We need your help! Sign petition to stop budget cuts!

People Inc. is part of a statewide effort asking Governor Cuomo to prevent further budget cuts. After three years of reductions, we CANNOT accept any additional cuts without impacting both the quality and quantity of supports and services that our agency offers to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Individuals with disabilities, families, friends and providers of services have been working together to ensure that New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo honors the state's promise, affirmed in the Willowbrook Consent Decree, to care for those who cannot care for themselves, but we need more impact. Please sign the petition and share it with family, friends, self-advocates and colleagues to ask them to participate and tell the Governor to KEEP THE PROMISE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS! Please click the link and sign the petition today: Thank you for your support! Here is an educational editorial against budget cuts for services that help people with developmental disabilities. The Buffalo News: State needs to address needs of people who have developmental disabilities

Wellness Event and Open House at People Inc. Marigold Senior Livingin Grand Island

People Inc. Marigold Senior Living will host a free Health and Wellness Open House on Friday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3026 Grand Island, Blvd., Grand Island. The event, geared for older adults and their families, includes apartment tours, along with: Mammography screening provided by Windsong Radiology and appointments are encouraged. To make an appointment, call 716.929.9494. Chiropractic mini evaluations, five-minute chair massages and acupuncture information will be provided by Grand Island Chiropractic. Free blood pressure and glucose screenings will be provided by Island Prescription Center. Additionally, staff from People Inc. Senior Companion and Senior Outreach will be available to share information and answer questions.  Anderson’s Food Truck will also be onsite (menu prices vary). Attendees will have a chance to win a Wegmans $30 gift card.  Seniors and their families are encouraged to attend the open house event as apartment tours will be provided. Two benefits of People Inc. Marigold Senior Living are the affordability and safety features. Apartments are for independent seniors age 62 and over who are income eligible. As an added cost savings, some utilities are included. The one-bedroom apartments include a kitchen with appliances. For added safety, there is a day-time manager and a live-in caretaker for building emergencies. Safety features include stove fire prevention devices, grab bars in the bathroom, emergency pull-cords and a secure entrance. The apartment building includes a furnished community room, laundry facilities and a 24-hour response system. Tenants are welcome to have one small pet. Service coordinators are available to provide tenants assistance to supports and services at no extra charge. Group transportation to grocery stores is provided. For tenants who like to socialize, there are a variety of social events and community outings held throughout the year.  Registration for the open house event is encouraged. To register or for more information, call 716.773.0907. People Inc. manages 20 senior apartment locations throughout Western New York. For information about other locations, call 716.817.9090. People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with developmental disabilities, special needs, their families and older adults throughout Western New York and the greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org , follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews .

Wellness Fair on April 8

As we age, sharing with friends in a senior community can help to multiply the joy and divide the sadness that may occur along the way. This is one reason to think about moving to a senior living community, however an even better reason is that research has shown that those seniors that stay connected can delay decline and live two years longer than those that do not. People Inc.'s Marigold Apartments located at 3026 Grand Island Blvd on Grand Island is hosting a Wellness Fair on April 8, 2011 from 10 AM - 2 PM. Those who attend will learn more about the benefits of living in a senior living community and will have an opportunity to tour an apartment. The Wellness Fair will feature representatives from the Catholic Charities Telephone Assurance Program, Olmstead Center for Sight, BCBS Health Now, Independent Health, Respiratory Services of WNY, Central Referral Service, NFTA, Catholic Health Systems LIFE program and UB Dental, and AXA Advisors. People Inc. has 17 Senior Living locations across Western New York for seniors 62 and older. Rent is based on income. For more information please call 716.817.9090 or visit www.people-inc.org .

West Herr Subaru Donates to People Inc. Youth Transition Program

West Herr Automotive Group celebrated the grand opening of their Lockport Subaru dealership with a desire to give back to the community. They donated a 2025 Subaru Forester to People Inc.'s Young Adult Life Transitions (YALT) program . Anne McCaffrey, President & CEO of People Inc., members of the agency leadership team and people who participate in the YALT Program were on hand to accept the vehicle. McCaffrey spoke about this innovative program and its impact in the WNY community. YALT offers people with developmental disabilities transitioning from high school the opportunity to experience life on a college campus, participate in internships and volunteer at area organizations. These educational and social activities promote independence, offer employment preparation and support continued learning and development. The vehicle will help transport the YALT volunteers to many of the Lockport-area non-profits and businesses who benefit from their assistance, including the food pantry, Whispering River Donkey Rescue, Dale Association, Goodwill, I Thrift, Kith and Kin, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Veggie Van.

