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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Phyllis Mundy |
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Mundy receives Legislator of the Year Award for senior citizen advocacy
HARRISBURG, Dec. 12 – State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, today received the 2008 Legislator of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging for her advocacy, leadership and commitment to Pennsylvania’s senior citizens.
During the 2007-08 legislative session, Mundy authored several pieces of legislation addressing quality-of-care and health-care issues for the state's seniors, including a bill to update the state's Family Caregiver Program to help keep down increasingly expensive health-care costs for individuals who care for older family members.
Additionally, Mundy's committee held hearings and meetings to ensure proper oversight of the state's personal care homes, which serve as the prime residence and health-care source for thousands of older adults. She regularly works with the state departments of Aging and Public Welfare, elder service providers and law enforcement to gauge what policies her committee can examine to ensure Pennsylvanians age comfortably.
"In order to improve seniors' lives, all branches of state government, state agencies and county offices must work together to communicate what is lacking or needed in caring for our seniors," said Mundy, D-Luzerne. "It is an extremely broad field but I strive to do my part each and every day.
"I am humbled that I was selected as a recipient of this award, and look forward to continuing to work in the best interest of seniors, their families and caregivers," she said.
Mundy's constituent service office is well-stocked with informational brochures for anyone looking for assistance with their own care or that of a loved one or friend. Help is available on programs and services including the PACE/PACENET program; Own Your Future toolkit for long-term care planning; contact information for the SeniorLAW helpline, which connects seniors with free legal advice; and help in reporting elder abuse.
The state’s 52 area agencies on aging serve nearly 500,000 people each year, providing support and services that make it possible for seniors to maximize their independence and live with dignity in their homes and communities. Mundy was nominated for the award by the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming counties.
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