Office for the Aging

Jefferson County Office for the Aging invites you to join “Respite Haven”  offered at two locations, Trinity Episcopal Church in Watertown and River Community Church in Clayton.

Respite Haven is a respite volunteer day program for seniors that is held 10-2, Thursdays and Fridays at River Community Church and 10-2 Monday and Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church. This program provides structured person centered activities that include Tai Chi for beginners, memory improvement games and craft activities to name a few. A lunch will be provided for participants while socializing with other seniors. Respite provides an opportunity for caregivers to drop off their family member in a safe supervised setting so they can get a take a break and attend to their own personal appointments or needs.

Jefferson County Office for the Aging is interested in expanding our Respite Haven Program to include a site in Carthage. If there is enough interest the program will take place at Carthage Mennonite Church on Tuesdays from 9am-1pm. If you would like to be trained as a volunteer for this site or would like to enroll someone to participate please contact the office. We also continue to accept enrollments for our Watertown and Clayton programs. There are opening for both Volunteers and Caregivers. Anyone interested in attending or volunteering in Respite Haven call the Jefferson County Office for the Aging at 315-785-3191. Everyone must be vaccinated and we are following CDC guidelines.

Online Donations

The ability to make donations online for Home Delivered Meals, Respite, and HIICAP or EISEP is now available. Go to the Jefferson County website https://co.jefferson.ny.us/departments/OfficefortheAging

Click on the tab at the top banner of the page that reads “Residents”

On right side of drop down box, click on “Pay a Bill”

Enter your name as customer, select Office for the Aging under Payment type, and pick what service you want the donation to go and the amount you wish to donate. 

We are OPEN! 

Schedule your appointment by calling (315) 785-3191.  Thank you for your cooperation.

 Current office hours are  8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Jefferson County Office for the Aging


Bethany Munn, Director


175 Arsenal Street, 2nd Floor
Watertown, New York 13601


Phone (315) 785-3191
Fax (315) 785-5095


Office Hours: Weekdays, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

https://co.jefferson.ny.us/departments/OfficefortheAging

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Our Mission:

The general mission of the OFA is to enhance maximum independence and dignity for all individuals 60 and older capable of self-care in their own home.  Our programs and services remove barriers to economic and personal independence by providing a continuum of care for the lower income/frail elderly in Jefferson County. As New York’s elder population has grown more diverse, our services also continue to evolve to better serve people of diverse cultures. This also means providing equal access to services for groups historically affected by discrimination and other social and economic factors, including those who have limited English proficiency (LEP).


For more information, please visit
www.aging.ny.gov .

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The Older Americans Act of 1965 established the Federal Administration on Aging, the State Units on Aging and the Area Agencies on Aging. In Jefferson County, older citizens were drawn together by their common problems and began to organize and by 1972, a countywide steering committee called the Senior Action Council of Jefferson County was formed.

It was largely through the efforts of this group, the Community Action Planning Council, Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of Ogdensburg and other area churches that the Jefferson County Office for the Aging was established and open for business on January 1, 1974. Since then the Office has been serving citizens who are 60 years of age and older with a variety of programs.