Rochester, NY – Assemblymember Sarah Clark (AD-136) partnered with Lifespan to host the first-ever Empowered Aging Forum at Monroe Community College. The forum connected local community residents with experts across the field of aging, providing vital knowledge at no cost to attendees.

Over the course of the five-hour forum there were four sessions about different important issues that people and families face throughout the aging process. Topics include the basics of estate planning, what you should know before speaking with a funeral director, the basics of palliative care, and Medicaid planning for long-term care. Nearly 200 people attended from communities across the Rochester area.

Throughout the event participants were able to engage with experts and ask questions about the legal, financial, and health decisions that are faced in the aging process. The goal of the event was to inform people and encourage them to have conversations and make plans about their own and their loved ones' aging journeys.

Assemblymember Sarah Clark (AD- 136) said, “With over 25% of our Monroe County residents over the age of 60, the importance of talking about how we age and prepare for the future is critical. Conversations around this topic can be hard because people and families are anxious, unsure, or simply do not have enough information. This weekend, in partnership with Lifespan, I hosted the first ever Empowered Aging Forum. Our goal was to make these important aging conversations more accessible for everyone. We were honored to host a packed house to help ensure more families prepare for the future and make important decisions before a crisis happens.”

Ann Marie Cook, Lifespan CEO said, “All too often we at Lifespan see the results of crises which occur when something goes wrong and there isn’t a plan. Providing this type of education about legal, financial and health choices – choices available to us as we age- is vital.”