Turning attention to seniors, Sen. Gillibrand promotes legislation to help the aging

The growing number of senior citizens in the North Country will benefit from programs in the Older Americans Act that U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is supporting in the Senate, the Albany-area native and Democrat says.

According to Census Bureau figures cited by Gillibrand, 7,529 people in St. Lawrence County will reach 60 years old in the next five years. Her report says that there are now 21,907 people 60 or older in the county.

“When seniors stay in their homes and maintain their independence, they live longer, healthier, happier lives, and taxpayers save millions,” said Gillibrand, a member of the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging. “From opportunities to continue living independently, to access to better nutrition, empowering our seniors with better financial literacy and protecting them from abuse, these are the priorities I will be fighting for to ensure the Older Americans Act works for New York’s seniors.”

Gillibrand, who is running for re-election this year, says her priorities include providing better aging-in-place opportunities so more seniors can get the care they need in their own homes instead of moving to costly nursing homes, providing more effective financial literacy services, improving nutrition, and preventing elder abuse.