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Seniors to NYC: Respect Us; 125 Older NYers, AARP Seek $40M in Funding

AARP delivers postcard messages at City Council hearing urging Mayor, Council to adequately fund senior services

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Despite a flush city budget, the city’s seniors are not seeing the level of funding support needed to adequately care for them today or in the future, especially as more Baby Boomers retire.

125 AARP members attended a City Council hearing today on the Department for the Aging’s (DFTA) budget and urged the city to increase funding by $40 million for needed Elder Abuse and Caregiver Support services, Meals-on-Wheels, Adult Day Services for seniors with Alzheimer’s/dementia or physical disabilities, and other essential programs.

AARP says these services help New Yorkers age with independence and dignity in their own homes – where most want to stay – while saving taxpayers money by helping older residents avoid moving to expensive institutional settings

“When Bill De Blasio ran for Mayor, he said ‘Seniors deserve not just our respect, but also the care and support of the community at large,’” said Beth Finkel, State Director for AARP in New York State. “The city budget is the way to uphold this commitment. The frail and elderly need our support. We urge the Mayor and the City Council to increase senior services funding by $40 million, and we believe this will pay off in better quality of life and savings for taxpayers.”

At the hearing, an AARP member representative delivered messages from the 125 seniors in attendance to the DFTA Commissioner beseeching the city to show its respect for seniors by making sure there is sufficient funding for services.

New York’s 60+ population will increase exponentially to a projected 1.84 million by 2030, a 47% increase from 2000.  Currently 1 in 3 seniors are poor and 38 percent of Baby Boomers have no retirement savings.  In addition to adequately funding current needs, the city must plan for this surge and for how it can help support seniors age in place in their communities.

 

Contacts: Bich Ha Pham, (347) 524-5802, Bichha@anatgerstein.com;  Erik Kriss, (518) 360-9213, ekriss@aarp.org

Follow us on Twitter:   @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

 

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin;  www.aarp.org ; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at  www.aarp.org .

 

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