Action Alert: Reauthorize OAA!

 

December 15, 2011 Send a loud message: "We Must Reauthorize the Older Americans Act!" The Older Americans' Act (OAA) is supposed to be reauthorized in 2011 but reauthorization has yet to happen.  With every day that passes the future of critical programs that serve seniors is more and more uncertain.   Send a message to your member(s) of Congress and tell them we must reauthorize the OAA. Take action now. Since 1965, the OAA has provided services and supports that improve seniors' lives whether they are in their own homes or nursing homes. These include services such as meals, health programs, and transportation that keep older adults in their homes; ombudsman program services that protect older adults in long- term care facilities; and elder prevention and legal services that protect seniors no matter where they live.  Read more about OAA here. You have received this e-mail through your subscription to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care's e-mail list. Recipients of this email include all state long-term care ombudsmen, Consumer Voice members, Action Network members and other individuals who have subscribed to our e-mail list If you did not subscribe or would no longer like to receive e-mail updates, unsubscribe here. National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care - 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 425 - Washington, DC 20036 - telephone: (202) 332-2275 - fax: (202) 332-2949 - info@theconsumervioce.org

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR RECEIPTS - THIS IS IMPORTANT

Subject:  PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR RECEIPTS - THIS IS IMPORTANT
 
  
 WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON COMING UP THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG!!!!!
 
 
    CHECK  YOUR  RECEIPTS BEFORE LEAVING ANY CASHIER'S   STATION!!!!!
 
THIS   COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
 
 
    
It happened at Wal-Mart (Supercenter Store   #1279,
 10411 N Freeway 45, Houston, TX  77037 a  month ago.
 
 I bought a bunch of  stuff,  over $150, & I glanced at my receipt as  the  cashier was handing me  the bags. I  saw  a  cash-back of $40. I told her I   didn't request a cash  back & to delete  it.
 
 She said  I'd  have to take the $40  because she  couldn't  delete it. I told her to call a   supervisor.
 
 Supervisor came & said  I'd  have to take it!  I said NO! Taking the  $40  would be a cash advance against my  Discover &  I wasn't paying interest on  a cash advance!!!!!  If they couldn't delete  it then they would have to  delete  the whole order.
 
 So the   supervisor had the cashier delete the whole  order  & re-scan everything!
 
 The  second time I  looked at the electronic pad  before I signed &  a cash-back of $20  popped up. At that point I told  the cashier  & she deleted it.
 
 The  total came  out right. The cashier agreed  that  the electronic pad must be  defective.  (yeah, right!)
 
 Obviously  the cashier knew  the electronic pad wasn't  defective because she  NEVER offered me the  $40 at the beginning.  
 
 Can  you imagine how many people went  through before  me & at the end of her  shift  how  much money she   pocketed?
 
Just  to alert everyone. My  coworker went to Milford , DE Wal-Mart  last  week.
 She had her items rung up by the cashier. The cashier hurried her along and didn't give her a receipt.  
 
 She asked the cashier  for a receipt and  the cashier was annoyed and gave  it to her.
 My coworker didn't look at her  receipt until later that night. The  receipt  showed that she asked for $20  cash back. SHE DID NOT ASK FOR CASH BACK!
 
My coworker called Wal-Mart who investigated but could not see the cashier pocket the money. She then called her niece who works for the bank and her niece told her  This is a new scam. The cashier will key in that you asked for cash back and then hand it to her friend who is the next person in line.
 
 Please,  please,  please check your receipts right away when  using  credit or debit  cards!
  
 This is  NOT  limited to Wal-Mart, although they are the  largest  retailer so they have the most incidents.
 
 I am  adding  to this....My husband and I were in  Wal-Mart  North Salisbury and paying with a  credit  card.  When my husband went to  sign  the credit card signer, he just happened  to  notice there was a $20 cash back added. He  told  the cashier that he did not ask nor want cash  back and she said this machine  has been messing up  and she canceled it.
 We didn't think anything of it until we read this email.
 
 I  wonder how many "seniors" have  been, or will be, "stung" by this one????  
 
