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Senior Advocates in the News

Seniors

Advocate wants seniors treated with dignity.

Many older adults need government assistance, medical help, or financial advice, but are too independent minded to go to a senior center to find out how to go about getting the help they need, according to Annette Fisher, a certified senior advisor. Fisher has found a way to get older people the assistance they need while at the same time respecting their need for privacy and their desire to live out their remaining years with dignity. She is the founder of the group People Empowering Senior’s Independence and Dignity, or PESID. “Senior centers offer great resource help. But there are some seniors who won’t go to a senior center, Fisher said. “They think senior centers are like nursing homes.
That’s not true, but it’s hard to convince people that their idea is wrong.” PESID is a private networking group operated by Golden Maturity, an advertising agency owned by Fisher. It is composed of 200 members including senior citizens, business owners, and representatives of health
care agencies, financial firms, and law offices who meet once a month to share information and ideas on services for older adults. The seniors gain the information they need and the professionals get a chance to network.

“I like to think of it as a neutral zone,” Fisher said. “The idea is to bring seniors together with people who know about the services and can answer questions. Seniors could come and ask questions without feeling obligated to sign up for a particular service. They aren’t pressured.” Fisher, Certified Senior Advisor and Mortgage Processor at Fort Funding Corp., Said her members are extremely knowledgeable about matters of interest to senior citizens. “If a senior has a question about Section 8 Housing, or Medicare, someone in the group knows who to call. We have representatives of law firms that specialize in estate planning. If seniors have questions about that, they can help,” she said. .

“We also have patient advocates. A lot of people get nervous talking to a doctor. It’s good to have somebody helping you and advocating on your behalf,” Fisher said. PESID is also a networking tool for professionals who work with seniors, she said. “I felt people needed a way to connect with other professionals.” Fisher said she is passionate about helping senior citizens remain living in their homes in comfortable surroundings in their later years. PESID members who are experts in home safety are available to come to the home of an older adult and assess whether there are trip hazards or other dangers. When PESID was founded in March 2010, “we had only a couple of people,”Fisher said. “But now it has grown.”

Fisher is also co-author of an informational book for older adults called, “Seniors, Get Your Ducks In A Row.” The book, which will be published in late 2014, is a group effort by Fisher and her co-authors Marie Sayour, Mary Maroney, Dr. Marla Loughran, Robert Howe and Debra Gross.’

President Elect for Women’s Council of Realtors Brooklyn

Annette will be awarded with The Third Avenue Merchants Pioneer Award for her Civic Service to the Bay Ridge Brooklyn Community in October of 2015.

Annette Fisher - a leader in senior social causes

annette fisher csa sres real estate broker brooklyn ny

As seen on Brooklyneagle.com

This year’s Civic Honorees are Anne Strafaci of Saint Patrick's Church; AnnetteFisher, a leader in senior social causes; local activist Kathy Khatari; Phillipa Morrish, a columnist for The Home Reporter and community activist; and Lisa Becker, outgoing president of the Bay Ridge Lawyer's Association and past Top Women in Business of Staten Island honoree.

“I think the Pioneer classes continue to reflect both a strong merchant base and the dedication to making business flourish along our commercial corridor,” said MTA President Bob Howe, “and our Civic Honorees of course reflect what we all know about Bay Ridge, that Bay Ridge wouldn't be the great place that it is without the people who volunteer.

Seniors rally to save senior centers

PESID in the new Brooklyn Daily Eagle March 2011

pesid in the news
Senior Empowerment Group Mobilizes To Save Centers by Harold Egeln Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Thank you Bay Ridge Eagle for your wonderful coverage, on the topic of the PESID meeting and the possible budget cuts on April 1, 2011. These cuts could cause 105 Senior Centers in NYC to be shut.

Senior Empowerment Group Mobilizes To Save Centers

by Harold Egeln (edit@brooklyneagle.net), published online 03-10-2011

Launches Campaign To Protest Gov. Cuomo’s Budget Cuts

By Harold Egeln
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

BAY RIDGE — A Brooklyn group for people and professionals who actively care for seniors and work for their empowerment launched a letter-writing and phone campaign to save senior centers threatened with closing under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new budget.

“To a senior at a center, their $1.25 daily meal is like winning a lottery ticket. Are we going to have to throw our seniors out on the street?” said Annette Fisher, a certified senior advisor, and founder of People Empowering Seniors Independence and Dignity (PESID).

She led a discussion of the PESID meetup group (www.pesid.com) at the UNO Chicago Grill in Bay Ridge on Tuesday. The meeting was called in response to Cuomo’s proposal to close 105 centers in the city, 29 of which are in Brooklyn. PESID has a total membership of 66, and membership is free.