On Wednesday, May 9, 2012, senior citizens from senior centers throughout the city came together to advocate for $26 million in restorations to services funded through the Department for the Aging. These services directly impact their lives and those of their families, friends and neighbors. Senior citizen delegations had appointments with 49 of the 51 Councilmembers in their 250 Broadway offices to discuss the damage these budget cuts would do to their lives and other older New Yorkers (for information on the budget cuts, go to www.cscs-ny.org).

Igal Jellinek, Executive Director, Council of Senior Centers and Services stated, “New York City’s older adult population is growing rapidly. Each day for the next 19 years, nationally, 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65. The fastest growing segment of NYC’s population now is the age 85-plus. Case managers assisting homebound elderly, an invisible population, labor under caseloads of 90, an extraordinarily high caseload due to previous cuts. An increasing number of elder abuse victims are seeking assistance while funding is threatened every year. Other services critical to allowing elders to remain in their homes like transportation, NORCs, and senior center funding need to be restored.  Funds for adult day programs were totally eliminated two years ago and seniors are calling out for a restoration. Adult day programs are for people with Alzheimer’s and provide much needed respite to overwhelmed family caregivers. CSCS remains steadfast in its opposition to cuts placing vulnerable elderly New Yorkers in situations that threaten their social, emotional and health safety.”

Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, Chair, Committee on Aging, stated, “With the elderly population expected to grow by 50 percent over the next two decades, protecting senior services is about our city’s future. We had a major victory in getting the Mayor to baseline senior center funding last year, and we’ll continue fighting this year to save elder abuse prevention, transportation and other crucial programs.”