 

THIS SCAM CAN BE DONE  ANYWHERE,  AT ANY RETAIL OR WHOLESALE LOCATION!!!
 
 BEFORE LEAVING THE CASHIER'S STATION!!!!!
 CHECK YOUR RECEIPT
 BEFORE  LEAVING  THE STAND. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE DO JUST THAT. NOW I'LL  START!
 

PASS THIS ON TO  YOUR FRIENDS, KIDS,  LOVED  ONES    
 
 

 

 

 

 

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State errs in taking homes | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com

Good article on the estate recovery plan implemented in MI.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111204/OPINION02/112040479/State-errs-taking-homes?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinions%7Cs

 

National Memory Screening Day

 

Free Memory Screenings!!

 

Please join Senior Helpers and Thompson Pharmacy on November 15, 2011 for National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.  Take advantage of free, confidential memory screenings and pick up free educational materials about memory concerns, dementia, care giving and successful aging.  Walk ins are welcome and light refreshments will be provided.

 

Location:    Thompson Pharmacy  - 324 S Union Street, Traverse City      

Time:   10:00-2:00

For information, call:  231-933-6600  

 

Memory screenings are a significant first step toward finding out if a person may have a memory problem. Memory problems could be caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other medical conditions. A memory screening is not used to diagnose any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.

 

Questions? Concerns? Visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org, or call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484.

 

We look forward to seeing you on November 15^th!

 

Erin Simon

 

415 S. Elmwood Ave. |Suite A | Traverse City, MI 49684

O:  231.933.6600 | M:  231.632.7472 | F:  231.933.6190

E-mail:  esimon@seniorhelpers.com

 

 

 

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NAPIS Report

The 2010 NAPIS report is now available online at

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/miseniors/NAPIS-Report-2010_356496_7.pdf

The statistics will be very useful to those who serve the aging.

 

Mike Sheehan
Commission on Services to the Aging

Legislative Report from CSA

Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging

Deputy Director Peggy Brey brought the commission up to date on several items of interest to the senior service sector.

·      Governor Snyder has appointed Kari Sederburg as Director of the Office of Services to the Aging. [Sederburg, of Lansing, currently serves as the director of public policy for the Michigan Nonprofit Association where she leads the organization in advocacy efforts. She previously served as vice president of marketing and communications for Gerontology Network in Grand Rapids, a service provider that works to enhance the quality of life and promote the independence of older adults. In this role, she oversaw all communications, advocacy and development matters for the organization. Sederburg also served as senior account executive for The Rossman Group. She earned a bachelor's degree in business from Ferris State University and a master's degree in public administration with a focus on aging policy and state budgeting from Ohio University.]

·      An important White Paper is being prepared that will discuss health care and wellness, with a significant component devoted to the aging population.

·      A bipartisan elder abuse bills package is on its way to installation.

·      With some exceptions, the OSA budget has retained 2010 levels.

·      The Administration on Aging will be giving Michigan an enhanced Aging Disability/Alzheimer's grant.

The Commission approved the following funding  proposals:

·      Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) allocations totaling $2,980,622. The program provides part-time employment and training opportunities for low-income older adults, 55 years of age or older, at community service agencies. [Of interest to Region X, $95,496,00 goes to AAANWM.]

·      Emergency Preparedness Equipment Purchase grant in the amount of $100,000. The money will be used to purchase rugged computer laptops and radio communication equipment for distribution to all 16 AAAs to be used during their disaster preparedness/disaster response activities.

·      Grants to waiver agents for the "Building Training . . . Building Quality" project in the amount of $2.03 million. The three-year grant comes from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration, and is to be used to train personal care and home-care aides.  [Of interest to Region X, AAANWM will receive $76,011.]

·      Grant agreement with Michigan Disability Rights Coalition in the amount of $165,305. The funds will be used to pay for Money Follows the Person (MFP) Option C Advocacy Services for people who are preparing to leave or have recently left nursing homes to return to the community with services in their own homes, Homes for the Aged, and Adult Foster Care Homes.