Western New Organizations Selected for Health Improving Program

April 7, 2021: In a unique upstate cross-regional collaboration, 12 Western New York health serving organizations have been selected to participate in the Health Literacy CALL to Action Training program, funded by the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York . Low health literacy is a barrier to the health of a community and raises the costs of healthcare.  Helping community members increase their capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand health information is a significant way to decrease healthcare costs and hospitalizations.  Initially developed in Central New York through the Medicaid redesign efforts to reduce avoidable hospital use by 25 percent, the CALL to Action program seeks to improve how health literacy is taught to community members by health and health care providers. Participants undergo 21 hours of virtual training to become Master Trainers so that they can disseminate their learnings to their own and other organizations in their communities. This “train-the-trainer” model has shown success in helping patients improve their ability to better manage their health and treatment and, says Sue Ellen Stuart, executive director of the Visiting Nurse Services of Ithaca and co-writer for the grant.  “With COVID-19, increasing health literacy throughout our communities may be needed now more than ever.  It’s what helps patients understand the risks of the virus and the protocols needed to fight it.”   The following organizations will be taking part in the upcoming training, beginning in April. All are members of or have a work-relation to the Fellows Action Network , a program of the HFWCNY and its Health Leadership Fellows program: Population Health Collaborative; Daemen College; D'Youville College; BestSelf Behavioral Health; Healthy Community Alliance; Buffalo Prenatal Network; Harvest House; Jericho Road Community Health Center; Catholic Charities of Buffalo; People Inc.; ARC of Genesee Orleans; and Southern Tier Health Care Systems, Inc.

Wheatfield Tenant Decorates Tree Year-round at People Inc. Willow Senior Living

For Carol Miranda, Christmas is her favorite part of the year! She also enjoys Valentine’s Day, St. Patty’s Day, summer and Thanksgiving! If you visit People Inc. Willow Senior Living in Wheatfield, you will see a beautiful tree and lovely decorations on the third floor. Carol, who has been a tenant of People Inc. Willow Senior Living for six years, takes pleasure decorating the vestibule area year-round to match the seasons and holidays.  Prior to moving to Willow, Carol lived in Williamsville and had a tree that she decorated year-round. Now, she happily decorates two – one small-table-top tree for her apartment and a larger tree for fellow tenants and visitors to enjoy. When asked why she does it, Carol simply said it makes her happy to decorate and even happier when others find joy in the various scenes.  Carol also adds accessories to two plush bears and an old-fashioned doll to go with the tree theme. Throughput the year, she collects various decorations at yard sales and thrift shops for the tree and bears, such as hearts for Valentine’s Day; red, white and blue trinkets for May through July; beach themed items for August; team colors for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres for September; plus, Halloween and Thanksgiving décor for the fall months.  While not decorating, Carol enjoys the many group outings that she and fellow tenants take, like outings to Vidler’s in East Aurora and the Silo Restaurant in Lewiston. “I truly like living here,” Carol said. “People are friendly and the staff are so good and helpful when needed.”  The tree has also become a point of interest when people tour the site. “Many people comment positively and it makes them feel like this is a nice place to live because tenants are involved in the site and take the time to do special things,” said Charlene Johnson, manager of People Inc. Willow Senior Living. “It is also a fan-favorite of many grandchildren who visit their grandparents.”   If you or a loved one would like more information or a tour of People Inc. Willow Senior Living (and its tree display), located on the border of North Tonawanda, call 716.694.1486. With 19 senior apartment locations throughout Western New York, People Inc. Senior Living provides safe and maintenance-free housing for independent seniors age 62 and up who are income eligible. For information about other locations, call 716.817.9090. People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit people-inc.org . Like us on Facebook at People Inc. and follow us on Twitter @PeopleIncNews .

