Pictured from left are LutheranCare President and CEO Andrew Peterson; Senator David Valesky; and Leading Age Government Relations Analyst Alyssa Lovelace.
(Clinton, NY -Oct. 2014) LutheranCare, a leading provider of services to older New Yorkers in the area recognized Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) with the prestigious “Partners in Quality” award created by Leading Age New York, a statewide association representing 570 organizations that provide care to some 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages.
The award was presented Oct. 17 in the Community Room of the Martin Luther building at LutheranCare, Route 12B, Clinton
The award was designed to acknowledge elected officials who fight to preserve quality services for seniors. Specifically to Senator Valesky, the award recognizes his leadership role as chairman of the New York State Senate Aging Committee. Valesky has long been a champion of long-term care providers across the State and more recently of LutheranCare, advocating strongly for the State’s seniors.
LutheranCare Ombudsman, Tom Talbot has met with the Senator to garner support for an increase in the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), which is the amount of a Medicaid resident’s monthly Social Security payment allowed for personal use. That amount has been set at $50 since 1982 which many find inadequate to meet their needs.
Speaking on behalf of LutheranCare residents, Tom explained, “Many of these people went through deprivation during the Depression…It is troubling that they’ve come this far only to be impoverished again.”