Senior Issues Addressed at White Plains Hearing
While budget-cutting dominates the debates in the state and federal governments, many senior programs have avoided severe cutbacks, the acting director of the state Office for the Aging said on Oct. 18 in White Plains.
Greg Olsen made his comments during a public hearing on the 2012-16 implementation plan for Westchester County’s use of the federal Older Americans Act and the state Office for the Aging grants that was conducted at the Westchester County Center. According to the county, the estimated population of seniors in Westchester is 186,942, with Westchester having the longest average longevity rate of any county in the state at 79.2 years.
According to the county, the estimated population of seniors in Westchester is 186,942, with Westchester having the longest average longevity rate of any county in the state at 79.2 years.
Olsen told about 100 spectators that included both seniors and those who provide services for seniors in Westchester, that the Republican takeover of the US House of Representatives resulted in a marked change from 2009 and 2010 when the Democrats controlled the chamber. “Things were completely different,” he said. When the Democrats ran the House, there was talk of providing additional funding for programs for seniors. But this year, with the Republicans in control, budget cutting has a major part of the political debate in Washington, Olsen said.
But even the budget-cutting climate inWashington, many senior programs will receive about the same amount as they have in the current fiscal year, Olsen said. For example, the Congress is expected to restore the program to provide home heating assistance to the needy, which President Barack Obama had proposed to reduce by 50 percent, Olsen said. But a variety of programs for seniors will not receive the funding increases sought by the president, Olsen said.
At the state government level, though the legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo had to close a $10 billion shortfall in putting together the current year’s budget, it included “no cuts to our core programs” for seniors, Olsen said. But Olsen said potential future cuts in state programs are a concern of his because unlike the federal government, the state has to pass a balanced budget.
The number of New YorkStateresidents over 60 was 3.2 million in 200, but that figure grew to 3.7 million last year, Olsen said.
Olsen said there are many misconceptions the general public has about seniors. In recent years, many retired seniors have migrated fromNew York State to Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but not as greatly to such other states as Florida. “It kind of throws the whole cold weather thing out the window,” he said.
Seniors are an economic power in Westchester County, Olsen said. Westchester residents over 65 have a combined wealth of $6.5 billion, while county residents between the ages of 45 and 64 have a combined wealth of $2.2 billion. he said. Seniors are “not a drain” on the county, he said.
Mae Carpenter, the county’s commissioner of senior programs and services, said she and her staff work “to keep them (seniors) in the county.”
Mary DeSilva, program director for Yorktown’s department of senior services, said she wanted to continue to provide services to seniors, but “Our budget in Yorktownis tight.” DeSilva told those gathered that they needed to seek additional funding for such areas as transportation for seniors. “It’s so important,” she said.
