National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
SALUTE TO LEADERS IN AGING

and the 2006 winners are...

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Dr. Carroll Estes ; University of San Francisco , CA

Dr. Carroll L. Estes, the founding and former Director of the Institute for Health and Aging at the University of California , San Francisco (UCSF) will receive the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award for her continuing work on long term care, mental health services, Social Security and Medicare.

Dr. Estes is considered one of America 's most knowledgeable scholars in the area of senior care. She is a Professor of Sociology at UCSF and was Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing . She is co-founder of Concerned Scientists in Aging and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. She has authored and co-authored eight books and written more than 150 scientific articles and book chapters.

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Lou Glasse; Poughkeepsie , N.Y.

Lou Glasse is probably best known as the former president and current president emerita of OWL, the Older Women's League. But her dedicated service to America 's seniors began long before her work with OWL and it continues today. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is honored to recognize her as a Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2006.

Glasse's resume is long and impressive. In addition to working on behalf of senior women at OWL,
Glass has also c haired the Task Force on Women for the Gerontological Society of America and is a former Director of the New York State Office for the Aging. Glasse has been a passionate advocate for support of our Social Security and Medicare programs. Her compassion, intelligence and political skills have made her a strong advocate for seniors and senior women in particular.

Distinguished Senior Award:
Murray Stein; Allen , TX

Murray Stein is an artist, activist, community leader and volunteer extraordinaire. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is honored to recognize him as our Distinguished Seniors Award winner for 2006.

Stein was nominated for this prestigious national recognition for his decades of work with art students in the Montgomery County Maryland public schools; his invaluable volunteer work at the Rockville, Maryland Senior Center; 13 years service on Maryland's Senior Citizens Commission and his work to create the Senior Artists Alliance, a group of over 100 artists over the age of 65. Mr. Stein has been called a "living treasure" for his commitment to his community, young and old alike.

Service to Seniors Award-Individual:
Amanda Jones; Evanston Police Department, Evanston , IL

Evanston 's elderly community knows Amanda Jones is the "go to person" in the local police department. For 7 years the Seniors on Safety program she created in Evanston has been providing everything from security surveys to victim assistance for Evanston 's ten thousand senior citizens. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is honored to recognize Amanda Jones as our Service to Seniors-Individual Award winner for 2006.

As a part-time employee, with no additional staff, Jones has created an outreach program for Evanston seniors that is the envy of police departments nationwide. These are just some of the services provided by the Seniors on Safety program: education programs on elder abuse, identity theft and home safety, training for law enforcement on elder issues, free security surveys for seniors, referrals and information for seniors needing social services and the Senior Victim Assistance Team.

Service to Seniors Award-Program:
Palliative Care & Bereavement Program; Van Nuys , CA

The Valley Presbyterian Hospital 's Palliative Care & Bereavement Service (PCBS) eases the pain and grief facing thousands of dying patients and their families each year. By minimizing the physical and emotion suffering facing dying patients, the dedicated staff of PCBS helps patients live, rather than die, one day at a time. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is honored to recognize this program as our Service to Seniors-Program Award winner for 2006.

Terminally ill patients want a simpler, more compassionate and dignified death. That, coupled with the promise of hospital cost-containment through shorter stays, demands a new approach to pain management, hospice and bereavement issues. With compassion and commitment, PCBS provides education for medical professionals, pain management support and emotional counseling for patients and their families. Thanks to PCBS thousands of Van Nuys citizens don't have to face the death of a loved one alone.

Service to Seniors Award-Organization:
Thanks Mom & Dad Fund®; Atlanta, GA

The Thanks Mom & Dad Fund® was created to honor parents, grandparents and mentors while also supporting senior programs and services in the 10 county metropolitan Atlanta region. From homecare programs to transportation services, the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund has helped many worthy senior organizations throughout the Atlanta area. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is honored to recognize the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund® as our Service to Seniors-Organization Award winner for 2006.

Atlanta area residents have a unique way to honor someone by providing a memorial or special gift to the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund. The money donated to the fund in their loved one's name supports many critical aging programs at senior centers, adult day care centers and information and referral services. The Thanks Mom & Dad Fund® serves two wonderful goals; improving the quality of life for older adults and recognizing the value of those who've come before us.

Honorable Mentions

Service to Seniors Individual - Honorable Mention
Ellen Greenberg

As the Director of Information Service for the Jewish Council for the Aging in Rockville Maryland , Ellen Greenberg has spent decades serving the area's seniors and their families.  In 1985, Ellen began compiling a housing resource directory, creating what is now one of the most comprehensive information resource services for seniors in the entire Washington region.  Ellen, her staff and 50 volunteers now answer more than 18-thousand inquiries a year.  For her vision, tenacity and devotion to seniors throughout the Washington area we are proud to present Ellen Greenberg the Service to Seniors Individual - Honorable Mention.

Distinguished Seniors - Honorable Mention
Betty Kihldal

As a result of Betty Kihldal's tireless commitment to her Northeast Texas community, many seniors have received low-cost prescription drug assistance, children and adults with developmental disabilities have received training and counseling, a 50 unit senior housing property has been proposed and a county-wide meals program has expanded and thrived. The National Committee is honored to present the Distinguished Seniors - Honorable Mention to one of the nation's busiest and most successful volunteers.

Service to Seniors Organization - Honorable Mention
Baltimore County Department of Aging's Medicare Prescription Drug Outreach Campaign

In Maryland , the Baltimore County Department of Aging's Medicare Prescription Drug Outreach Campaign receives the National Committee's Service to Seniors Organization - Honorable Mention. The campaign led over 180 sessions and distributed more than 1 million copies of a benefit guide throughout the county.  From Senior Expos to nursing homes, their counselors offered answers to a diverse senior population and their caregivers. The BCDA understood how critically important education and outreach would be in phasing in this new benefit for seniors.  Under the direction of Arnold Eppel, BCDA is recognized as a leader in innovative approaches to senior services.  They received the National Committee's 2005 Service to Seniors Organization Award for their "Taking Care of Mom and Dad" caregiver program.

Service to Seniors Program - Honorable Mention
MiCafe

The National Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the board of directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing a secure retirement for all Americans.