This was the annual joint meeting with the State Advisory Council on Aging, which presented its 2010 report to the Commission on Services to the Aging. Their focus had been on older adults and technology. Because of the subject's complexity and broad scope, both sides agreed to extend and refine the charge for the coming year. There will be three components:

          (1) There will be a survey to determine how SAC and CSA members
                use technology. The survey may be expanded to other groups,
                such as senior center attendees and AAA policy/advisory board
                members.

          (2)  SAC will examine the older adult/service system interface,

                focusing on the aging network's response to the digital divide.

·      Are agencies pushing older adults to use computers and other technology?

·      What about those who refuse to use modern technology?

·      What are the available person-centered formats?

·      From the telephone to the web site: what do people want?

·      What gets the hits on the MiSeniors web site? 

          (3)   Reintroduction of previous SAC research on assistive technology.

Special note to Region X:  The State Advisory Council and the Commission on Services to the Aging will both have openings in the next few months. Please watch for OSA calls for membership and application notices and fill them out promptly (if you are interested) to ensure that northern Michigan has stronger representation.  If you are feeling aggressive, contact Carol Stangel for SAC applications (517-373-4093) or Carol Dye for CSA applications (517-373-8268). Alternatively—and perhaps better—you may write to either name listed above at  P.O. Box 30676,  Lansing, MI 48909-8176 .

Submitted by Commissioner Michael J. Sheehan

Commission on Services to the Aging

Reminder: the October 21, 2011, Commission on Services to the Aging meeting will take place in Traverse City. It would be great if BASA members and concerned senior citizens could pack that meeting, making it the best-attended of all time. Details later.

 

C.L.A.S.S. Act and Long Term Care

An invite for anyone around the country to hear.

 

 

 

Welcome,

 

If there is anyone that has ever considered or if you know anyone

that should consider to have long term care and wanted

to hear how it works, now is the time.

You will hear how the product compares to the coming

Government Plan called the C.L.A.S.S.  Act that most

people, if you didn’t know, will be automatically enrolled in

from ages 18-65 unless you opt out. Be ready, be informed.

HR especially needs to hear this.

 

 Friday, June 3 at 12:00 noon WLJN 89.9 FM and streaming

at www.wljn.com  (use blinking “Listen Live” icon)

will be an educational radio show “Breaking Free” on Long Term Care and the

C.L.A.S.S. Act, a long term care plan inside the National Health Care Plan.

 

Following the radio show, 2pm and 5pm will be a live seminar.  We will

have one in Lake Leelanau Health Department building and one in Traverse City.

 

 More information available for the radio show and seminar at

 

www. WLJN.com

info@wljn.com or 946-1400

 

lorne.dickinsonjr@gmail.com,

631-2015.  RSVP limited seating.

 

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Michigan State budget news....

Final decisions on the Department of Community Health budget for FY 2012 

(beg. October 1, 2011) were made yesterday and there was both good and 

bad news:

The good news is that the previously proposed cuts to the Office of 

Services to the Aging budget for  nutrition, senior volunteer, and other 

programs will not go into effect.  This is especially fortunate since 

OSA has been cut repeatedly in recent years and area agencies on aging 

would have had great difficulty absorbing further reductions in 

funding.  Also, instead of flat funding for the MI Choice Home and 

Community Based Waiver program as the Governor had proposed, the 

Conference Committee approved approximately $24 million in additional 

funding, presumably to fund the additional nursing home transitions DCH 

has planned.

The bad news is that two of the Governor's proposed cuts were adopted by 

the conference committee: there is no funding for the Michigan Quality 

Community Care Council which maintains a registry to match Home Help  

consumers find suitable Home Help providers.  In addition, Home Help 

consumers who need chore services only  (but not personal care services) 

will be denied services as of October 1.   The Center for Civil Justice 

and the Michigan Poverty Law Program have advised the Department that 

denying chore services to this population while still providing them to 

individuals who need personal care services is a violation of federal 

law.  The Department has referred the matter to its lawyers but does not 

appear to have made a final decision on whether the Department can 

proceed with terminating services to these Home Help consumers.