WNY Coalition Pooled Trust Grant Requests Open

September 16, 2019: The WNY Coalition Pooled Trust is now accepting grant requests for the 2019 cycle! The grants are only available to former beneficiaries of the trust, or people with disabilities currently served by People Inc. and its affiliates or by Center for Elder Law & Justice. Request forms must be submitted by Thursday, October 31, 2019. All grant awards expire on March 31, 2020. All necessary lines must be completed. You will be notified of your grant request status at the end of November, and awards will be issued in December. The maximum amount of the request is $750.  Please note: Checks must be made payable to a store, company or organization and they must accept third party checks. Itemized receipts/invoices must be provided after purchases are made. If a purchase is made by an organization that is asking for reimbursement, any itemized receipts or invoices must be submitted before a check can be issued. Grant checks cannot be cashed or used to purchase a gift card. Grants cannot be used to pay for outstanding debt. For questions, contact Denise Bienko, WNY Pooled Trust Management Board Member, at dbienko@people-inc.org or 716.817.7470.

WNY Coalition Pooled Trusts Receive Award from Network in Aging of WNY, Inc.

WNY Coalition Pooled Trusts is a collaboration between People Inc. and the Center for Elder Law & Justice November 19, 2019: On November 7, the Network in Aging of Western New York, Inc. presented the “Program Award of Excellence” to the WNY Coalition Pooled Trusts. The award showcases a program that has been successfully implemented to enhance the Western New York geriatric citizenry and meet a clearly identified need within the community. The WNY Coalition Pooled Trusts is a collaboration between People Inc. and the Center for Elder Law & Justice. Established in 2004, the trusts now serve hundreds of beneficiaries, including more than 750 older adults and are provided as a service to the community. The two partners originally created the program to enhance the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities. Since its inception, they have expanded the types of trusts offered to include people over age 65 years with qualifying disabilities.  Today, three distinct Supplemental Needs Trusts (SNT) assist people to secure their financial future, without causing them to lose their government benefits. Through depositing their income directly into the trust, purchases of additional items and services not adequately covered by governmental benefits are possible. Beneficiaries pool their money together to take advantage of better investment opportunities. From humble beginnings, millions of dollars are now expertly managed. KeyBank is the financial partner and manages the investments as well. The “Over 65 Self-funded Trust” was created specifically to meet the needs of area older adults – especially those with no circle of support – who want to remain in their residence of choice as long as possible. This allows them to avoid premature nursing home placement. The physical, emotional and mental changes that accompany aging often create a frustrating experience for seniors and their families. The hope is to provide a continuum of quality care and supports (including medical coverage, home care/long-term care), which enables each person to maintain their dignity. Through use of the pooled trust, older adults now have a resource to protect their financial future while paying for their ever-increasing healthcare, medications and living expenses. Being able to remain in their residence of choice also permits these seniors to continue to participate in and contribute to the local communities. A hallmark of this program is the personal attention provided to beneficiaries and their families. A local representative meets with each person, builds a relationship in order to better offer assistance with the process of opening a trust and continues through the life of the trust. For more information, go to wnypooledtrust.org or call 716.817.7484. The Center for Elder Law & Justice is a non-profit civil legal services agency, providing free legal representation in eight Western New York counties. People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 10,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, special needs, their families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews.

Workshop Focuses on Methods Educators, Healthcare Staff and Parents can Assist People Living with Tourette Syndrome in School and Community

The Museum of disABILITY History will host its 2019 workshop session of Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Associated Disorders in the Classroom on March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at its location, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. The workshop will be presented by Susan Conners, MEd, president and founder of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Greater New York State. The workshop will focus on: What is TS, coping with challenging behaviors, classroom tips for working with children on the TS spectrum, practical ideas for helping to manage school work at home and in the classroom, proven suggestions for advocating for a child on the TS spectrum and the use of technology in assisting students. The workshop is recommended for parents; educators; school administrators; social workers and health and human service professionals, such as occupational, physical and speech language therapists. Held in association with Associated Physical and Occupational Therapists, PLLC, the workshop offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The cost is $40 for professionals and parents and $10 for students. There is an additional fee of $20 for those pursuing CEUs. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Wi-Fi is available and attendees are to bring their own laptop. Registration forms are available online at museumofdisability.org. To register by phone with a credit card payment for more information, call 716-629-3626.  Established in 1998, the Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is the only one of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum’s exhibits, collections, publications, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.