1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina Del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven Light FM. 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to Get Connected. I don't know if 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 2: you're aware, but New York State has one of the 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 2: largest populations of adults over sixty, and the older population 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 2: is growing faster than any other group. So I'm very 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: pleased to welcome Beth Finkel back to the show. She 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: is the AARP New York State Director. We'll talk about 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: their work on behalf of New York's growing number of 11 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 2: seniors and caregivers. And while it's a year round topic, 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: during the holidays, it's especially important to talk about scams 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: and fraud prevention for seniors. Beth Finkel, Welcome back to 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 2: the show. 15 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 3: So good to be here. Thank you. 16 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 2: The website is AARP dot org. A lot of people 17 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 2: know AARP. There's a nationwide presence. The organization has nearly 18 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: thirty eight million members, but they may not know AARP 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 2: New York, so I thought we'd start there. Beth, how 20 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: does AARP you focus on older New Yorkers? 21 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 4: Well, our mission really is to make sure that people 22 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 4: can as they age make the decisions that they want 23 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 4: to make for how they age. So that sounds really simple, 24 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 4: but in today's complicated world, we're talking about a combination 25 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 4: of affordability, which you hear about everything if you don't 26 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 4: have enough money to make the decisions that you want 27 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 4: to make, where you live, how you get your healthcare, 28 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,479 Speaker 4: how you get if you need caregiving, how you get that. 29 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 4: Everything about your life, you know, it can be wrapped 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 4: up in that. 31 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 2: And regarding caregiving, AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 2: just published a new report on that topic. What were 33 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: some of the key findings. 34 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 4: Well, those of you are in New York State, you 35 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 4: might want to know you got a lot of company 36 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 4: if you're a caregiver. 37 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 3: There are over four. 38 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 4: Million caregivers in New York State, which is an astounding number, 39 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 4: and it's actually equal to about a quarter of all 40 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 4: adults across the state are actually actively involved in caregiving 41 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 4: for a loved one. And we're not talking about paid caregiving, 42 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 4: hear it, That's an important distinction. We're talking about people 43 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 4: who want to help their loved ones remain in their 44 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 4: own homes and communities that they help to build. They're 45 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 4: doing this out of love and respect for their loved ones. 46 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 4: And it could be a spause. It could be a sibling, 47 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 4: it could be an aunt or an uncle, or a grandparent, 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 4: it could be any of those. But they're working really 49 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 4: hard to try to maintain people in their own homes 50 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 4: and communities. These people have worked their whole lives and 51 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 4: want to remain in these homes and communities that they 52 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 4: feel connected to and that they built up. 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,679 Speaker 2: The Sandwich generation thing is very. 54 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 4: Real and a third of these caregivers or Sandwich generation, 55 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 4: and you know that frenzy of being in the middle 56 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 4: that your children need you, your parents need you, and 57 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 4: matter of fact, your grandchildren might need you. Because we're 58 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 4: living in multi generational families now. It's you know, people, 59 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 4: thank God, are living longer. I don't know if you 60 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 4: saw it, with the average life expectancy in New York 61 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 4: just went up. It's well over the age of eighty, 62 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 4: which is amazing. What a great health bonus we're all 63 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 4: getting right, But at the same time, there's challenges to aging. 64 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: New York State legislators head back to Albany next month. 65 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 2: What proposals will you be bringing to lawmakers that will 66 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: help some of these caregivers. 67 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 4: I think the most important part is that we need 68 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 4: more money to be put into home and community based services. 69 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 4: And what that means is those basic things that can 70 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 4: help people live in their homes longer. So it could 71 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 4: be a home delivered meal, it could be transportation services 72 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 4: to the doctor. It could be putting a ramp in 73 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 4: to somebody's home with home improvements. It could be you know, 74 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 4: help with medical appointments, but also helping administer family caregivers 75 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 4: are often you know, need to administer medicines and things. 