ASSEMBLYWOMAN ELLEN C. JAFFEEROCKLAND OFFICE: One Blue Hill Plaza, P.O. Box 1549 • Pearl River, NY 10965 • 845-624-4601 • FAX: 845-624-2911

ALBANY OFFICE: 626 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • 518-455-5118 • FAX: 518-455-5119Email: jaffeee@nyassembly.gov

WINTER 2017

Legislative Update for Seniorsfrom Assemblywoman Ellen C. Jaffee

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe 2018 will soon be here!

The past year was a busy one. I appre-ciate those of you who take the time to contact my office about senior scams. I continue to stay on top of what New York State is doing to reduce the in-cidence of elder fraud. We should al-ways be on the lookout and educate ourselves on the threat of scams, so we will be far less likely to fall victim to them. This newsletter provides more detailed information about legislative accomplishments and includes a tear-off. Please fill it out and let me know what is most important to you. I hope you take a few moments to share your thoughts and concerns. Your feedback is essential. Phone me at 845-624-4601 or email me at jaffeee@nyassembly.gov. You can also visit my Assembly website to sign up for email updates at: http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Ellen-Jaffee. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, pros-perous 2018!

Ellen C. Jaffee NYS Assemblywoman 97th District

STARTo protect seniors’ hard-earned and well-deserved property tax relief, the budget rejects the executive proposal to change the Enhanced STAR program by requir-ing all seniors eligible for the Enhanced STAR program to register with the state and participate in the Income Verification Program. Currently, though, seniors are able to register with their local assessor or register when they file their income tax returns – a process that is far easier and causes fewer headaches.

The 2017-18 Budget: • provides $13.5 million to support long-term care, including restoring $10 million to preserve spousal refusal, ensuring couples do not lose their life sav-ings in the event a spouse becomes ill and needs nursing home care.

• increases funds for Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) and Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NNORCs) for a total of $2 million, which will help keep seniors in the homes and neigh-borhoods where they have built friendships and support networks.

Helping Rockland Seniors in the State Budget

Budget meetings with seniors in Albany.

Seniors have played an integral role in the growth of our communities and Rockland County. The 2017-18 State Budget helps more older New Yorkers to remain in their homes and to receive the best possible care.

The 2017-18 Budget Benefits More Older New Yorkers

I joined with Senate Minority Conference Leader, Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, to pledge our support for continued funding in the budget to support the Hudson Valley United Way 2-1-1 Call Center. Following the release of its ALICE report last November, the United Way recognized a growing need for services and announced several initiatives to expand services provided by its 2-1-1 Call Center. In February, the Call Center began handling calls from Info Rock to streamline referral services for people seeking informa-tion on food assistance, housing and shelters, utilities, abuse prevention, suicide, foster parenting, medical help and more. According to the ALICE report, more than one-third of Lower Hudson Valley working class families struggle to provide for themselves and their families.

Good Samaritan Hospital held a ribbon cutting ceremony to announce that the hospital is the first in the region to offer Mako robotic-arm assisted knee and hip replacement procedures. This latest advancement is changing the way joint replacement surgery is performed.

At the Third Annual Kinship Care Month Celebration Luncheon I was honored to be recognized as a Kinship Champion along with Senator Martin J. Golden, Vice Chair, Majority Confer-ence, and Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, Chair, Task Force on Women’s Issues. Congratulations to the other honorees: Kinship Outstanding Organization: Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, Inc. – Kinship Care Program; Kinship Outstanding Caregiver: Leora Keith, Grandmother Caregiver, New York City; Kinship Outstanding Professional: Bill Ferris,

As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Chil-dren and Families, I spent a wonderful afternoon with kinship caregivers at the VCS Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP) support group, where we enjoyed lunch, discussed their concerns and the issues they face. If you are raising a relative’s child, the RAPP support group meets at VCS in New City on the third Friday of the month from 12:00 -1:30 pm. For more information call (845) 634-5729.

United Way 2-1-1 Helpline Expands Services in Rockland

Relatives as Parents Program Support Group

Third Annual Kingship Care Month Celebration

Did You Know: Good Sam Robotic Arm-Assisted Knee, Hip Replacement

Meeting with AARP Rockland Chapter Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski joined me and AARP board members to discuss a variety of issues including financial scams that target older adults, health care and prescription drug costs, as well as the establishment of a NY State Utility Consumer Advocate who would provide resi-dential utility consumers with an independent representative during state and federal regulatory proceedings involving utility companies that offer electric, natural gas, internet, cable television, telephone and wireless communication services. Meeting with AARP Rockland Chapter.

