Minutes from June 11, 2013

AGING AND DISABILITY NETWORK OF SARATOGA COUNTY MEETING
Minutes for June 11, 2013
Held at Malta Community Center, Malta

Present:  Mary Rickard, (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Kim Swire (Choices at St. Peter’s) Rick Amico (St. Edwards Church), Reed Lehan (Saratoga County DSS), Debra Obenhoff(Home Helpers),  Catherine Tucker (Ameriprise Financial), Holly Pajak (Redesign in Mind),  Karen Clark ( Home Health Care Partners), Karen Laing(Your Health Advocate), Donna Rudzenski  (Shenendehowa Village),  Candy Rivera Whitehead (NYS-EPIC), JoAnn Zales (National Grid), Rebecca Zohn (Concepts of Independence Choice), Robin Peters (Eddy VNA), Carolyn Cromer (National Church Residents/Statewide Senior Action Council), Mary Buszuwski (The Senior Living Specialists)

Introductions
Mary Rickard welcomed all attendees and announced that the next meeting will be held on July 9 at the United Methodist Church in Saratoga.  Next month topic is Alzheimer’s Services .

Participants introduced themselves.

Announcements
Today’s Topic and Presenters:
Statewide Senior Action Council-Presenter Gail Meyers
Statewide is a 40 year old organization serving the entire state.  They are a grassroots advocacy organization that is consumer based/oriented.  They have a Patient’s Rights Helpline (1-800-333-4374), provide unbiased help in choosing Medicare coverage and advocate on law or regulatory changes, and provide education to the public about issues such as social security.

Gail talked about different issues on the federal level such as sequestration, the President’s budget issues, fixing the observation status problem, reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and changing the formula for Social Security COLA.

Statewide has chapters in different counties but not in Saratoga.  They are trying to get one started.  If anyone is interested, they should contact Gail at 518-436-1006 or by e-mail at statewide4@gmail.com.

Statewide also has a bill tracker on their webpage where they keep track of bills affecting seniors that have been introduced in the senate and assembly.

Statewide also produces a newsletter that highlights the issues that they are following.  A copy was available at the meeting.

Statewide is also having their Annual convention in Saratoga Springs on October 15-16.

Handouts were available.  Statewide can be reached at 1-800-333-4374 and their webpage is www.nysenior.org

The next meeting will be held at the United Methodist Church on July 9, 2013.