76 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 4: So there's just so many things that are in there 77 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 4: that cost family caregivers money out of their own pocket. 78 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: So there's two issues here. 79 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 4: One is we need more money funneled into the counties 80 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 4: that they can go into county offices for the aging 81 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 4: to supply more help to folks who are not necessarily 82 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 4: a medicaid but people who are a lower income, middle 83 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 4: class or really feeling the squeeze right now, and with 84 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 4: just a little bit of help, it can keep them 85 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 4: in their own homes. And if they don't get that help, 86 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 4: they're going to end up having to go into institutional care. 87 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 4: Average the nursing home bed in New York State is 88 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 4: over Medicaid bed is over one hundred and twenty thousand 89 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 4: a year. Actually think it's a bit more than that. Now, 90 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 4: that's medicate dollars that you and all of us pay, 91 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 4: and it's one of the fastest growing areas of the 92 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 4: New York State budget. So we don't want the state 93 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 4: to be penny wise and pound foolish. If they just 94 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 4: put some supports in to help people stay in their homes, 95 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 4: we can avoid those higher Medicaid costs going into institutional care. 96 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 4: And let's face it, loved ones, really, I don't know 97 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 4: about you, but one day I don't have in my mind, 98 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 4: oh yeah, I want to go live in a nursing home. 99 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 4: I mean, if God forbid, I have terrible illnesses that 100 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 4: cause it. Absolutely and there's a place for nursing homes 101 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 4: in our society, but that's not where most of us 102 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 4: want to age in place. 103 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 2: We're speaking with Beth Finkel. She is the New York 104 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 2: State director of the AARP. You can find out more 105 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: about what they do at AARP dot org. You're listening 106 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: to get connected on one oh six point seven light FM. 107 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: I'm Mina del Rio. You also do a lot of 108 00:05:55,400 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: work helping caregivers and seniors dealing with prevent IT scams 109 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: and fraud. This kind of topic makes my heart sink 110 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: a little bit because they're so common regarding caregivers. What 111 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 2: should people be aware of? 112 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 4: Well, I think the most important thing is again caregiving. 113 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 4: When you have to pay professional caregivers, it's very costly, 114 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 4: but you want to make sure that you're getting caregivers 115 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 4: that have been thoroughly vetted and bonded because if God forbid, 116 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 4: anything goes wrong, if you do not get the caregiver 117 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 4: from an agency, it's going to be hard to have 118 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 4: any recourse and it does cost a little more money. 119 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 3: There's no question about it. 120 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 4: So that's the number one thing is make sure that 121 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 4: if you're getting caregiving outside how go to a bonded agency. 122 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 4: Don't get those caregivers from a website or because you 123 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 4: see a sign up in your local grocery store. Call 124 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 4: this number and you have to be prepared to ask 125 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 4: the right questions when you're trying to get the right 126 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 4: caregiver in place. So how long has the agency been 127 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 4: in business? Is it financially sound? You don't want to 128 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 4: fly by night operation, what kind of experience and certifications? 129 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: Are these caregivers required to. 130 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 4: Have and most importantly, do they do a criminal background check? 131 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,559 Speaker 4: Really important because we're talking about fraud right and drug 132 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 4: screening because professional agencies do all of that, and that's 133 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 4: really really important. 134 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: I looked at your website. Some of the scams include 135 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: things like unauthorized access to bank accounts or seniors are 136 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 2: pressured to sign over assets. When these things happen, people 137 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 2: can lose a lot of money. But what precautions and 138 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: safeguards do you recommend before you even get there. 139 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 4: It hurts me to say this, but a great deal 140 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 4: of the scams that happen happen from their own family members. 