Minutes of ESCOTA General Meetings

Minutes from the October 16, 2008 meeting

Date of Meeting: Thursday, October 16, 2008
Presentation: Changes in Medicare
Speaker: Eric Hausman, HIICAP Outreach Coordinator, New York City Department for the Aging

Greg Letchenberg, membership chair, welcomed ESCOTA members and thanked the 80th Street Residence for hosting the meeting. He noted that a membership form is available on the http://www.escota.info website. He introduced Eric Hausman, HIICAP Outreach Coordinator from the New York City Department of Aging. About 30 people were present.

Announcements:

SPOP, Service Program for Older People, is offering free bereavement groups on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side. For more information, please call Barbara Danish at 212-787-7120 ext 520. In addition, SPOP is presenting educational seminars for older adults and mental health. For more information, call 212-787-7120 ext 515. Registration can be done on line at http://www.spop.org. SPOP is also looking for a part-time bilingual psychiatrist.

Connie Gemson announced that HealthOutreach at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has day and evening caregiver and bereavement support groups. Please call her at 212-746-4365 for dates and time.

Rhonda J. Allard is the manager and the consumer health librarian at Myra Mahon Patient Resource Library at Weill Cornell Medical College. She provides information about reputable online health care resources. Please call her at 646-962-4472.

Adina Masid from the Wright Center and the Alzheimer’s Association, New York Chapter, announced her young caregiver groups for those from 21-35 and for those with partners and spouses under 65. Please call Adina at 646-744-2917 for dates and time.

Ernest Koch is a Wurzweiler School of Social Work graduate and looking for a job working with the elderly. He can be reached at 646-670-8172 (cell) or 212-781-5530 home) or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Presentation:

Eric Hausman is the HICAP Outreach Coordinator at the Department for the Aging. He provided a comprehensive overview of the changes in Medicare. Eric stated that every year Medicare changes. In order to keep up with new developments, he suggested the following sources of information:

• medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare
• 311 and ask for the New York City Department for the Aging
• Medicare Rights Center at medicarerights.org

The Department for the Aging has a walk-in center at 2 Lafayette Street and walk-in sites with trained volunteer counselors who can help. Other sites are available all over New York City.

Next Meeting:

Date: November 13, 2008 (3-3:30pm, Networking; 3:30-5pm, Meeting)
Location: 420 Lexington Ave at 42 Street, 15th Floor Reception
Presentation: Financial Strategies for Retirement
Speaker: Katherine Sayre, Financial Advisor for New York Life Insurance Company

Respectfully submitted by Connie Gemson, Recording Secretary

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