Tag Archives for Rhode Island Minority Elderly Task Force

RI Minority Elder Task Force Spotlights ‘Everyday Heroes’

Published in the Woonsocket Call on November 5, 2017

Last Thursday, the Rhode Island Minority Elder Task Force (RIMETF), a nonprofit group that advocates for cultural competent services for elders from minority groups, recognized “Everyday Heroes” who make a difference in the community while also raising money to provide limited emergency assistance to low-income seniors in crisis situations.

RIMETF fund raising efforts combine with grants to fulfill its mission of financially helping low-income seniors, says Susan Sweet, the nonprofit’s founder and treasurer. RIMETF provides $200 to low income seniors to help pay utility costs, rent, food, medications, clothing, furniture, personal healthcare items and other necessities of life, she says, noting that approximately 80 grants, about half going to minority applicants, are given out annually.

Sweet says, “During the last two decades, RIMETF provided more than $53,000 in grants, successfully raising approximately $7,000 at the November 2 fundraiser. Over 150 supporters in attendance from around the state came to the East Providence Cape Verdean Progressive Center to honor eleven ‘Everyday Heroes’ who made outstanding contributions to many people throughout Rhode Island.”

According to Chairperson Lori Brennan-Almeida, her nonprofit group’s fundraising efforts are fluid, changing every year as needed. “Last year the nonprofit group held a full-day learning conference on Cultural Competence in Healthcare and Social Services for nurses, social workers and Certified Nursing Assistants, attracting over 100 attendees.”

“The idea for recognizing unsung heroes who work with Rhode Island’s minority residents was tossed around for the past couple of years,” says Almeida, noting that some of the honorees of this year’s fundraiser had never been recognized for their outstanding work

Introducing RIMETF’s 2007 “Everyday Heroes”…

Kathy Blunt

After Blunt, at 74 years of age, initially interviewed at Orchard View Manor, she got a letter a week later informing her that she did not get the job. Luckily for the residents, the position became open again and she was hired at the East Providence-based nursing facility in 2010 and quickly became an “indispensable gift to residents and a team builder between departments,” say facility staff.

Joseph Caffey, Sr.

The late Joseph Caffey, Sr., a visionary for high standards of service in affordable housing during his 24 years as the President and CEO of Omni Development and a leader in the Rhode Island’s affordable housing sector, were key to his recognition by RIMETF. Caffey’s vision led him to partner with the Providence Center to bring a mental health satellite office to the Olneyville-based Valley Apartments to assist the mental health needs of the tenants. He also hired employees with social work degrees to provide clinical services to tenants.

Trudence “Trudy” Conroy

Staff at the Newport County Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) consider Trudy to be a model volunteer who brings her knowledge, warm wit and compassion into counseling and advice to assist Medicare eligible seniors choose a Medicare insurance plan that fits their specific health needs. Trudy has amassed almost 700 hours as a SHIP volunteer over the past two years.

Carol Corey

For over 20 years, Corey, 75, of West Warwick, has visited the sick and lonely residing in local nursing facilities and hospitals. She shops for these individuals, bringing them needed toiletries, special treats, flowers, and even small articles of clothing, all paid on her own. She is known for being “low key” and never forgetting birthdays or special occasions, and celebrating holidays with people who have no friends or family.

Garo Emdjian

In 1980 Emdjian, now 76, emigrated from Armenia to the U.S. and he has never looked back. Emdjian’s life mission now is to give back to his adopted country, for over 25 years giving countless volunteer hours to local nonprofit agencies that have included Rhode Island Meals-on-Wheels, Fox Point Senior Center, Federal Hill House, Hamilton House, the Blood Bank and Fox Point Manor. Despite the many honors he has received over the years, Emdjian will tell you he does not volunteer for the recognition but for the true love and commitment to be of service to others.

Cynthia Hiatt, Esq.

Just six months after Hiatt retired from a 37 year career serving as Chief Legal Counsel for the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights, she came back to fight discrimination and racism again by serving as one of the seven governor-appointed commissioners of the Commission. As a volunteer Hiatt meets monthly to rule on cases and presides over hearings and investigative conferences, continuing to fight to enforce antidiscrimination laws and to end discrimination against older Rhode Islanders, the disabled and people of color.

Adrienne Marchetti

Those who know Marchetti as Director of the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, use descriptive words such as: competent, respectful, creative, talented, selfless, as well as generous, and always welcoming to those she serves. Adrienne works 7 days a week from early morning until evening cooking and serving food to some of the poorest residents and homeless individuals in Pawtucket. Even in winter, after a very long day serving those who come to her soup kitchen, she prepares a satisfying supper and what is left over, she delivers to the night shelter at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to feed their 15 homeless residents.

Christine Reitman

For 26 years, Reitman, a Resident Service Coordinator at Property Advisory Group, has always advocated for her residents, always going above and beyond her normal duties. Recognizing the low income of her residents along with their social and health issues, she organized Saturday coffee hours, passing out needed everyday items to attendees, personally purchased from a local dollar store. The regular gatherings provide residents with a social network and informal forum to talk about personal issues.

Irene Sadlik

Coming to the United States from the Czech Republic nearly 30 years ago, Sadlik, with no formal training in health care, found her life’s passion working for the housekeeping department in a nursing facility. The former seamstress had an exceptional rapport with the residents, quickly responding to their needs and becoming their tireless advocate. Ultimately, to further her goal of working with older Rhode Islander’s she left her job at the nursing facility and opened up her own non-skilled home care agency. She has since taken a cancer patient into her home to try to give her a chance to enjoy her final days.

Mary Kay Uchmanowicz

Uchmanowicz, a Board Certified Audiologist who founded the Smithfield-based Twin Rivers Hearing Health in Smithfield in 2001, uses her empathy and specialized training to treat hearing problems of her older patients. Over the years, she has collected discarded hearing aids and brought them to the Philippines, spending weeks screening and fitting underprivileged children and adults with these donated hearing aids. “It is a privilege to help others,” says the audiologist who volunteers her time providing ear checks, audiometric testing, cleaning hearing aids, and answering questions at North Providence Senior Center and the Villa at St Antoine.

Henrietta “Henrie” Tonia White-Holder

White-Holder, founder and CEO of Higher Ground International, is committed to bringing clean water and sanitation to her native Liberia. Through the nonprofit organization, she opened the new RUKIYA (uplifting) Center on the south side of Providence, which focuses on programs for African immigrants, elders and youth, literacy and workforce issues. Henrie served on the United Way’s Executive Director Leadership Circle, received the Providence Newspaper Guild Public Service Award, the Extraordinary Woman Award for Education, and was conferred the RI Liberian Humanitarian Award.

For more details regarding the work of the RI Minority Elder Task Force or to make a donation, write RIMETF, 5 Leahy Street, Rumford, RI 02916 or call Lori Brennan Almeida, Chairperson, at 401-497-1287.

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.