Monthly Archives for April 2002

State Funding Can Bring More Senor Centers into Accreditation Fold

Published in Pawtucket Times on April 29, 2002

The smallest state in the union has become a major player in the accreditation movement for senior centers.

This month, Pawtucket’s Leon Mathieu Senior Center celebrated its successful efforts to receive national accreditation bestowed       by the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC), a unit of the Washington, DC-based National Council on Aging, Inc.  With INSC’s seal of approval, Pawtucket’s only senior center, along with 11 other senior centers in the state, have joined an elite group of 71 centers across the national who have demonstrated excellence, adhered to NISC’s polities and procedures and have met the national aging group’s very high standards.

A strong commitment to become accredited and the dedication of time and resources during the self-assessment process are key for a nonprofit board, a mayor, or town manager to successfully meet the high standards set by NISC’s national accreditation program, says Kathy McNamee, Warwick’s director of senior services.

“Every senior center that has gone through the accreditation process may operate a little differently due to the community they service, but they must bee the boilerplate for NISC’s national standards.

“Not everyone wants to get accredited,” McNamee adds, noting that it is a very individual decision for each community to  make.

After reviewing the NISC manual used for self-assessment, some communities decide that they are just not prepared to go forward,” she says.

“Attempting to balance your workday while taking on a project of this magnitude may really give you second thoughts,” she adds.

Meanwhile, McNamee urges those choosing not to go through the accreditation process to utilize NISC’s self-assessment manual to see how they operate.

“It will make you aware of issues a senior center must conform in  coming years to come,” she says, noting that the process can easily assist directors in identifying the strength and weaknesses of their operation.

McNamee, president of the Rhode Island Senior Center Directors Association, said senior centers pulling in community input may spend up to one year gathering information to answer questions in nine areas of the center’s operations.

When the self-assessment phase is completed, a day-long on-site peer review is performed by a certified trained professional who works closely with an off-site reviewer will either lead to accreditation, provisional, no accreditation.

What are the benefits of meeting NISC’s national accreditation standards?

“Accreditation means that what we are doing here is really cutting-edge,” said Joan Crawley, director of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center.

With 12 senior centers in the Ocean State already accredited by NISC, “Rhode Island is already way ahead of the curve,” she told All About Seniors. “By meeting national standards, we are in a good position to seek grants and funding.

Accreditation creates pride in a senior center, too. Eighty-year old Sarah Gauvin, a retired book-keeper and member of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council, loves the idea that the Leon Mathieu Senior Center received state and national recognition by receiving NISC’s accreditation.

“This means that we are first class and it is acknowledging our hard work,” she says.

Director Barbara Rayner, of the state’s Department of Elderly Affairs, is to be commended for their efforts to financially assist the 12 Rhode Island senior centers that are enrolled in NISC’s national accreditation program. However, the state may ultimately be penny-wise but pound-foolish by not assisting every non-accredited senior center in following the footsteps of Pawtucket’s Leon Mathieu Senior Center and the 11 other accredited centers, considering the new federal interest in the outcome measures and quality assurance of providing community-based services.

Over the next several years, the DEA might consider budgeted funds to assist every cash-strapped senior center in paying the accreditation fee if they have a strong commitment and community support to proceed.

Combine this with the sharing of ideas and expertise among Rhode Island’s accredited senior centers and with those senior centers wishing to embark on the road to accreditation, and you just might have the right ingredients to bring senior centers in every community into the accreditation fold.

Lawmakers Consider Proposals to Reduce Costs of Prescription Drugs

Published in the Pawtucket Times on April 15, 2002

Amid the political bickering over the separation of powers bill and the controversy over allowing Rhode Islanders to vote next November on bringing gambling to the Ocean State, the Rhode Island General Assembly is getting around to considering three legislative proposals with broad public and bipartisan political support.

In the shadow of a huge state budget deficit, bills strongly endorsed by both senior and disabled advocates, would make pharmaceutical costs affordable while not costing the state one penny.

It was standing room only last Wednesday in Room 35 at a House Finance Committee hearing, chaired by Chairman Steven Costantino (D-Providence), of the subcommittee on human services. The legislative hearing, lasting almost four hours, drew the attention of the Rhode Island Commission on Aging, the Forum on Aging, the Gray Panthers, and Choices, to name a few.

Dozens of aging and disability advocacy groups, staffers of the Department of Elderly Affairs and the Department of Human Services, and lobbyists for the powerful pharmaceutical industry came to listen to testimony that would officially kick of the state’s debate on lowering pharmaceutical costs for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Under on legislative proposals (H 7291/S 2729), the state Department of Human Services would seek a waiver from the federal government allowing Rhode Island to use Medicaid funding to pay for prescription drugs for low-income seniors with incomes of up to $ 17,720 and couples with incomes up to  $ 23,880.

This bill, authored by Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty and sponsored by Rep. Constantino and House Finance Chairman Gordon Fox, would enroll approximately 90 percent of the 37,500 seniors now enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Elderly Program (RIPAE) – the state’s pharmaceutical program. Because these seniors would now quality for prescription drug coverage under Medicaid, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drugs would be covered, not just those currently covered under RIPAE. Seniors would likely pay small co-payments, probably less than $ 10, rather than the 40 percent co-payments currently charged.

At this hearing, testimony was gathered on two other Fogarty legislative proposals that would make prescription drugs  more affordable to seniors and persons with disabilities who are not covered by the waiver. One bill (H 7290) would allow seniors enrolled in the RIPAE – approximately 5,000 seniors – to buy prescription drugs not currently covered by RIPAE at the discounted state price.

The second (H 7524) would allow 4,300 low-income persons on Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) who are between ages 55 and 65 to become members of RIPAE and purchase prescription medications at the state discounted rate.

