Area Legislators Come to MVES for Annual Event
Each year, MVES hosts a legislative breakfast to talk with area legislators about the importance of community-based programs that enable elders and individuals with disabilities to remain in the community. This year’s breakfast, held on March 24, was well attended with legislators from MVES’ eight-community service area and beyond in attendance.
The event was co-hosted by Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Stephen “Stat” Smith. Other legislators in attendance included Senators Patricia Jehlen and Thomas McGee and Representatives Katherine Clark, Paul Donato, James Dwyer, Christopher Fallon, Bradley Jones, Mark Falzone, and Carl Sciortino. Legislative aides in attendance included Vicki Halal representing Senator Jehlen, Michael Smith representing Senator Richard Tisei, Mike Harris representing Representative Jones, and Laura Richter representing Representative Jason Lewis.
“We really appreciate that so many of our area legislators came to MVES today to join in the community-based care discussion,” said MVES Executive Director Daniel J. O’Leary. “Community-based care makes sense for elders and taxpayers alike because the cost of delivering services in the community is significantly less than the cost of the alternative, nursing home care.”
O’Leary encouraged the delegation to continue to request funding for home care programs, even in these difficult economic times.
Event attendees listened to the real-life stories of two people receiving services from MVES. Both speakers, Thomas Benbow of Malden, a 50 year young man with disabilities caused by a stroke in his twenties, and George Younker of Medford, a caregiver whose wife is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, described how community-based services are allowing them to maintain their independence at home.
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