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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
"SERVICES IN DANGER"
I am writing this message in May- Older Americans month. I find the sentiment rather ironic while I struggle with the bad news on the balance sheet before me. Cutbacks in state and city funding, combined with a massive increase in the cost of insuring the fleet of buses that transport our clients, may leave the Park Slope Geriatric Center out of funds for this fiscal year by the beginning of June. By the time you receive this newsletter, our red buses may all be parked temporarily, awaiting funds get them back out on the road picking up our seniors each morning.

PSGDC was founded to combat the social isolation of the elderly members of our community and prevent premature nursing home placements. No government agency comprehensively finances adult day services and there is very little coordination or even logic in how those funds reach agencies like ours.

For example, funding exists to help agencies purchase buses to pick up clients but there is no money to operate the buses, and no group plan to insure vehicles. Right now, that means that we own eight buses, but budget cuts and insurance increases have left us with barely enough money to run five of them!

The transportation program is a lifeline to our members and for the family caregivers who rely on PSGDC. It allows caregivers to go to work, care for their children, and have a semblance of a normal life. If we can't transport clients to the centers, how helpful is our program?

The poorly thought out allocations for transportation programs are symptoms of the overall lack of understanding of the critical need for coordinated services to help our growing numbers of aging and disabled Americans and their struggling caregivers. We must insist that things change.

Thoughts for Older American's Month

· Within 48 hours of the tragedy at the World Trade Center, the ASPCA and New York City's animal-lovers had identified and rescued all the animals locked alone in downtown apartments or "orphaned" by owners lost in the collapsed towers. Yet, it took the City's social service agencies more than seven days to do the same for the frail Homebound elderly of Lower Manhattan!

· Today, 52 million caregivers in the U.S. provide an estimated $200 billion of informal care annually, equivalent to approximately 18% of national health care spending and exceeding both home care and nursing home expenditures combined. With the senior population booming to over 70 million households by 2030, family caregiving is crucial to the national health care system. Family caregiving saves taxpayers enormous amounts of money. In return, caregivers experience enormous amounts of stress, fatigue, isolation and depression, as well as lost income.

· Even with all the services we offer at PSGDC, our caregivers are still feeling exhausted and isolated. It is our job to advocate for these folks, teaching them to be advocates for themselves and their loved ones. Thanks to generous grants from the Altman Foundation and the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, PSGDC is initiating additional caregivers' programs over the next few months. Please contact me through our website, www.psgdc.org to learn how you can be an advocate for the elderly in our community. We need many voices added to our own to ensure appropriate and comprehensive community based care for our older friends and relatives-indeed, for ourselves.

Finally, today please consider sending Park Slope Geriatric Day Center as generous a contribution as you can. We desperately need your financial support NOW to keep our buses running.

—Marianne Nicolosi, Executive Director