CSCS: Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Inc.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING HUNDREDS OF SENIORS TO CITY HALL AS THE CUTS ARE DEVASTATING TO SENIOR SERVICES

Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Time: 10:00 am (usually goes for about two hours). The public can testify – register at the hearing that day (go up front on right side of the room to security guard at the desk)
Location: City Hall Chambers – 2nd floor (there is an elevator)

What is happening:
$43 million in proposed cuts to DFTA  - go to www.cscs-ny.org to see Action Alert
There are 13 new Councilmembers so it is very important for a strong showing of seniors as this is the first budget hearing from these Councilmembers. We also need to retain the historic support of City Council for aging services.
Please arrive at 9:45 to get into the Chambers on time.

CSCS and its members need to send a strong message that the cumulative effect of cuts results in less services to older New Yorkers and threatens the infrastructure of community-based agencies.

Please let us know if you are bringing seniors or for further information – Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565 x226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org (prefer emails).

THE AGING SERVICES NETWORK IS THE BEST – YOU’VE ALWAYS BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF SENIORS TO CITY HALL WHEN WE NEEDED IT – THANK YOU!

Based on her professional experience, Bobbie Sackman knows that elder abuse often happens behind closed doors and often within families. She believes that it is time to stand and do something to protect the nation’s elderly.

5 things you can do right now:

1. Share a story via text or video
2. Encourage your Senators and your Representative in Congress to sign-on to the Elder Justice Act
3. Sign a petition
4. Watch and share others’ stories
5. Send your friends and colleagues to www.elderjusticenow.org to learn more

As a champion of elder rights, one of the most frustrating things for me is the lack of comprehensive federal legislation to protect older adults from elder abuse.  The Elder Justice Act– which has been in the hands of Congress since 2002 — will provide a foundation to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in and prosecute abuse of older Americans. Our country passed child abuse prevention legislation 25 years ago and the Violence Against Women Act 15 years ago, however no Federal law has been enacted that adequately and comprehensively addresses the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Current federal resources devoted to the problem of elder abuse are minimal – less than 2% of abuse prevention dollars go to mistreatment of older adults.  Don’t elders have a right to live free from fear of abuse, neglect, and exploitation?

Every year, an estimated five million older Americans are beaten, ignored or financially exploited, causing illness, suffering and premature death. Yet, elder abuse is not perceived as a national tragedy and collectively there is much silence around the issue.  Older adults who experience mistreatment have a 300% higher risk of death.  Elder Financial abuse alone costs older Americans $2.6 billion a year.

CSCS is getting involved in the fight and you can too!  Use these simple steps to  take action and then tell us about it here!  What can you do to protect seniors from elder abuse?

Take Action:

*Contact your representative and ask them to co-sponsor the Elder Justice Act

*Go to www.elderjusticenow.com to hear more about the national campaign