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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Penelope Hernandez, Program Director of Wellness Together at University Settlement
2:36:18
ยท
179 sec
Penelope Hernandez, Program Director at Wellness Together University Settlement, testified about the need to stop the proposed $100 million cut to older adult services and requested additional funding for case management services and older adult center repairs. She emphasized the importance of comprehensive, holistic services for older adults and the challenges of high caseloads.
- Advocated for adding $44 million for case management services to reduce high caseloads (currently 69 per case manager)
- Requested $5 million yearly investment for repairs and crucial changes in older adult centers
- Highlighted the struggle with repairs in their center located in a NYCHA building, citing issues like leaking walls and ceilings
Penelope Hernandez
2:36:18
Hi.
2:36:19
Good afternoon.
2:36:19
Thank you, chair Hudson, for the opportunity to testify in this preliminary hearing.
2:36:25
My name is Penelope Hernandez.
2:36:27
I'm a program director at Wellness Together University Settlement.
2:36:32
Wellness Together is a program that serves homebound older adults.
2:36:36
I submitted my testimony, so I'll try to just speak from my heart and the experience.
2:36:43
So I'm here today to advocate, of course, for the stop to the hundred million dollar cut, proposed cut to older adult services.
2:36:52
I know that you sympathize with with us, you support support the idea that older adults definitely need these services.
2:37:00
I'm also here to request adding 44,000,000 for case management services.
2:37:09
The caseload, as we heard before, is extremely high.
2:37:12
For us, it's 69 per case manager.
2:37:15
And we have experience with this program.
2:37:17
Wellness Together was a program that started really small, and we were able to serve 30 older adults.
2:37:24
And that's really the only way that you can provide comprehensive holistic service.
2:37:29
We're not, as human beings, we're not just basic needs.
2:37:32
We're not just food safety and having a home health aid to support your home.
2:37:38
You're way more than that.
2:37:39
We have talents, a need to connect with our peers to make friends.
2:37:45
And having a case load of 69 older adults really prevents from going deeper into the services that we provide.
2:37:54
And also, you know, it's important that we add this 44,000,000 for staffing as well.
2:38:01
For attention and you know to hire staff that is able to serve the older adult the way that they deserve.
2:38:10
The other ask that I'm here to present is to invest in $5,000,000 yearly for repairs and crucial major changes that need to happen in our older adult centers.
2:38:29
Our older adult center at University Settlement is located inside a Nysha building and I can't even tell you how much we struggle with the repairs that are needed.
2:38:40
We have leaking walls, leaking ceilings and it took Nysha a year for instance to change our staff bathroom door.
2:38:51
So these investments are really important for us and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to present on this today.
2:38:58
And of course you have my testimony and I also brought letters signed by our older adults supporting what I just said and supporting my testimony and also staff letters as well.
Crystal Hudson
2:39:09
Thank you.
2:39:09
Thank you.
2:39:10
And then where's the location?
Penelope Hernandez
2:39:12
It's 189 Allen Street.
Crystal Hudson
2:39:14
Okay.
2:39:15
Thank you.
Penelope Hernandez
2:39:15
New York.
2:39:16
New York.