141 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 4: And it's because caregivers are on the people who are 142 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,119 Speaker 4: either caring for them one hundred percent or maybe doing 143 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 4: the chor services for them and other things, and they 144 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 4: are at their mercy and very often they are afraid 145 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 4: to speak up. They're afraid to talk their mind. It's hard. 146 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 4: I mean, family dynamics are difficult anyway, and this is 147 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 4: just when money comes into play. 148 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 3: It's even more so. 149 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 4: I think that if you feel like a relative is 150 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 4: possibly taking advantage of you. It's hard to say this, 151 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 4: but what you need to do is report it. You 152 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 4: need to report it to professionals. Another thing that people 153 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 4: need to think about is that fraudsters also start to 154 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 4: pray on people who are isolated in their homes. As 155 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 4: a matter of fact, a new study came out from 156 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 4: AARP literally today that four out of every ten older 157 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 4: adults are experiencing isolation. 158 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 3: So when you think. 159 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 4: About that, if somebody is isolated, they're sitting at home, 160 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 4: the phone rings and it's a friendly voice, and it 161 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 4: possibly could be a confidence man or woman. 162 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 3: And what do they do? 163 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 4: They build confidence and so oh missus, s how are 164 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 4: you today? Oh okay? And how is this? And how 165 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 4: is that? And they inveigle their way in to your 166 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 4: world and your confidence. And then that's when they lower 167 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 4: the boom and they take advantage of you. And why 168 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 4: because older adults are sitting on a lot of money. 169 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 4: They save their whole lives and scammers know that. 170 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 2: To be honest, there was a senior in my family 171 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: who was just scammed by giving their their tech person, 172 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 2: who they thought was a tech person, remote access to 173 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: their computer. Especially when people aren't fluent with tech, they 174 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: really can get into trouble. What kind of recourse does 175 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 2: anyone have when they're scammed legally very little. 176 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 4: I mean, you have to go to the authorities. You 177 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 4: have to go to the authorities because it's the right 178 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 4: thing to do. You have to go to the authorities 179 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 4: also because otherwise, how will they stop these scammers from 180 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 4: scamming other people in the future. Also, AARP has a 181 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 4: fraud watch network and they can tell you again it's 182 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 4: ARP FraudWatch Network, and it can tell you the scams 183 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 4: that are going on currently, the more popular ones. And 184 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 4: it also can tell you you can give you ZIP 185 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 4: code and it can tell you what's going on and 186 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 4: more in your locality. It's just really important to help 187 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 4: arm yourselves. The other thing that ARP New York has 188 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 4: been working on for a number of years is to 189 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 4: try to get legislation passed that would help guard against 190 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 4: some scammers. For instance, missus S normally goes to her 191 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 4: local bank. Teller knows her, and every week she catches 192 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 4: let's say, fifty dollars, and all on a sudden, Missus 193 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 4: S Is coming in and cashing one thousand dollars, two 194 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 4: thousand dollars, and the teller thinks to herself, this doesn't 195 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 4: seem right to me, so This legislation would have allowed 196 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 4: the teller to report it and to put a freeze 197 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 4: on that transaction, not a freeze on the account, but 198 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 4: a freeze on that transaction, and then inform protective services 199 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 4: so that they could go in and find out if 200 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 4: the person is being scammed. We haven't been able to 201 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 4: get it passed in both houses. I'm really hopeful that 202 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 4: this year we're going to try again. But financial institutions, 203 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 4: for the most part, do not want more mandates or regulations. 204 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 4: I understand that, but too many people are getting scammed. 205 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 4: As a matter of fact, we're finding in New York 206 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,719 Speaker 4: State alone, every hour older adults are being scammed by 207 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 4: over twenty five thousand dollars every single hour in the state. 208 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 2: The state though, under Kathy Hochel, they recently embarked on 209 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 2: the Master Plan for Aging, so there's lots of supports 210 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 2: in there. It's one hundred and twenty six proposals to 211 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 2: better serve aging New Yorkers. Your thoughts on that initiative. 