Massena, NY, Sep 19, 2012 — You might think that selling custom made gravestones would be a little uncomfortable at a gathering of senior citizens. But that's exactly what one man was doing at the recent Seniorama in Massena, and he's today's Heard Up North.  Go to full article

Elizabethtown, NY, Jun 04, 2012 — On Saturday more than a hundred people rallied at the Horace Nye nursing home in Elizabethtown. Essex County supervisors may vote as early as tomorrow to privatize the home, as a cost-cutting measure. Opponents say the home is a vital service provided by the county.

As Brian Mann reports, counties across the North Country and across New York state have been scrambling to privatize care for the elderly.  Go to full article

Fulton, NY, Oct 15, 2010 — It's a little over two weeks until Election Day. David Sommerstein went to the Senior Health and Information Fair in Fulton, in Oswego County, to ask senior citizens what's on their minds with the mid-term election approaching. Here's what some of them said.  Go to full article

Elizabethtown, NY, May 28, 2010 — This week, county leaders from across New York state met to discuss the future of nursing homes run by local governments. In many counties, the homes provide crucial care to elderly and sick residents. But the facilities are costing taxpayers millions of dollars to operate.

The Horace Nye home in Elizabethtown is expected to lose close to $2 million this year. As Brian Mann reports, a growing number of local leaders say those costs are too high at a time when property taxes are soaring.  Go to full article

Alexandria Bay, NY, Feb 22, 2010 — The River Hospital in Alexandria Bay is closing its 27-bed nursing home, the only one in the Thousand Islands. Officials say the home has been losing money and threatened to bring down the hospital itself. 44 people will lose their jobs. Many community members say they were never given a chance to help keep the home open, like they did with the hospital several years ago. They're fighting to keep the home open for their elders, many of whom have never lived outside the Thousand Islands region. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jul 28, 2009 — Last week, some North Country teenagers and senior citizens gathered to talk about life and labor in hard times. It's part of a summer workshop at NCPR called Common Wealth, Common Wisdom. We'll be hearing and seeing more from them over the next few weeks. For today, teens and seniors asked each other to tell stories about their hands.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 07, 2009 — St. lawrence County is starting a new public transit route, bussing people between Gouverneur and Watertown. Missing links connecting the towns and villages of the rural North Country have long been considered an obstacle to economic development in the region. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Jul 08, 2008 — A key issue left hanging at the close of the 2008 legislative session was reform of Industrial Development Agencies across the state. As Karen DeWitt reports, not for profit groups that run nursing homes and senior citizens centers say that's left them in limbo, unable to borrow money and complete $2 billion dollars worth of projects.  Go to full article

May 15, 2006 — Like many people of a certain age, commentator Paul Willcott is responsible for the care and nurturing of a parent in the last years of a long life. He's been writing down occasional reflections on this difficult time.  Go to full article

Aug 12, 2005 — The new prescription drug plan from Medicare means big changes in the way senior citizens and people with disabilities pay for drugs. Medicare administrator Dr. Mark McClellan says the plan will save members an average of $1300 a year. There are lots of numbers floating around, and that's just the start of confusion that has advocates for the elderly and disabled very worried. The plan is available through private insurance companies. Details won't be available till October. People can't sign up for the new plan till November. They'll have till next May to enroll. There's already a full-court press to get the word out. Martha Foley talked with Sheryl Stone of the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging, and Carlton Doane, a volunteer helping with public education.  Go to full article