Aging Programs Get Slashed in Bush’s War Budget

Published in Pawtucket Times on February 18, 2002

In the shadow of the horrific terrorist attacks on Sept. 11th, domestic programs take the backseat in President Bush’s $ 2.13 trillion fiscal year 2003 budget, released in early February, with significant funding increases being targeted for both military and  homeland defense.

As 77 million baby boomers approach their 65th birthdays within the next decade, aging groups say the President’s wartime budget does not go far enough in many areas to meet the aging baby boomer’s needs in the coming years.

One of the most hotly debated Congressional issues is affordable prescription drugs. With the Congressional election looming next year, this is certain to be a key issue in every state. Don’t look for this issue to lose importance to seniors or to the aging groups who call for meaningful Medicare drug benefits.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, over the next 10 years, Medicare beneficiaries will spend about $1.6 trillion out-of-pocket on prescription drugs. But the recently released Bush budget proposal only contains $ 190 billion over 10 years for Medicare reform, including $ 77 billion to assist seniors with prescription drugs.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, estimates that on average, the Bush administration’s proposal would cover less than one out of 10 dollars spend on drugs by seniors.

Martha A. McSteen, president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, agreed that Bush’s budget proposal shortchanges seniors and the disabled in providing needed health care and services.

In his State of the Union address, the president restated his campaign promise to provide prescription drug coverage for every senior, noted McSteen, who added, “That is an empty promise if the budget does not contain these needed resources.

“At least $ 450 billion is needed over the next 10 years to provide a comprehensive and affordable prescription drug benefit as part of the Medicare program,” McSteen says.

John Rother, AARP’s Policy and Strategy Director, said, “Although federal budget constraints are greater than last year, so too is the need for affordable prescription drugs for Americans age 65 and over. Unfortunately, disease and pain did not disappear with the budget surplus.”

However, U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-Rhode Island, said he believes the President’s budget request recognizes the precarious state of the Medicare system, as well as other challenges faced by the nation’s seniors.

“The president has acknowledged the need for a Medicare prescription drug benefit as well as [the need] for a significant increase in funding for disease research conducted by the National Institutes of Health,” he said.

While Chafee said he will push for legislation that will create more comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefits than the legislation proposed by the president, he warned the deficit created by the combination of the economic slowdown, the war on terrorism and last year’s tax cut will make enactment of any new spending programs more difficult to accomplish.

Meanwhile, programs under the Older Americans Act, are provided with less funding in Bush’s budget proposal than they were last year.

“Around the country, people are on waiting lists for meals-on-wheels programs and congregate meals programs,” said McSteen.

“There are state and local programs that need additional federal funds to counter the increasing problems of elder abuse. The administration’s funding request for these programs is woefully inadequate.”

Other federal programs get sliced and diced under the Bush administration’s FY 2003 budget, according to U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, who pointed to an 8 percent cut for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s budget for chronic care.

The four-term Congressman and member of the House Aging Caucus said he finds this cut troubling due to the significant gains that have been made in efforts to prevent and treat diseases that effect an aging population.

With a growing number of families caring or loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease, Kennedy said he strongly opposes the Bush administration’s axing of the Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program, which helps protect and locate missing patients with the devastating disease.

The program has assisted in the return of more that 5,700 wanderers and increased its data base to 67,000 persons with Alzheimer’s,” said Kennedy. “It has succeeded in its many efforts on a budget of $ 898,000 in fiscal year 2002.”

While prescription drugs comes up a loser in the Bush budget, some aging initiatives are clearly on the White House’s radar screen.

Bush’s budget proposal provides about $ 3 billion in additional funds toward research and is the final installment in a five-year effort to double the size of the National Institute of Health budget, says McSteen. She said she believes increased federal funding would assist in “producing breakthroughs in the prevention, treatment, management of conditions associated with aging.”

The Administration’s budget also provides a personal exemption to home caretakers of family members and the funding of respite and direct care worker demonstration projects.

Now Bush’s Budget proposal moves to Congress, where a Republican-controlled House and Democratic Senate will make major revisions, ultimately hammering out a final road map to federal spending.

