GOSHEN- Cathy Yarensky has been volunteering full-time at the Orange County Office for the Aging for the past 17 years. Yarensky, 70, helps other senior citizens with questions about Medicare and health insurance coverage.
“People here are like a family,” said Yarensky, referring to her coworkers at the Office for the Aging. When asked what she likes the most about her work, Yarensky said she enjoys spending time at the office.
“It’s a place where I feel very welcomed and at home, it gives me a lot of warmth, and I don’t feel so isolated,” she said. “Otherwise, my life would be very isolated.”
Ann Marie Maglione, the director of the Office for the Aging praised Yarensky for her many years of service.
“Catherine is just a gem. She has been with us for 17 years as a full time HICAP coordinator,” said Maglione. HICAP stands for health insurance, counseling, and assistance program in in her role, Yarensky helps seniors select and obtain the most effective and affordable health insurance program to meet their individual needs.
When asked about her work, Yarensky said, “I think Medicare is very important to people. There are a lot of people who are hurting financially and we can help them, because there are programs that they may not know about that can help.”
According to Maglione, the efforts of the county’s HICAP coordinators save local senior citizens millions of dollars each year.
When asked about her motivation to volunteer so much of her time to help others, Yarensky said she finds purpose in helping others.
“It just makes sense to me, it gives my life meaning and purpose which otherwise, it really wouldn’t have so much,” she said.
For more information about the Orange County Office for the Aging or to inquire about volunteering, call 845-615-3700.
