Sally Swayne, Chairperson Oakland County Senior Advisory Council
This first column will talk about the Council and how it affects the senior citizens of Oakland County. The primary purpose of the Council is to inform the County Executive on needs and services required of the elderly and to point out gaps in the elderly network.
At our monthly meetings we invite speakers on various issues that are important to the everyday life of a senior citizen. Some examples include prescription assistance, housing assistance or how to get information about service agencies to seniors and their adult children who may be their caregivers.
The Council is happy to report that because of our recommendations as well as the work of the Executive Office, County Commission and others, your County Executive took charge of the situation and offered the Senior Prescription Savings Program. This program can assist seniors with savings of 40% off their prescription drug costs. More about this program is included elsewhere in this edition of our newsletter.
Another recommendation the County Executive took action on was the need to save a county advocate for senior citizens. There is now a person located at the county who is working hard to get needs met for county seniors. That person is Lynn Alexander; and she has been very busy making connections with senior centers and other service providers across the county. She has also been giving many presentations to elected officials and other community readers to raise the awareness of senior issues. If you have a topic you would like information about, you may e-mail me at rubysal58@hotmail.com.