The funding of federal programs to meet the needs of older Americans is crucial as our nation’s population ages.

Furthermore, with an increasing federal budget deficit, Republican and Democratic lawmakers must not get tied down to partisan wrangling as they attempt to iron out differences in creating a Medicare benefit to make prescription rugs more affordable to seniors.

As the Congressional elections get closer, seniors will call for concrete legislative action, not political rhetoric or fancy words.

AARP Sets Up Shop Here in Rhode Island

Published in Pawtucket Times on February 11, 2002

Up until last year, the American Association of Retired Persons operated a regional office in Boston, just a 45-minute drive from the Ocean State. The closing of the Boston regional office cleared the way for the nation’s largest group serving people ages 50-plus to open up a state office in Rhode Island.

With a state office up and running, AARP will better serve its 17 Rhode Island chapters, whose membership now totals more than 129,000 persons.

With AARP’s new office at 10  Orms St., Providence, Rhode Island has become one of the last remaining offices to open a local office.

“We’re happy as quahogs in our new digs.” This quote, superimposed on dozens of quahogs, decorates the front cover of AARP’s open house invitation.

The design sets the stage for last week’s Ocean State bash to celebrate the opening of AARP’s plush 4,200-square-foot Providence office. The opening reception, featuring a sampling of Rhode Island delicacies from each region of the state, reinforced the point AARP was trying to make – that its new home is Rhode Island.

One hundred and fifty people came to AARP Rhode Island’s grand opening bash, including AARP chapter presidents and volunteers, elected state officials and lawmakers, staff from the state’s various Congressional delegation and representatives of a myriad of aging organizations.

For more than two hours, they mingled and enjoyed the plentiful food and drink whipped up and served by Eastside Catering. Many even took tours of the new office, as well.

“Having an office in our capital city sends a message to our members and community partners that we are raising the visibility of AARP in Rhode Island and intend to rev up our advocacy and educational initiatives throughout the state,” said State AARP Director Kathleen S. Connell, welcoming the crowd of well-wishers.

Providence Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci brought his official greets to AARP’s gathering, too.

“It’s cause for great celebration that we now have direct representation in Providence of one of the most effective and beneficial associations advocating for retired persons in the world today,” Cianci told the crowd gathered in the packed conference room.

Cianci can be a tough act to follow, but AARP National Board Member Virginia Tierney, held her own.

Tierney, who came from Quincy, Mass. To attend the festivities, gave her thumbs up to the office’s opening.

“Having a state office will speak to an ongoing priority for our organization -diversity,’ she said, noting that with offices in every state, the group can better position itself to reach people ages 50-plus from all walks of life. “AARP’s membership should mirror the rest of our population.”

With the conclusion of AARP’s 20-minute speaking program, a 6-foot ribbon held by AARP staffers was cut by Cianci, who  was surrounded by Tierney, Secretary of State Ed Inman, General Treasurer Paul Tavares, and acting State President Virgilio DeVecchis.

So, what’s so special about AARP’s new “digs?”

AARP’s new office, right across from the Providence Marriott Hotel, has a very large conference room with video tele-conferencing capabilities. This room, is large enough to fit  30 people around a large rectangular conference table. Got room for an educational program or large meeting?  No problem. The space allows for the setting up of 100 chairs theater-style.

Meanwhile, a smaller conference room provides ample space to meet in small groups. Additionally, another small room is equipped with multiple phone hookups to allow AARP staffers and volunteers to use in their advocacy efforts and for compiling information through phone surveys. AARP’s four staffers each have an office with one office available for use by visiting AARP Regional and National Staff.

AARP’s office is colorfully decorated. Wall-to-wall mulberry-colored carpet, dark stained wood along the grayish walls, a teal-colored sofa and chairs in the reception area and heavy dark-stained office furniture throughout the office to create a traditional, conservative look.

Colorful prints provided by the Rhode Island School of Design’s Museum of Arts adorn the grayish walls in the front office area.

“Great turnover,” said AARP volunteer Marie Kerr of Middletown.  The former school nurse and teacher states that AARP members now have a home to come to. “It’s a good location, too, for statewide meetings,” she says.

