On Friday, January 27 Legislator David Tubiolo (R – Yonkers & Mount Vernon) joined with the Department of Senior Programs & Services, the Older Americans Act Advisory Council and the Westchester Public Private Partnership for Aging Services in hosting the 10th Annual Legislative Breakfast & Speak-Out at the Westchester County Center.

The Legislative Breakfast & Speak-Out is a free event open to the public and designed to engage county leaders in a conversation about aging services, new programs and initiatives, along with federal, state, county and local governments. There were over 200 people in attendance ranging from senior citizens, government officials, representatives and advocates.

Legislator Tubiolo, chair of Seniors & Constituencies (S&C) led the meeting with Mae Carpenter, director of Senior Programs & Services calling upon guest speakers and the public to speak and share their experiences and knowledge with each other. One of the guest speakers was Gary Brown, NYS Assistant Attorney General, who discussed the severity of seniors being affected by telephone scams.

Legislator Tubiolo said “We will continue to work with our partners, together fighting our most pressing issues against senior citizens such as, affordability, elder abuse, isolation, scams and transportation. Our seniors have given us our history and culture, the least we can do is come up with policies protecting them in our society.”

Over 20% of the population of Westchester County is made up of senior citizens, nearly 200,000 people.

Legislator Tubiolo plans on continuing to have monthly senior meetings as well as senior events to fight isolation, one of the biggest issues senior citizens in Westchester face today. Senior isolation increases the risk of mortality, loneliness, dementia, vulnerability to elder abuse, depression, high blood pressure, decline of mental and physical health, along with so many other negative consequences.

PICTURED ABOVE: Legislator Tubiolo with participants at the Senior Speak Out