Under both of these legislative proposals, the state would be able to obtain the manufacturer’s rebate available through RIPAE. Rebate funds gained from drug purchases by persons in the new SSDI part of RIPAE would accrue in a special fund to be used to subsidized the cost of these drugs in the future. This legislative initiative, like the other two, would be of no cost to the state.

There’s a very good reason why these proposals should be enacted, says Fogarty, who chairs the state’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council. “Far too many of our seniors still face great burdens in paying for their medications. If your income is less than $ 10,000 per year – which is the median income for a person on RIPAE – having to pay $ 1,000 or more out of pocket for one’s prescription is a big problem.

“This year, in spite of our budget woes, we have a tremendous opportunity to greatly expand our prescription assistance program for seniors and persons with disabilities. By taking advantage of federal Medicaid dollars, we can save seniors millions and we can do these expansions with no added costs to the state,” Fogarty adds.

Susan Sweet, who represents CHOICES, a home and community advocacy agency and the Rhode Island Minority Elderly Task Force, says the expansion of RIPAE is critical, especially in light of the federal government’s failure to create a federal Medicare pharmaceutical benefit.

“Being able to pay for prescriptions avoids sickness, unnecessary hospitalizations and admissions to nursing homes, saving millions of dollars and many years of productive lives for seniors,” says Sweet. “Pharmaceutical products are the current and future medical miracles, and health insurance is inadequate without adequate drug cover, she says.

Shirley Kaiser, president of the Rhode Island Gray Panthers, whose group has battled years for putting the brakes on rising pharmaceutical costs, says seniors are giddy with the news that Rhode Island may finally move to addressing the problem.

The Gray Panthers strongly endorse the legislative proposals, and she believes this is the year for enactment of a legislative remedy.

At the Rhode Island General Assembly, some bills are enacted while many die during the legislative process, even those with great merit.

In light of the state’s fiscal uncertainties, lawmakers now have a rare opportunity to assist older Rhode Islanders and persons with disabilities in obtaining affordable prescription drugs at no cost to the state coffers.

With the widespread support and endorsement of these legislative proposals from state officials, aging and disability advocacy groups, and the pharmaceutical industry, for me it’s a no brainer – pass these bills and quickly sign them into law, says Kaiser.

It is now time to put this longtime aging issue behind us and move forward to other pressing matters like creating and paying for a seamless long-term care system.

Ensure passage of the three bills by telling your representatives and senators how important these three proposals are for you, and request their passage.

Tourism Council Starts Intergenerational Trips

Published in the Pawtucket Times on April 8, 2002

A growing number of affluent and travel-savvy seniors are fueling the demand for grandparent-grandchildren travel. It’s becoming big business for the travel sector.

According to a recent issue of “Time” magazine, a survey performed by Zogby International for American Demographics found that last year about 20 percent of U.S. grandparents traveled with their grandchildren. Experts believe that this travel trend will continue especially with more than 77  million aging baby boomers who are taking on the role of grandparent. The popularity of seniors taking their young grandchildren on trips is also documented by the National Tourism Association (NTA). According to NTA, children’s tours ranked number 9 out of 50 for top national and international travel tours.

Bonding and getting close to their grandchildren are just a few of the benefits of this trend in fueling the demand for intergenerational travel.  Deepening of the bonds  between generations can occur without the frustrations of planning the details of a trip.

Recognizing this increasing popular travel trend, The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) is finalizing the travel itinerary for four affordable, intergenerational trips. The new series, “Bring Your Grandparents to the Blackstone Valley,” will feature the valley’s historic sites, museums and the Blackstone River.  Additionally, these day trips will also feature fun destinations such as the zoos, waterslides, nature areas and orchards in the valley.

The first day trip, scheduled for April 17, is planned to coincide with school vacations, notes Mary Harrington, BVTC’s Group Tour Manager. With a lot of parents working during school vacations, grandparents can easily step in to take  care of the youngsters, she says.

On this day trip, grandparents and grandchildren from kindergarten age up to 12 years of age, can explore the history and culture of the Blackstone Valley Corridor by watching an award film, “Hidden in the Blackston Valley,” in a theater in the City’s Visitor Center.  The 20-minute film tells the story of the rise and decline of the  textile industry and the role it played in setting the American Industrial Revolution in motion.

Meanwhile, trip organizers are hopeful that both generations learn more about ecology along the 46-mile Blackstone River by scheduling an hour-long riverboat ride on the Explorer. During the ride, an ecologist will perform water quality tests. Youngsters will also find out more about the plant and fish and animal species that live in and along the riverbanks and even learn how to help clean up the river.

Also, included in this affordable travel package is a child-friendly lunch were hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled  cheese sandwiches and French fries will be served at Pawtucket’s Modern Diner. The custom-built Sterling Steamliner is recognized as the first diner to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Finally, a child-oriented tour of Slater mill, the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, is planned. Both young and old can see a replica of an early 19th century waterwheel turning real machinery and see flax spun into linen. They will even learn more about child labor laws and how the 19th century industrial revolution changed virtually every aspect of daily life. After the tour both grandparent and grandchildren, supervised by a Slater Mill educator, can work together on a traditional fiber arts craft project.

“We came up with this trip package that takes care of all the details,” Harrington said. “It is not always for grandparents to figure out what to do.”

With many seniors living on a fixed income, the costs of each day trips will be kept affordable and interesting, Harrington says. She says that the price tag for a day trip is only $22, covering the registration of both the grandparent and their youngest charge. However, for the first day trip, the ecology program on the Explorer will cost an additional $6 per person.

For details, call Mary Harrington at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at 401-724-2200.  Deadline for registration is Monday, April 15.