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

Community

SENIOR CITIZENS DESCEND ON CITY HALL TO PROTEST CUTS

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Publication & Publisher: Community

A group of about 300 senior citizens from across the five boroughs, representing tens of thousands in their communities, met with over 40 Council Members on May 11th to oppose the tenth round of draconian cuts to services for the elderly funded through the Department for the Aging. The seniors challenged officials to stand up for them and be their champions to prevent further cuts.

After imposing $50 million in cuts since taking office, Mayor Bloomberg proposed slashing yet another $40 million in services for the elderly. After recent efforts to save 105 senior centers from the state chopping block, another $20 million in proposed city cuts is slated to come out of senior center budgets. Of particular concern to frail, homebound seniors, who are about 85-years-ol on average, is a $6.6 million, 30 percent cut to case management funding, which will affect the team of social workers who visit their homes to ensure they are safe and have enough food; help provide transportation to the doctor; and detect elder abuse, among other vital services. For the fourth time, the mayor's budget includes the total elimination of $800,000 in funding to support elder abuse victims. Recent estimates indicate that up to nine percent, or 120,000, of NYC residents aged 60 and above are victims of elder abuse. The majority of these cases go unreported, allowing this crisis to proliferate.

For more information, including a list of all the cuts and anecdotes of seniors impacted by case management and elder abuse cuts, visit the "Making it Real" campaign at http://cscs-ny.org/advocacy/reports/anecdotal.php.