-- 

Alison E. Hirschel

Elder Law Attorney

Michigan Poverty Law Program

3490 Belle Chase Way, Suite 50

Lansing, MI 48911

Phone: (517) 394-2985 x 231

Fax: (517) 394-4276

www.mplp.org

 

Welcome to the 26th Annual Parkinson's Summer Forum

Mark you calendar and make your reservations for the 26th Annual Parkinson's Summer Forum Thursday June 2, at the Hagerty Conference Center. Registration is due before May 25  for $25.00 after that date Late Fee is $40.00.   Flyer is available at the Senior Expo or go on line www.gtaparkinsonsgroup.org to view the Flyer and make reservations. Daniel Weintraub, M.D. will be the keynote speaker: "Psychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: Assessment and Management" will his topic.   Maxine Meach Grand Traverse Parkinson's Support Group 10049 E. Grandview Ct. Traverse City, MI 49684-5307 Phone/Fax 231-947-1946 mmeach@sbcglobal.net www.gtaparkinsonsgroup.org

 

Senior Summit Save the Date

Save the date!

You are invited to attend

The 2011 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Summit
On Monday, August 15th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At Lansing Community College's West Campus

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided, and keynote
speakers will introduce topics
relevant to those who work with the Medicare population. Breakout
sessions will provide attendees
the opportunity to interact with value-added service providers.

The 2011 Senior Summit is a must for anyone who works with Michigan's
Medicare beneficiaries.
Invitees are staff from the Michigan Medicare/Medigap Assistance Program and
the Area Agency
on Aging, as well as from senior centers and senior living facilities. We
encourage coordinators,
counselors, directors, and other support staff who work closely with
Medicare recipients to attend.

Since this much anticipated event is still in its planning stages, we are
asking for discussion topic
suggestions. Please feel free to send us your ideas at any of the email
addresses below.

We are look forward to seeing you in August!

Sincerely,

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Marketing Consultants

John Dowsley Juliann Morelli
Rose Cook
jdowsley@bcbsm.com jmorelli@bcbsm.com
rcook@bcbsm.com

Advocacy Alert: Contact Congress on Drastic Budget Proposals

 

