One Brooklyn
August 28, 2015
DURING NATIONAL MAKE-A-WILL MONTH, BOROUGH PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS “[email protected]” CAMPAIGN FOR HUNDREDS OF BROOKLYN’S ELDERS
BROOKLYN, NY, August 28, 2015: On Wednesday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams hosted about 400 senior citizens from across Brooklyn for his second annual Senior Day, celebrated this year at Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach under the theme of “Seniors by the Sea.” As part of the event, which took place during National Make-A-Will Month, he announced his push for all of New York City’s major pension systems to advance their members’ retirement security by supporting the “[email protected]” campaign, an effort on which he has partnered with a nationwide committee of elder law attorneys in order to educate people on five essential legal documents they need by the age of 55; these materials include a will, living will, power of attorney, healthcare proxy, and digital diary. Borough President Adams spoke about the importance of precaution and preparation to aging successfully, which will have an impact on the execution of major life decisions.
“Planning is paramount to enjoying one’s golden years,” said Borough President Adams. “As I approach my 55th birthday, I recognize the value of having essential legal documents in order to make potentially critical choices down the road in a timely and thoughtful manner. The ‘[email protected]’ campaign is an important education effort that I have asked all of our City’s major pension funds to support so all of our future retirees can be empowered. Educating members on the impact of advance planning, especially as they plan to retire, is a small but significant step we can take to guarantee that all of our City’s municipal employees are truly secure in their retirement.”
Studies have shown that, on average, only 45% of Americans have executed a will, only 41% have living wills, only 40% have done some form of estate planning, and only 39% have a healthcare proxy. Last month, the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) Board of Trustees, of which Borough President Adams is a member, approved his proposal to take steps toward educating their members on the importance of the “[email protected]” legal documents; the plan requires NYCERS to provide basic information about the importance of advance planning at consultation meetings and workshops, as well as on their website. He followed up that decision by sending a letter to leadership from the New York City Board of Education Retirement System, New York City Fire Department Pension Bureau, New York City Police Pension Fund, and Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York; the communication asked for their support in accepting a similar strategy to take on the “[email protected]” campaign.
“Nearly one half of all Americans fail to protect themselves, their families or their money from a whole set of legal and financial dangers that can begin in the retirement years,” said Judith D. Grimaldi, Esq. “The ‘[email protected]’ campaign, with its five basic legal documents, aims to avoid these potential pitfalls and gives the retiree a critical road map to follow for the later years. We thank NYCERS for joining the effort to educate New Yorkers about sound methods of estate and end-of-life planning.”
“When it comes to obtaining basic legal protection, far too many people procrastinate until it is too late,” said Joanne Seminara, Esq. “The older a person gets the more difficult it may be to make end-of-life decisions. Making sure that everyone approaching retirement age understands the necessity of obtaining these documents is critical and we thank NYCERS for joining us in this effort.”
Borough President Adams also spoke to seniors about his work to make the borough a safe community where Brooklynites can age in place; according to the New York City Department of City Planning, Brooklyn is projected to continue having the largest elderly population in the city, numbering 410,000 seniors in 2030, up 45 percent from 2000. He noted a recent survey of 150 American cities by WalletHub that ranked New York City fifth-to-last for retirement friendliness, citing affordability and health care as particular concerns.
“We have to make New York City one of the best places to age in place,” said Borough President Adams. “We must make sure our city can care for and support the seniors we have today and the many more we will have in the years ahead. I will continue to prioritize efforts that help Brooklyn’s elders thrive, such as improving street safety, making our buildings access-friendly, fighting tenant harassment, and advancing preventive medicine.”
Those in attendance at Borough President Adams’s “Seniors by the Sea” celebration enjoyed lunch, dancing, an interactive photo booth, and a spirited round of Brooklyn trivia conducted by Borough President Adams. Sponsors for the event included Affinity Health Plan, Emblem Health, Healthfirst, Home Family Care, OTC Mobile Store, Senior Umbrella Network of Brooklyn, Senior Whole Health, and WellCare. In addition to Kingsborough Community College, partners included Bon Soir Caterers, Brooklyn Public Library, Café Au Lee, DJ Kevin Jones, Millennium Development, NYPD Explorers, and TapSnap.
“As champions of rich and rewarding lives, we are honored to be one of the sponsors of ‘Seniors by the Sea,’” said Denise J. Pesich, vice president of brand management and customer loyalty for Affinity Health Plan. “We appreciate and support the contributions that these individuals have made in our community and will continue to provide programs that help our seniors lead healthier lives.”
“Home Family Care had the great pleasure of attending ‘Seniors by the Sea’ to meet and speak to hundreds of seniors living in the borough of Brooklyn,” said Jennifer Liu, vice president of business development for Home Family Care. “Our team of professional staff is dedicated to treat every member of our community with respect, compassion and honesty. We are looking forward to developing long years of relationship with every single member in our community.”
“Senior Whole Health was extremely proud and honored to be a part of the ‘Seniors by the Sea’ event in conjunction with Borough President Adams,” said Kenneth Diaz, business development manager for Senior Whole Health. “We look forward to continuing to strive for a simple, secure, and independent lifestyle for the senior community.”
All those in attendance at Borough President Adams’s “Seniors by the Sea” celebration received a bookmark outlining the “[email protected]” legal documents, as well as a copy of his “Cut the Salt, Curb the Sugar” cookbook. He also reminded the attendees that Brooklyn Borough Hall offers free elder law services, in partnership with Legal Services NYC-Brooklyn, on the second and fourth Thursday of every month between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM; those interested are asked to call (718) 802-3777 in advance to make an appointment.
PHOTOS 
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams kicks off his shoes to dance with a local senior during the “Seniors by the Sea” celebration he hosted at Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach for about 400 elders from across the borough.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams conducts a spirited round of Brooklyn trivia during the “Seniors by the Sea” celebration he hosted at Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach for about 400 elders from across the borough.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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