Sandy tours with Buchanan Seniors in the Albany Legislative Office Building.

The New York State Comptroller’s office paid out $194 million in unclaimed funds in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $25 million or about 15% more than last year, due to, in large part, our State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s stepped up efforts to raise awareness about these unclaimed funds. To find out if New York State owes you money, go to the Web site at www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/index.htm, or contact the New York State Office of the State Comptroller, Office of Unclaimed Funds, 110 State Street, Albany, New York 12236, or call 1-800-221-9311, Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-5:00 pm.

Recently, the New York State Senate and Assembly worked together to create a state budget that increased Enhanced STAR property tax rebates by 40 percent. With this large rebate increase, seniors will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money. Seniors 65 years of age or older who own and live in a one, two or three family home, condominium or cooperative apartment, whose income is less than $70,650 are eligible. To find out if you are eligible for the Enhanced STAR property tax rebate, call your local assessor’s office.

Recently, it was reported that the infection rates in New York State hospitals had increased from previous years. “While rates of mortality have improved by almost every measure, infection rates have stubbornly bucked the trend,” said Bruce Boissonnault, President & CEO of the Niagara Health Quality Coalition which published the initial report. Prior to visiting an in-state hospital, you can use the 2008 New York State Hospital Report Card to compare hospital performance in a variety of categories, including mortality & infection rates. To find the Report Card, visit www.myhealthfinder.com or call (716) 250-6472.

This year, we passed a set of bills in Albany that impose stiffer penalties to help protect seniors from violent crimes. These new pieces of legislation are referred to as the “Granny Laws.” The prime piece of legislation increases penalties for assaulting a person 65 or older to a class D violent felony from a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 7 years in state prison. It applies if the attacker is more than ten years younger than the victim. The laws also: increase penalties if more than one elderly person is victimized by a scam artist; add an experienced elder law attorney to the state Crime Victims Board; and, they require the New York State Police to develop educational materials for law enforcement on elder abuse. We cannot tolerate criminals who target and assault the elderly. These new statutes will help protect us all.

At the Ossining Public Library, Sandy meets with constituents to discuss issues during one of her town meetings.

If you believe you are a victim of identity theft or to help deter and detect it, contact:

The Federal Trade Commission

A victim of an identity theft should file a police report as well as an online complaint at: www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ (call 1-202-466-6272 for more information).

The New York State Office of the Attorney General

For consumer issues such as identity theft within New York, call the consumer helpline at 1-800-771-7755 or, to file a complaint online, visit www.oag.state.ny.us/complaints/complaints.html.

If you believe you are a victim of Internet theft, or for tips on safety contact:

The New York State Division of State Police

Publications detailing precautions to take to maintain Internet safety and avoid identity theft can be found at: http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/publications/.

The Office of the Westchester County District Attorney

For Internet safety tips, visit: http://da.westchester.ny.us/crimeprevention.htm.

To report or get more information on elder abuse:

Westchester County Adult Protective Services

To report elder abuse, call (914) 995-2259. For more information about preventing elder abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, call (914) 995-5411.

Putnam County Adult Protective Services

To report or ask questions about elder abuse concerns, call (845) 225-7040 x1262, x1293 or x1266.

The Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services

To report elder abuse, call the elder abuse help line, (914) 813-6436.

The Westchester County Safe Center for Seniors

A support center for at-risk elderly, located at Lighthouse International, 170 Hamilton Hall, White Plains. To report elder abuse, call (914) 683-7530.

Putnam Valley’s Marie Zarcone with Sandy as she receives the Community Service Award from Putnam County Office for the Aging & RSVP.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department

To report elder abuse, call Sheriff Department’s office in Carmel, NY at (845) 225-4300.

If you were a victim of property theft, contact:

The New York State Crime Victim’s Board

Personal property lost or destroyed during a crime can be reimbursed if it is necessary to maintain a victim’s health and welfare (call 1-800-247-8035 or log on to www.cvb.state.ny.us).

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
For retired residents 55 and over, volunteer opportunities are offered in schools, day care centers, hospitals and other community non-profit agencies. Volunteer jobs are found to match abilities and interests. Call (914) 948-6069 in Westchester, or (845) 621-0600 in Putnam.

The Volunteer Center of United Way
For volunteer opportunities in your local community, visit www.volunteer-center.org or call the Hartsdale, NY headquarters for more information at (914) 948-4452.

Senior Corps
Connects volunteers over age 55 with the people and organizations that need them most. To find a volunteer opportunity in your local community, visit http://getinvolved.volunteermatch.org or call 1-800-424-8867 for more information.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE): Putnam County, NY Chapter
Retired volunteers with work experience as business owners, corporate managers, and educators serve as free counselors for clients looking for assistance on their startup or ongoing business. To become a SCORE counselor, call (845) 625-6030 or visit www.putnamscore.org.

Sandy appears with Jim Eppinger, President of Putnam SCORE at her Small Business forum for starting or developing entrepreneurs.