Contact Congress on Drastic Budget Proposals Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Discretionary Spending In the Mix   April 20, 2011   The budget proposal passed by the House of Representatives on April 14 would seriously undermine the Medicaid program, fundamentally change the way Medicare works and cap domestic discretionary spending at FY 2008 levels for the next five years.   n4a is deeply concerned about the effect of this budget proposal on older adults and caregivers, particularly the provisions that could undermine the ability of millions of older adults to age in place with dignity, health and independence.   We urge all AAAs and Title VI aging programs, as well as the local networks of leaders, providers and advocates you convene, to make clear to Congress that drastic cuts to the nation's safety net for frail and vulnerable older adults are not an appropriate starting point for the larger conversation about deficit reduction. Please share this Advocacy Alert widely and take action while Congress is on recess until the end of April.   Background As previously reported by n4a (April 14 Legislative Update), the House FY 2012 budget resolution, often referred to as the "Ryan Plan" after House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), includes an estimated cut of $1.4 billion in Medicaid by converting the program to a block grant and repealing the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Not including the repeal of ACA funding, the proposal would reduce Medicaid funding for the next ten years by a total of $771 billion, or a reduction of about 35 percent. If enacted, states would have the burden of limiting their programs to deal with the reduced federal support. The reductions made by the state could take the form of curtailing covered services, capping enrollment and imposing high premiums and co-payments on beneficiaries.   The Ryan Plan would also freeze non-security discretionary spending on programs such as the Older Americans Act, Section 202 and 811 housing, transportation and other social services programs at 2008 levels for the next five years.   Additionally, the plan would covert Medicare into a voucher program for those now age 55 and younger (beginning in 2022) and increase Medicare eligibility to age 67. Under the redesigned program beneficiaries would be provided with a Medicare payment to buy insurance from a list of guaranteed private coverage options, similar to the Part C Medicare Advantage benefit. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has predicted this proposal will increase the cost of health coverage for beneficiaries significantly. Budget Process Next Steps At this time there is no definite scenario for how and when Congress will consider the proposals built into the budget resolution. With the House and Senate highly unlikely to agree on a budget resolution, the next opportunity to address general spending caps is expected to be the federal debt ceiling legislation. Congress will have to consider legislation to raise the ceiling on the amount of debt the federal government can issue, currently set at $14.3 trillion. The federal government's debt is expected to reach that ceiling by May 16, and the Administration has stated that if the ceiling is not raised by July 18, it will be unable to make the payments on the existing debt. Unlike the budget resolution, the debt ceiling bill is "must pass" legislation.   It is expected that fiscal conservatives will refuse to support legislation to raise the debt ceiling unless it is accompanied by legislation requiring limits on federal spending. Possible limits on spending could take many forms, but most likely they will be general in nature and detailed proposals on Medicaid, Medicare and other affected programs will likely be addressed in separate legislation. Meanwhile, President Obama is pushing for bipartisan negotiations between the Administration and Congress, with the goal of reaching an agreement on the overall budget by June.   Advocacy Outlook The battle over cuts in Medicaid, Medicare and discretionary programs is likely to be prolonged, and involve a series of critical decisions and votes. It is important that the opponents of such proposals express their opposition early and often. Members of Congress need to be aware of the serious consequences to older adults and people with disabilities if drastic proposals are hastily adapted without thoughtful consideration of the short and long-term effects on the most vulnerable Americans.   Action Requested:   à Contact your Representatives and Senators to oppose proposals to block grant or cap spending under the Medicaid program. Use n4a's Talking Points for FY 2012 to make your case. (FY 2012 Budget Talking Points)   Take the time to localize what these harmful cuts would mean for the older adults and people with disabilities in your state and community.   STEP 1: Reach out to your Senators and Representatives. Attend any public events/town halls they are hosting and raise these issues and/or email their local and DC offices. (U.S. Capitol Switchboard = (202) 224-3121. Email = www.house.gov and www.senate.gov)   STEP 2: Reach out to your Representatives and Senators to invite them to Older Americans Month events you are hosting during May. This is a great opportunity to educate your elected officials about key programs your agency operates and the critical services you provide to their constituents.   STEP 3: Gather stories from your clients to share with legislators—putting faces on the facts is a powerful messaging tool. Share those stories and any feedback you receive as a result of your contacts with your Representatives and Senators with n4a policy staff. (www.n4a.org/advocacy/feedback/)   STEP 4: Ask other advocates to do the same! Urge colleagues, advisory board members, volunteers and clients to make call and write emails to their legislators, as well. If you have questions about this Advocacy Alert, please contact n4a's Public Policy and Legislative Affairs staff, Amy Gotwals and K.J. Hertz, at 202.872.0888 or agotwals@n4a.org, khertz@n4a.org.

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 872-0888 Fax:(202) 872-0057 To unsubscribe send email to webmaster@n4a.org

 

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URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR THE SENIOR COMPANION AND FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAMS!

Good Morning Everyone,

This is an urgent email to let everyone know that we just got word from OSA and after digging around, the news from LANSING is not good at all for Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs. 

The House of Representatives version of the 2012 Budget has us being totally eliminated that means no Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion and RSVP Programs.

The Senate version of the 2012 Budget Bill has us getting a 15% cut.

What I would like is for you to contact your local representatives and senators and ask them why they would want to go beyond what Governor Snyder had proposed and that was a 9% cut. Please help out in anyway you can! Write letters, call, fax and email. The urgency is there and this needs to be done by Monday afternoon.

Phil Potvin                517-373-1747   

Darwin Booher         517-373-1725

Howard Walker         517-373-2413

Bruce Rendon          517-373-3817

Wayne Schmidt       517-373-1766

Greg MacMaster       517-373-0829

Ray Franz                 517-373-0825

Frank Foster             517-373-2629

Take care and thank you for everything each of you have done on behalf of out programs!

