New York, NY – Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright, Chair of the New York State Assembly Committee on Aging, hosted a senior services forum on Friday at the Carter Burden Network, bringing together community leaders, advocates, and older New Yorkers to discuss aging services, fraud prevention, housing security, and new state initiatives supporting older adults.

The event featured keynote remarks from Greg Olsen, Acting Director of the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), and included representatives from the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, the New York City Department for the Aging, Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, Weill Cornell Community Clinic, and Search and Care.

“As Chair of the Assembly Aging Committee, my priority is making sure older New Yorkers have access to trusted information, quality care, and the protections they deserve to live with dignity and independence,” said Assembly Member Seawright. “Today’s forum was about connecting seniors directly with the resources that help them stay safe, housed, and supported in their communities.”

During her remarks, Assembly Member Seawright highlighted alarming increases in fraud targeting older adults, noting that older New Yorkers lost more than $257 million to scams last year. She outlined her leadership on elder fraud prevention legislation and previewed new tools such as NYSOFA’s upcoming SilverShield program, which will allow older adults to verify suspicious calls, texts, and emails before sending money.

Director Olsen discussed statewide aging initiatives, including the implementation of New York’s first Master Plan for Aging and expanded investments in caregiver support, elder abuse prevention, and aging-in-place services.

“Hearing directly from older New Yorkers and community partners helps ensure our programs meet real needs,” said Olsen. “We are committed to strengthening protections and expanding services so people can age safely and independently.”

Assembly Member Seawright also highlighted recent progress on housing protections, including efforts to modernize and expand the Rent Freeze programs (SCRIE and DRIE). She noted Governor Hochul’s recent announcement to raise income eligibility to $75,000, allowing more seniors to qualify for rent protections.

The forum concluded with a question-and-answer session and resource tables staffed by Seawright’s constituent services team, assisting with rent freeze enrollment, reduced-fare OMNY cards, SNAP, EPIC, HEAP, property tax exemptions, and housing and legal services.

Assembly Member Seawright thanked Carter Burden Network for hosting the event and noted her office’s prior $150,000 capital investment to renovate the organization’s social services offices.

“We need to match the pride that we feel for the numerous contributions of older adults to New York State with the high-quality services that they so urgently deserve,” said Assembly Member Seawright. “And please remember that our office is just a phone call, email, or visit away.”

For more information or assistance with senior services and benefits, residents may contact Assembly Member Seawright’s district office on York Avenue between East 78th and 79th Streets.