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Thanks to our Berkshire County delegation
By Elder Services of Berkshire County‘s Legislative Liaison Committee: Barbara Bashevkin, Chair; Mary K. O’Brien, Mary Ellen Ausman, William Dudley, and Anthony McBride
We write to publicly thank our Berkshire County delegation to the state legislature for their dedicated efforts to protect the well being of Berkshire elders during the recent legislative struggle to maintain adequate funding for services and a strong voice in state government for those over 60.
Our five Berkshire legislators, Senator Nuciforo and Representatives Bosley, Kelly, Larkin, and Pignatelli, have shown a sincere interest in issues affecting elders, and in depth knowledge of those issues. They have heard the very real concerns of elders, and have spoken up on their behalf.
There was much to be concerned about in the Governor’s proposed budget. We thank our legislators for their support in ensuring that the Prescription Advantage Plan was restored, that the Home Care program and the Councils on Aging were adequately funded, and that the Governor’s subsequent vetoes of services for elders were overridden.
We also thank our legislators for advocating for a key role for Elder Services of Berkshire County and its counterparts across the state, as a single local entry point where elders and those who care about them can access services and receive information.
We will continue to need legislative support in retaining a strong Department of Elder Affairs that controls its own budget and programs, so that it is able to ensure that elder’s voices will be heard and that elders will continue to receive the community and in home services they need in order to live with safety and dignity.