LOCAL SENIOR CITIZENS PREPARE FOR ALBANY LOBBY DAY
Legislator Bernice Spreckman and over 100 local seniors get ready for Grassroots Senior Citizens Day on Monday, April 24th in Albany
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 21, 2006
Contact: Bernice Spreckman, Tel: 914.995.2815
White Plains, NY—County Legislator Bernice Spreckman (R—Yonkers) and members of the Voices of Community Action and Leadership Program, VOCAL, are traveling to Albany with a contingent of senior citizens from the Westchester area to advocate for senior initiatives during Grassroots Senior Citizens Day, which is scheduled for Monday, April 24th. The trip is a joint effort between the Board of Legislators’ Generational, Cultural and Ethnic Diversity Committee, of which Bernice Spreckman is Chair, and the County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services.
County Legislators Vito Pinto and Jose Alvarado and enthusiastic seniors, grandparents and students from White Plains, Eastchester, Mt. Vernon and Yonkers will join over 400 seniors from across New York State at the Empire State Plaza to promote senior issues from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
“This is an annual trip and an opportunity for senior citizens from Westchester County to make a strong impression on our state lawmakers in Albany,” said Spreckman. “Our agenda is packed with presentations, guest speakers and a list of priorities that we want our state representatives to act on.”
The following is a summary of the legislative priorities being discussed on this day:
Health Care: New York State needs better health care and prescription drug coverage programs for everyone. The seniors support the EPIC Program and would like to see it expand to include individuals with disabilities. They also want the state to use its power of bulk purchasing for prescription drugs to bring down prices.
Long-Term Care: There needs to be more affordable long-term care services and options. Nursing homes need mandated minimum staffing levels to provide better care and increase the safety of residents. Better training programs need to be implemented for all long-term care providers.
Grandparents Rights: Grandparents raising grandchildren need better support systems and legal rights. There also needs to be more help and training provided for caretaker relatives across New York State.
Other Issues: Other matters of interest include surrogate decision-making, transportation, affordable housing, mental health and making sure that important senior programs have revenue sources.
Any media interested in covering the send-off are welcome to meet Legislators Spreckman and Alvarado at the Yonkers Pick-Up location, which will be at Coyne Park Senior Center, 777 McLean Avenue, Yonkers, at 7:20 AM. The bus is scheduled to leave at 7:35 AM.
