Guests:
Andrea Fettinger is the Interim Director of the Fulton County Office for Aging. She has been employed by the Agency for 18+ years, most recently as the Coordinator of Services, being appointed Interim Director in December 2005. Ms. Fettinger has significant experience in the field of gerontology and human services, having worked as a Social Worker at the Central Assessment and Placement Unit and for the Fulton Co. Nursing Service. Andrea also has significant experience in coordinating the Health Insurance Information and Counseling & Assistance Program at the Fulton Co. Office for Aging. She is a member of the Long Term Care Council, the Professional Advisory Councils of Community Health Center and Fulton Co. Nursing Service, and the local Healthy Women's Partnership, among others.

Rose Golden, Albany County Health Insurance Information Counseling Assistance Program (HIICAP) Coordinator. Ms. Golden is currently coordinating all Medicare Part D efforts for the Albany County Department for Aging and is responsible for recruiting and training Medicare Part D volunteers in Schenectady County for the Department of Senior and Long Term Care Services.

John T. McDonald III, Vice President and Co-owner Marra's Pharmacy, Inc., located in Cohoes. He is also the Mayor of the City of Cohoes.

Eve Kintner, SUNY Center for Excellence in Aging Services & author of the workbook, "Informed Choices: A Consumers Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage". Eve Kintner is the project coordinator of the Medicare Part D Training and Education Initiative for the SUNY Center for Excellence in Aging Services.  She has been instrumental in the outreach and direct assistance to seniors in Rensselaer and Schenectady counties. 

William Koester, Manager of Schenectady County Department of Senior and Long Term Care Services. Mr. Koester served on the staff of the New York State Office for the Aging for 16 years, developing and coordinating community-based programs for New York State's senior population, and as the Legislative Liaison to the State Legislature. He left the Office for the Aging to become the Executive Assistant to the New York State Superintendent if Insurance, responsible for State Legislative Affairs. In 1994 Mr. Koester accepted the position of Director of Government Affairs for the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, representing the home care industry in New York State. Mr. Koester is currently the Manager of Schenectady County's Department of Senior and Long Term Care Services, a new Department in the County that integrates services, benefits, and programs to assist the elderly and disabled populations. He is leading the County in an effort to ensure that seniors, the disabled, and their caregivers have access to reliable information, capable guidance, and quality services for long term care.