will start work to replace the current county senior centers in Rensselaer and Hoosick Falls, said McLaughlin. The county operates five senior centers, including Schodack and Grafton.
“Rensselaer County is proud we directly provide needed services to our seniors, and do not contract the work to care for our seniors out to others. We are equally proud to be making a needed and significant investment in these senior services. We are looking forward to doing even more for our seniors in the coming months,” added McLaughlin.
“The Troy Senior Center has always been a bustling hub of activity for our seniors, and we expect that this brand new, accessible center will attract even more seniors to take part in the programs. The Legislature was proud to support this project, and we are committed to providing the very best for our seniors,” Chairwoman Kelly Hoffman noted.
“Our Troy Senior Center serves as the main kitchen for our popular meals on wheels program, and as a professional chef, I am impressed with the brand-new kitchen that will allow a more efficient meal preparation process. However, the spectacular amenities that our seniors will now be able to enjoy, are the real highlights of the new center,” said Chair of the Legislature’s Aging Committee Tom Choquette noted.
“Our seniors deserve the best, and this facility will help our wonderful staff provide even better services and programs for our county’s seniors,” said Legislator Leon Fiacco, member of the Legislature’s Aging Committee.