Douglas Durand, Assistant Program Director

Senior Companion/Foster Grandparent Programs

421 S. Mitchell St.

Suite 2

Cadillac, MI 49601

231 775-6581

Fax: 231 775-5421

ddurand@catholichumanservices.org

 

 

Douglas Durand
Catholic Human Services, Inc.

 

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This document may contain information covered under the Privacy Act, 5 USC 552(a), and/or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (PL 104-191) and its various implementing regulations and must be protected in accordance with those provisions. Healthcare information is personal and sensitive and must be treated accordingly. If this correspondence contains healthcare information it is being provided to you after appropriate authorization from the patient or under circumstances that don't require patient authorization. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Redisclosure without additional patient consent or as permitted by law is prohibited. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality subjects you to application of appropriate sanction. If you have received this correspondence in error, please notify the sender at once and destroy any copies you have made.

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Please take the Community Needs Assessment

link http://survey.aacil.org/html/dnnm/dnnmsurvey.htm

 

Double click on the link above to get to the community needs assessment that Disability Network/ Northern Michigan is conducting.  All of the information that we receive will be shared so this is a good opportunity to gather information about our community that we can all use.  The unique aspect of the assessment is that it takes into account disability concerns in addition to the broad issues of community life. 

 

We are interested in receiving assessments from a broad range of folks, so please share this freely with your customers, friends, and family.  There are hard copies available and an accessible link is available as well – please contact me if you would like some hard copies on need an accessible link.

 

The assessment takes about 15 minutes to complete.  This assessment process will end at the end of April.

 

Thank you!

 

 

Jim Moore

 

Executive Director

Disability Network / Northern Michigan

333 East State Street

Traverse City, MI 49684

231.922.0903

www.disabilitynetwork-nmi.org

 

 

 

 

 

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Action Needed to save Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs

 

Good Monday Morning Everyone!

 

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

 

I just wanted to do a friendly email reminder to request your assistance in contacting Senator’s Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow today and to please voice your opinion to not cut Senior Corps (Senior Companion, Foster Grandparent and RSVP Programs) from the 2011 Budget.  Remember Senior Corps is under the umbrella of Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and that complete program was voted by the House of Representatives to be eliminated yet this year!

 

Everyone is asked to call their Senators AGAIN.  Please note that call-in volume is measured by those calling the toll-free call-in service at 855-877-3783 or 855-US-SERVE.  Please use this number only to call. You'll be patched directly through to your Senator. 

It is sufficient to simply call your Senator and say:  "I am calling to ask Senator Levin or Stabenow to support Senior Corps and vote NO on any proposal to eliminate funding for Senior Corps.”

 

 

On behalf of the Senior Volunteer Programs of NW Michigan, I really appreciate your support and action taken for our programs.

 

Take care,

 

Douglas Durand, Assistant Program Director

Senior Companion/Foster Grandparent Programs

421 S. Mitchell St.

Suite 2

Cadillac, MI 49601

231 775-6581

Fax: 231 775-5421

ddurand@catholichumanservices.org

 

 

URGENT ALERT: Oppose Historic Cuts to Senior Programs!

 

With very little doubt, there will be significant costs to the federal and state budgets that will arise out of these suggested cuts. Most legislators are unaware of the domino effect of these suggested cuts. The Senior Community Service Employment Program helps people obtain unsubsidized employment, making them taxpaying citizens. With this program eliminated, many of these individuals will be forced to obtain assistance through more costly federal and state support programs. The Senior Corps Programs utilize volunteers to assist in many care providing settings. Without these programs, higher cost programs will have to be utilized to keep people in their own homes, or, they will have to be moved into institutional care settings with significantly higher costs associated with the care provided in these settings. Supportive Housing programs for the Elderly also keep people out of significantly higher cost support settings.

 

These suggested program cuts will in the long term add to the federal and state deficits that exists, because the individual care needs will still be present, but it will be much more costly to provide the support and care without these valuable programs to assist.