212 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 3: Well, we're thrilled about it. 213 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 4: We're actually looking forward to seeing what the governor will 214 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 4: be saying in her state of the state and in 215 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 4: her up coming budget because we're hoping that again because 216 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 4: the Master Plan on Aging talks a lot about more 217 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 4: resources that are needed and more protections to be put 218 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 4: in place, and so we're really hopeful that because the 219 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 4: Governor has, you know, led the way on this. She's 220 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 4: been a great leader in aging. Last year she added 221 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 4: thirty five million dollars to the budget for home and 222 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 4: community based care, which eliminated a waiting list of over 223 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 4: sixteen thousand. But this year, unfortunately, that waiting list has 224 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 4: really zoomed and we're seeing many, many more people who 225 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 4: are waiting to get a meal delivered, to get transportation 226 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 4: services to physicians, et cetera, to get improvements in their 227 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 4: homes that they desperately need. And so we need to 228 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 4: take care of the people who took care of us 229 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 4: all of our lives. 230 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 2: Right, And since you bring that up. Last time we spoke, 231 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 2: we talked about New Yorkers not enrolling for benefits they 232 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 2: qualify for. 233 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 4: Yes, and that's is one of the recommendations and the 234 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 4: Master Plan on Aging, which is better alignment and integration 235 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 4: of benefits services. And the Governor has actually talked about 236 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 4: having better customer services for beneficiaries of potential beneficiaries. 237 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 3: And what that would mean is if. 238 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 4: You are eligible for SNAP, but you're also eligible for 239 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 4: the Medicare Savings Program, which is for people who are 240 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 4: again not a Medicaid but middle class who can't afford 241 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 4: to pay some of their Medicare premiums. And so it's 242 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 4: actually both of those are federal programs, and so where 243 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 4: we could match those up and say, ah, if you're 244 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 4: eligible for one, you're probably eligible for the other. Why 245 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 4: make people go through all this red tape and reapply 246 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 4: and whatever. Let's just take care of this, especially in 247 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 4: the Medicare Savings. 248 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 3: Program, which we would put over one. 249 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 4: Hundred and seventy dollars a month back into somebody's Social 250 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 4: Security check. That's a sizeable increase in your disposable income. 251 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: Just to wrap up AARP also, so has great events 252 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 2: and workshops. Is there something you'd like to highlight coming up? 253 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, thank you for asking. We've got a great long 254 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 4: term care planning session. 255 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 3: It's going to be a virtual one. 256 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 4: It's going to be on Tuesday, December sixteenth, from two 257 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 4: to three. Because you know what, it's never too early 258 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 4: to plan for your caregiving and it is never too late. 259 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 4: And that's or it can be too late, which I 260 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 4: hesitate to say. I hate to say that because I 261 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 4: try to be a positive, optimistic person. So yes, and 262 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 4: I hope that people can join AARP at this virtual 263 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 4: discussion where you can get a lot of information. 264 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: And you also have something special for caregivers. 265 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 4: Well, we are now inviting caregivers to enter our sweepstakes 266 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 4: for a chance to win a two hundred dollars Visa 267 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 4: gift card. Five winners are going to be selected at random, 268 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 4: and it's really our way of recognizing the dedication and 269 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 4: time and the heart that caregivers give every single day. 270 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 4: So if you would like to be part of that 271 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 4: opportunity to be in that sweepstakes and possibly win a 272 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 4: two hundred dollars Visa gift card, all you need to 273 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 4: do is go to aa RP dot org forward slash 274 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 4: NY Caregivers. That's aa RP dot org forward slash NY Caregivers. 275 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: There's so much more on the website too, including resources 276 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 2: to help prevent scams and fraud, which is what we 277 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 2: talked about at the beginning of the show. Beth Finkel 278 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 2: from AARP New York, thank you for being on to 279 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 2: get connected and happy holidays. 280 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 3: So good to be here. Thank you. 281 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: This has been get connected with Nina del Rio on 282 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light Fm. The views and 283 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views 284 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: of the station. If you missed any part of our 285 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: show or want to share it, visit our website for 286 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: downloads and podcasts at six seven light fm dot com. 287 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.