Seniors are Top Priority for 2018 Legislation
In any city, county or municipality there are only two vulnerable populations; the very young and the very old. Fortunately, consistently there has been adequate funding nationally to meet the needs of our children; however, unfortunately, adequate funding nationally to meet the needs of our aging population has decreased. In the legislative agenda, I requested additional funding in the 2018 session to be allocated for Home and Community Based Services for Georgia’s Senior population.
On October 29 CO-AGE (The Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly) held a meeting in Athens. The meeting was organized to alert the public to the increasing needs of the senior population in Georgia.
CO-AGE reported that Georgia has the 10th fastest growing 85 and over population in the United States and by 2020, one fifth of Georgians will be age 60 or older. These statistics highlight the need for additional funding for organizations that provide services to our senior citizens. These services are a “WIN-WIN” because they enable seniors to live longer independently in their homes which saves the tax payer’s dollars.
I will be a champion for these crucial programs because I believe increased and sustained funding is extremely necessary to continue providing assistance to our increasing senior population. Because I know that the only way to effect change is to get involved, I organized a coalition of senior citizens, caretakers and citizens who are concerned about the dwindling funding for senior services, and we are meeting every other month in Columbus at the River Valley Regional Commission Area Agency On Aging located at 701 Front Avenue here in Columbus Georgia. We are actively contacting our State and Federal Legislators to continue funding all of the programs that senior citizens need to maintain their quality of life.
The River Valley Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging is an organization that provides a number of very important services to our seniors in a 16-county area. The counties covered by the agency are: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Quitman, Muscogee, Randolph, Stewart, Schley, Talbot, Taylor, Sumter, and Webster.
This agency has assumed the responsibility to both assess the needs of the community which include the senior population and their caregivers and also to devise an ongoing plan to address those specific needs. The Area Agency on Aging provides the Aging and Disability Resource Connections which is the “Gateway” to both Medicaid and Non-Medicaid resources that the community offers.
A list of the various services include: CCSP Services, a Medicaid waiver program available to clients age 60 and above. There are a variety of services offered for seniors who cannot live independently or require aid with activities of daily living such as: bathing, clothing, eating etc.
Home and Community-Based Services Program
(HCBS)- This program is available to elderly persons aged 60 and above regardless of Medicaid eligibility. It provides support to older Georgians so that they may remain independent and self- sufficient. This service is available in all sixteen (16) counties. Under this program are included the following:
Congregate Meals:
Congregate meals are available five (5) days a week, Monday through Friday and no less than 250 days per year at all twelve (12) Senior Centers. Congregate meals are served to individuals 60 and over and their spouses, regardless of age. This program provides daily nutritious meals in a group setting to promote better health and reduce isolation. This service is available in twelve (12) of our sixteen counties.
Home Delivered Meals-
Home delivered meals otherwise known as ‘Meals on Wheels’ are nutritious meals provided to persons 60 and older who are frail and homebound because of illness, physical mental impairment or are isolated and unable to cook for themselves. The program provides a combination of hot, cold and frozen meals. Home delivered meals are provided once a day, five days per week and no less than 250 days per year. This service is available in all sixteen (16) counties.
Homemaker-
This service provides assistance to frail older persons by providing homemaker aides to perform activities such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, errands, shopping, etc. This service is available in all sixteen (16) counties.
Personal Care
This service provides hands on assistance to persons having difficulties with personal care needs such as dressing, toileting, transferring in/out of bed, feeding, bathing etc. This service is available in all sixteen, (16) counties.
Respite Care Services
This service provides support to caregivers who are providing care for their loved ones at home. Assistance is provided to caregivers who are caring for an impaired aging loved one by allowing them a brief period of rest or relief from their caregiving duties. This service is available in all sixteen (16) counties.
Senior Recreation/Senior Centers-
This service is provided at twelve (12) senior centers by providing socialization and activities in exercises, games, arts and crafts etc. …… health wellness and nutritional programs. ……this program also offers opportunities to meet new friends and fellowship with peers.
There are three undeniable realities to why continued funding for these programs is necessary:
- These programs allow seniors to maintain their quality of life and to live independently in their homes.
- It costs $1,849/senior to receive HCBS services; $4,398/senior/for CCSP services BUT!!!! $20,499/senior for nursing home care. Therefore it’s a “NO BRAINER” that supporting seniors to stay in their homes is a win for seniors and a win for the state as far as saving taxpayer dollars.
- If you are blessed with longevity, you may need these crucial services one day. Please contact your state and federal officials to emphasize the need for continued funding for these programs.
CO-AGE also is encouraging us to advocate for four additional initiatives:
ADRC Funding
When families need information on options to care for vulnerable loved ones, there is one place they can call, the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center (ADRC). Finding the right services can be challenging for those unfamiliar with programs in their community. ADRC is a coordinated system of partnering organizations that are dedicated to providing accurate information about publicly and privately financed long-term supports and services. The increase in the older population and the end of two federal grants have created a crisis in funding for the ADRC. Funding of $4 million would strengthen the ADRC statewide network by adding capacity to meet the growing demand for crucial information.
Abuser Registry to Prevent Abuse
Elder abuse is an iceberg crime. Most of it is hidden from view, even though estimates are that 10% of Georgia’s elderly and disabled adults are victims of abuse and/or financial exploitation. To fight this rising crime, we have toughened state laws and are training law enforcement on their use. Now it is time for the next step, to identify abusers before they can strike again. It is time to create an abuser Registry in Georgia to help prevent the hiring of caregivers with a known history of abusing vulnerable adults. Since 2010 criminal charges of abuse having increased over 550%
Personal Care Home Requirements
Many older and disabled Georgians live in Personal Care Homes. When these homes do not follow the law or the rules for providing services, residents are vulnerable. When these threats to safety exist, the fines and sanctions that can be imposed are limited and do not vary according to the size of the home. In order to strengthen compliance to better protect Personal Care Home residents, Georgia needs more options for sanctions.
Medicaid Funded Assisted Living
Affordable housing is scarce for those older Georgians needing assisted living to help with activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing and dressing. While Medicaid funding is available to qualified seniors for some personal services, that funding is limited and does not cover housing expenses. Often the result is that low-income older adults who can no longer remain in their homes independently end up in costly Medicaid nursing home beds. Georgia should explore creative solutions for enabling supportive living facilities that can provide residents with a degree of privacy and independence while emphasizing health, safety and wellness. Other states offer some level of assisted living through their Medicaid programs and, in the process, relieve financial pressure on their state Medicaid budgets.
Open enrollment for Medicare starts Oct 15th – Dec 7th.
Cheryl Maddox is the Georgia Cares Coordinator and she can be reached at 1-866-552-4464. Cheryl is the expert when it comes to answering any questions you may have concerning your Medicare plans. This is a very important time if you want to change to a plan that more closely fits your specific health needs.
One final word to seniors, God has given us the gift of longevity, in order for us to retain the services we may need to maintain our quality of life, we must get involved. If you would like to be a part of this coalition, please call me at 7064420249, email Pops9784@aol.com or Pops9784@gmail.com or Katie Howard The River Valley Regional Commission Area Agency On aging Manager at 7062562928 or howard@rivervalleyrcaaa.org.
Until next time,
Pops