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee & members of the RAPP support group

Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Older AdultsPaid Family Leave In Effect January 2018Working families should never have to choose between caring for an aging parent or a seriously ill loved one and a paycheck. When we put families’ needs first, we are increasing fairness and keeping our priorities in order. The Paid Family Leave Law I fought hard for provides New York’s working families with the most extensive leave benefits in the nation:12 weeks of job-protecting leave funded through a minor employee contribution with no cost to our businesses - large or small. To learn more visit https://www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-paid-family-leave

Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act 2017

The optimal health and safety of New York residents requires a more manageable balance between nursing staff and patients. That’s why I am a co-sponsor of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act (A01532) that passed the Assembly. When nurses are assigned an overwhelm-ing number of patients, the amount of attention and care they can offer is limited. This act establishes an efficient nurse to patient ratio in hospitals and nursing homes, and forces medical institutions to adopt minimum staffing requirements. In enforcing this sensible workload, New York State will provide safer, higher quality health care.

Protecting Seniors from Physical and Financial AbuseElder abuse has emerged nationally as one of the most under-reported crimes. Often times, elderly individuals who are experiencing abuse from loved ones, friends, or neighbors refuse help out of fear, embarrassment or the desire to protect the abuser. Legislation (A.8160) I co-sponsored, would create a hotline for reporting vari-ous forms of abuse that may jeopardize the health and welfare of older adults. The statewide, toll-free hotline would receive calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Reporting Financial Exploitation, another bill (A.6395) I co-sponsored, would encourage voluntary reporting of suspected financial exploitation and require the Superin-tendent of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to develop guidelines for reporting suspected financial exploitation in consultation with the State Office for the

Aging, NY State Attorney General, representatives of the financial services industry, law enforcement, senior groups, disability groups and district attorneys. In addi-tion to developing guidelines, the Superintendent and the groups that develop the guidelines would also be required to develop training materials for banks to train their staff and brochures for bank patrons regarding the signs of elder abuse. The bill would provide liability protection to those who report suspected financial exploitation if the report was made following established guidelines.

Attorney General Says Don’t Get ScammedA.G. Schneiderman has launched a program “Smart Se-niors, Smart Investors – Don’t Get Scammed.” This state-wide investment fraud prevention program is designed to help seniors identify potential scams and rip-offs before they happen. The focus is on investment and financial fraud that targets older New Yorkers – the warning signs, how to avoid being taken advantage of and where to seek help if you think you’re a victim. On the website you’ll find quick tips, resources, and information to help protect seniors against scams. https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/Smart_Seniors_Smart_Investors.pdf

Foreclosure Rescue, Mortgage Modification Scam PreventionAt a meeting with Pearl River Seniors Group, Chisamba Boma of the Rockland Housing Action Coalition (RHAC) discussed foreclosure rescue scam prevention as part of an outreach program funded by NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Foreclosure rescue and mortgage modification scams are a growing problem that could cost homeowners thousands of dollars – or even their home. Scammers will make promises that they can’t keep and charge fees for their services, but real help is always free. Foreclosure rescue scams target homeowners who are working hard to save their homes from foreclosure. Since the housing crisis, thousands of New Yorkers have fallen victim. Never pay fees for loan modification help. There are well-trained, professional, not-for-profit hous-ing counseling agencies, like RHAC, who can help you negotiate with your lender for free.

Meeting with Tappan Seniors Group

New York State Assembly • Albany, New York 12248 PRSRT STD.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAlbany, New York

Permit No. 75

WINTER 2017

Legislative Update for Seniorsfrom Assemblywoman

Ellen C. Jaffee

ELLEN JAFFEE IS HERE TO HELP YOU Please fill out and return the form below to let me know which issues you’re most concerned about.

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

What concerns you most?

❒ Senior Employment Programs ❒ Housing ❒ Elder Abuse ❒ Public Safety ❒ Health Care ❒ Ethics ❒ Local Infrastructure ❒ Economic Development

Additional issues, questions or concerns:

Unclaimed Funds: Getting Lost Money BackNYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has an instructional step-by-step video titled “Getting Your Lost Money Back” posted on his website. The video gives information and advice on how to file for unclaimed funds of any type including: forgotten savings accounts, lost paychecks, and inactive accounts. For further information or assistance you can contact the call center at 1-800-221-9311, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm or visit the website at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/.