Volunteer Mary Garrett, a former special education teacher from Newport, adds that the new office is a great place for AARP Members to gather with peers.

Nursing Assistant Recognized for Providing 31 Years of Quality of Care   

Published in the Pawtucket Times on February 4, 2002

At the age of 32 in 1963, Adele Lubera had already raised a daughter. Now it was time for her to go to work to bring money into the household.

But after holding very brief jobs at two mills in Central Falls, the former homemaker realized the mill jobs were not her cup of tea. As a foot press operator who manufactured sunglasses, Lubera could not stand the loud, repetitive noise and clatter of machines, nor did she end up liking the tediousness of inspecting baby clothes.

Be it fate, destiny or just being in the right place at the right time, Lubera eventually fell into a fulfilling lifelong career that has spanned more than three decades. A tip from a friend led the frustrated mill worker to seek employment as a nursing assistant at the Cumberland-based  Grandview Nursing Home. Lubera was one of the facility’s first hires for nursing assistants.  In time, she would take several other positions, including one at Manchester Nursing Home in Pawtucket, which ultimately would lead her to her current position as a certified nursing assistant at Harris Health Care North in Central Falls.

Last week, more than 300 people from Rhode Island’s nursing home industry, gathered for a breakfast to recognize their own, as well as state officials, politicians, and community volunteers who bring quality of care to the state’s 106 nursing homes.

Along with other award recipients, Lubera received her 15 minutes of fame that day. She was recognized by the Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA) as recipient of the group’s First Annual Quality Award. “The President’s Award,” for her 31 years of providing quality of care to residents in her current position. The RIHCA award is given to a dedicated certified nursing assistant who exhibits caring and compassion while delivering quality of care.

When presenting the prestigious award to Lubera, Jimmy Flanagan, RIHCA’s past president, told the packed banquet room that in 31 years at her current position, Lubera had never called in sick or even arrived late to work.  Quite a track record.

Being an advocate for long-term care, Lubera has always been three to reassure families. She goes the extra mile for resident’s too, Flanagan said.

“Lubera is a wonderful role model for other workers,” he added, noting that she has led by example and displays loyalty, caring, and consideration for her fellow 13 workers.

Later that afternoon, at a party organized by Harris Health Care North, Central Falls Mayor Lee M. Matthews, quickly popped into the facility to shake hands and exchange greetings with: Luber; Michael, her husband of 51 years; daughter Dera DiBenedetto and her three children Dana, Ashley, and Drew; friends; facility staff and residents.

The mayor left behind a mayoral proclamation, celebrating the certified nursing assistant’s achievement by declaring the day to be “Adele Lubera Day” in Central Falls.

At the facility gathering, Lubera, holding her engraved plaque, reflected on her long career as a nursing assistant.

The time just by so fast, she said.

“It is hard work, but I enjoy every day,” she said. “The residents are like family to me.”

Resident Anna Golembeski, 89, who has resided in the facility for 38 years, describes Luera as helpful, kind and caring.

“She has been so good to her residents that it is about time she was recognized for her efforts,” Golembeski said.

Adds Elizabeth Daily, 88, a resident in the facility for six years, “There isn’t a person here who doesn’t love Adele.”

Administrator Elizabeth A. Sarro, of Harris Health Care North, calls Lubera the unofficial Mayor of Central Falls. Lubera knows almost everyone in the one-mile radius community, Sarro says.

“Everyone in Central Falls knows of Adele’s loving work,” she said. “She is pretty close to being a saint.”

Charley Harris, who owns Harris Health Care North and two other skilled nursing facilities, believes that certified nursing assistants are the backbone of the care delivery in any nursing facility.

“It is time that certified nursing assistants are finally getting the recognition they deserve<” he said.

“Nursing facilities are having tremendous problems staffing their facilities, particularly with front-line caregivers,” RIHCA Executive Vice President Alfred Santos stated. “With turnover rates estimated to be as high as 100 percent, people like Adele – whose commitment to her residents remains strong year after year are worth their weight in gold.

“It is great to see her receive recognition for her dedication,” says Santos.