 

Your advocacy and awareness of these issues is extremely important. Thank you!!  

03/2011 Legislative Updates

Michigan Association of Senior Centers

Three advocacy info items are attached.   One is a summary of elder care bills currently proposed in the Michigan House of Representatives.  Contact your local representative if you have questions or desire to have input on any of them.    Two other attachements are related to Older Michiganian Day.  This is an opportunity for you to get some of your seniors involved in communicating with the legislature on their issues.    Contact us here at MASC any time you think there is an issue we need to check out on behalf of seniors and senior centers.  One of our goals is to keep you informed on the issues and support you in your advocacy.    Elder Care bills in Mich House of Rep Older Michiganian Day flyer Older Michigan Day news article

 

URGENT-YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO SAVE THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM

Good Afternoon Everyone,

 

I wanted to provide you with an update on the Save Service efforts (Senior Companion Program), and to once again ask for your support and involvement.  

Last week, the Senate voted on two competing spending bills, H.R. 1 and a Senate Alternative. While both measures failed, it is clear Congress is deeply divided on the path forward.

Please note we now have very few working days left to make sure the final bill restores funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and its programs (Senior Companion Program).

 

I would like for you to let Senator’s Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow know how important the Senior Companion Program is to your agency/organization and especially how your clients/consumers benefit from the Senior Companion Program the Senior Companion volunteer!

 

So, on Tuesday, March 15, I am asking you to help us MAKE THE CALL to save service by flooding the lines to Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.

 

The phone number for Senator Carl Levin is: (202) 224-6221

 

The phone number for Senator Debbie Stabenow is: (202) 224-4822

 

Help us educate these two Senators about the value and cost-effectiveness of the Senior Companion Program!

 

One thing I do know is that without the Senior Companion Program, many older adults, organizations and communities will be the losers if the program is eliminated or drastically cut.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

Douglas Durand, Assistant Program Director

Senior Companion/Foster Grandparent Programs

421 S. Mitchell St.

Suite 2

Cadillac, MI 49601

231 775-6581

Fax: 231 775-5421

ddurand@catholichumanservices.org

the new Snyder Budget and how it impacts the older citizens of Michigan

Here’s some more information on the new Snyder Budget and how it impacts the older citizens of our state. Some info is new. See next posting too.

An atomic bomb hit Lansing this week . . . . just as Lieutenant Governor Calley predicted, with the release of Governor Snyder’s first budget plan on Thursday. 

After three years of cuts, the Office of Services to the Aging (OSA)  is again targeted for more cuts.  The Executive budget  for FY 2012 would cut $2.2 million; this comes on top of $10 million lost between FY 2009 and 2011.  The $2.2 million would come from community services ($1,025,500), nutrition ($791,000), Foster Grandparents ($201,000), RSVP ($56,400) and Senior Companion ($144,400).  OSA also receives federal funding, but cuts are also being discussed in D.C.   

   

Please sound your advocacy voice to convince Legislators to maintain funding for meals-on-wheels and other OSA services!  See the Advocacy Alert attached to this message for details.

Medicaid-funded long term care programs are a mixed bag.  For FY 2012, nursing homes would see a 2% increase in Medicaid ($35 million) and PACE programs would get 30% more ($7 million).  The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver would be maintained at the current level of $206 million.  But Michigan’s other major home and community-based program – Home Help – would be cut by $15 million (5%) next year.  The Governor also eliminates the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQC3) that runs a worker registry, does background checks, training and provides other supports for Home Help workers.   

AARP is voicing strong opposition to another portion of the Governor’s spending plan to raise revenues by taxing all public and private pensions, now totally or partially exempt from state income tax.  Right now, Michigan is one of the most retiree-friendly states in the nation in terms of income taxes.  It is estimated that 95% of older Michiganians 65+ pay no state income tax.  Other changes - the extra exemption for seniors would be eliminated, and the Homestead Property tax credit for those 65+ would be reduced.  Snyder would keep the total exemption on Social Security income.  The Executive budget would also eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit, which benefits low-income workers including many in the long term care industry.